2 Chronicles 21:1–20
21 Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place. 2 21:2He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 1 3 21:3Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. 4 21:4When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel. 5 21:5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 21:6And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 7 21:7Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
8 21:8In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own. 9 21:9Then Jehoram passed over with his commanders and all his chariots, and he rose by night and struck the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders. 10 21:10So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. At that time Libnah also revolted from his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers.
11 21:11Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah and led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom and made Judah go astray. 12 21:12And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 21:13but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have enticed Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom, as the house of Ahab led Israel into whoredom, and also you have killed your brothers, of your father’s house, who were better than you, 14 21:14behold, the Lord will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions, 15 21:15and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day.’”
16 21:16And the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the anger 2 of the Philistines and of the Arabians who are near the Ethiopians. 17 21:17And they came up against Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions they found that belonged to the king’s house, and also his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.
18 21:18And after all this the Lord struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19 21:19In the course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers. 20 21:20He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one’s regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
Section Overview
A godly parent does not necessarily ensure a godly son or daughter. That was certainly the case with Jehoram, who demonstrated no evidence of following his father, instead implementing the ways of his mother’s family, “the house of Ahab” (2 Chron. 21:6, 13). Jehoshaphat treated all of his sons fairly (v. 3), but Jehoram’s reign opened with the killing of his brothers (vv. 4, 13b), implying also the taking control of their “fortified cities” (v. 3). Ironically, later these places that “belonged to the king’s house” were looted by attackers, and Jehoram lost his own sons and wives (v. 17). The Chronicler provides further evidence of retributive justice1 in the revolt of Edom to the southeast and Libnah to the west, bordering Philistia, and also in an invasion from the southwest, resulting in loss of lives and property. Here was reversal of the consolidation under faithful Asa and Jehoshaphat (Philistines and Arabians: 17:11; Edom: 20:1–30).
The Kings account of Jehoram’s eight-year reign is brief (2 Kings 8:16–24), but the Chronicler adds much unique material (2 Chron. 21:2–4, 11–19). This enables him to show the extent to which the king adopted the ways of the northern kingdom. The reign was marked by violence, religious apostasy in following the “ways” of the northern “house of Ahab,” and attacks by neighboring peoples (vv. 1–20). The Chronicler says nothing about Elijah’s activity in the north but does include the only biblical instance of Elijah’s involvement with Judah’s kings, a letter of judgment sent to the king (vv. 12–15).
The Chronicler’s evaluations are frequent. Jehoram “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord,” although the Lord allowed him to continue as king because of his own covenant with David (vv. 6–7). Nevertheless, there were consequences: the revolts of neighboring peoples occurred because Jehoram “had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers” (v. 10). Most significant is again the way in which judgment comes in fulfillment of a prophetic message (cf. Introduction: Theology of 1–2 Chronicles: “Believe His Prophets”). Elijah’s brief letter repeated with enhanced wording Jehoram’s past actions (vv. 12–13) and announced specific judgment, including details of his death (vv. 14–15). The account concludes with how that judgment came—and his ignominious death and burial (vv. 16–20).
Section Outline
- III.D. Jehoram, Ahaziah, and Athaliah: Intertwined with the House of Ahab (21:1–23:21)
- 1. Jehoram’s Disastrous Reign (21:1–20)
Response
This passage juxtaposes two realities. All too evident throughout human history are violence, despotic actions, battles between different ethnic groups, and threats to what is God-honoring and to God’s people. At the same time, working out his purposes is the God who keeps his promises. Before the exile, Isaiah had promised that “light” would come, associated with the Davidic king (Isa. 9:1–7). Now, after the exile, the Chronicler reassures his hearers—who are still under foreign rule and without a Davidic king. In the midst of darkness, they are to remember what God did during the dark reigns of Jehoram, Ahaziah, and Athaliah; they can persevere in hopeful faithfulness because God will keep his covenant and promise concerning a “lamp.”
Centuries later Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). The Chronicler’s encouragement is now strengthened: “We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Pet. 1:19). The words speak to today: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5); “I am coming soon. . . . I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star” (Rev. 22:7, 16).
1 Cf. Introduction: Theology of 1–2 Chronicles: Divine Reward and Punishment.
2 So explaining the two named “Azariah” (in the MT the second has a longer form, ʻazaryahu).
3 Boda, 1–2 Chronicles, 333.
4 Italics [ . . . ] shows comparison of Chronicles [Kings].
5 Selman, 2 Chronicles, 434.
6 Japhet, I & II Chronicles, 812–813.
7 Dillard, 2 Chronicles, 167–168.
8 For “Ethiopians,” cf. comment on 14:9–15.
9 Selman, 2 Chronicles, 437.