Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 21

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Introduction

1  Jehoram, succeeding Jehoshaphat, slays his brethren.
5  His wicked reign.
8  Edom and Libnah revolt.
12  The prophecy of Elijah against him in writing.
16  Philistines and Arabians oppress him.
18  His incurable disease, infamous death, and burial.
Verse 1

Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
A. M. 3115. B.C. 889. Jehoshaphat
1 Kings 22:50
was buried
20, 9:31, 12:16
Jehoram
2 Kings 8:16,17
reigned
"Alone."
Verse 2

And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
Israel
Jehoshaphat was certainly not king of Israel, but of Judah: Yisraël must therefore be a mistake for Yehoodah; which is the reading of thirty-eight of Dr. Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., and of the Syriac, Arabic, Septuagint, and Vulgate.
4, 12:6, 23:2, 24:5,16, 28:19,23,27, 33:18, 35:18
Verse 3

And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
gave them
11:23, Genesis 25:6, Deuteronomy 21:15-17
the kingdom
He associated him with himself in the kingdom about three years before his death, and in the fifth year of Joram king of Israel; so that Jehoram reigned three years with his father, and five years alone, in all eight years.
Jehoram
"Jehoram made partner of the kingdom with his father, 1 Ki 8:16."
Verse 4

Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
slew all
17, 22:8,10, Genesis 4:8, Judges 9:5,56,57, 1 John 3:12
Verse 5

Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
A. M. 3112-3119. B.C. 892-885. Jehoram. "In consort, 2 Ki 8:17."
Verse 6

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
in the way
1 Kings 16:25-33
he had
18:1, 22:2, 2 Kings 8:18, Nehemiah 13:25,26
Verse 7

Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
Howbeit
22:11, Isaiah 7:6,7
because
2 Samuel 23:5, Psalms 89:28-34,39, Jeremiah 33:20-26
as he promised
2 Samuel 7:12-17, 1 Kings 11:13,36, 2 Kings 8:19, Psalms 132:11,17,18-135, Luke 1:69,79
light
Heb. lamp, or candle.
Verse 8

In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.
A. M. 3115. B.C. 889. the Edomites
Genesis 27:40, 2 Kings 8:20-22
dominion
Heb. hand. and made.
1 Kings 22:47, 2 Kings 3:9
Verse 10

So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.
Libnah
Joshua 21:13, 2 Kings 19:8
because
13:10, 15:2, Deuteronomy 32:21, 1 Kings 11:31,33, Jeremiah 2:13
Verse 11

Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
Moreover
Deuteronomy 12:2-4, 1 Kings 11:7, Psalms 78:58, Ezekiel 20:28
caused
1 Kings 14:9,16, 2 Kings 21:11, Habakkuk 2:15, Revelation 2:20
fornication
13, Leviticus 17:7, 20:5, 2 Kings 9:22, Psalms 106:39, Ezekiel 16:15-63, Revelation 2:20-22, Revelation 17:1-5
compelled
33:9, Daniel 3:5,6,15, Revelation 13:15-17, 17:5,6
Verse 12

And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
A. M. 3116. B.C. 888. a writing. "Which was writ before his assumption."
2 Kings 2:1, Jeremiah 36:2,23,28-32, Ezekiel 2:9,10, Daniel 5:5,25-29
Elijah the prophet
If the account of the translation of Elijah be given in the order in which it happened, then it occurred in the reign of Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram. Hence, it is probable that he wrote it before his assumption, and left it to be delivered by Elisha or one of the prophets.
2 Kings 2:11
in the ways of Jehoshaphat
17:3,4, 1 Kings 22:43
in the ways of Asa
14:2-5, 1 Kings 15:11
Verse 13

But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:
in the way
1 Kings 16:25,30-33
a whoring
11, Exodus 34:15, Deuteronomy 31:16, 2 Kings 9:22, Jeremiah 3:8,9
hast slain
4, Genesis 4:10-12, 42:21,22, Judges 9:56,57, 1 Kings 2:31-33, Isaiah 26:21, Habakkuk 2:12, 1 John 3:12
Verse 14

Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
plague
Heb. stroke.
Leviticus 26:21
thy people
Many of the people had concurred in Jehoram's idolatry, and some of them must have been instruments in his base, unnatural murders; they were therefore joined in his punishment, and he suffered by the loss of his subjects.
Hosea 5:11, Micah 6:16
thy children
Exodus 20:5
Verse 15

And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
by disease
This is supposed to have been a violent dysentery, a disease which is often attended with symptoms similar to those described in the text; by the same death perished Antiochus Ephiphenes, and Herod Agrippa.
18,19, Numbers 5:27, Deuteronomy 28:61, Acts 12:23
thy bowels fall
Psalms 109:18, Acts 1:18
the sickness
18, Deuteronomy 28:27,37,59,67
Verse 16

Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
A. M. 3117. B.C. 887. the Lord
33:11, 1 Samuel 26:19, 2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Kings 11:11,14,23, Ezra 1:1,5, Isaiah 10:5,6, Isaiah 45:5-7, Amos 3:6
Philistines
17:11
Verse 17

And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
carried away
Heb. carried captive.
Job 5:3,4
his sons also
22:1, 24:7
Jehoahaz
22:1
Ahaziah
22:6
Azariah
Verse 18

And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
A. M. 3117-3119. B.C. 887-885. And after all. "His son Ahaziah Prorex, soon after."
an incurable disease
15, 2 Kings 9:29, Acts 12:23
Verse 19

And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
made no
16:14, Jeremiah 34:5
Verse 20

Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
A. M. 3119. B.C. 885. Thirty and two
without being desired
Heb. without desire. That is, without being regretted: no one wished him to live any longer. He was hated while he lived, and neglected when he died.
23:21, Proverbs 10:7, Jeremiah 22:18,28

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