1 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 He had brothers, 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. 3 Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. 4 Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and various also of the princes of Israel. 5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab as wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh. 7 However Yahweh would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children always. 8 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. 9 Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots. 10 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day: then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers. 11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute, and led Judah astray. 12 A letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute, like the house of Ahab did, and also have slain your brothers of your father's house, who were better than yourself: 14 behold, Yahweh will strike with a great plague your people, and your children, and your wives, and all your substance; 15 and you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.'" 16 Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians: 17 and they came up against Judah, and broke 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, except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. 18 After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19 It happened, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of severe diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. 20 Thirty-two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
Jehoram succeeds his father Jehoshaphat; and commences his reign with the murder of his brethren, and of several of the princes of Israel, 2-Chronicles 21:1-5. He walks in the way of Ahab, whose bad daughter, Athaliah, he had married, 2-Chronicles 21:6. God remembers his covenant with David, and does not destroy the nation, 2-Chronicles 21:7. The Edomites revolt, 2-Chronicles 21:8-10. Jehoram restores the high places in the mountains of Judah, and greatly corrupts the morals of the people, 2-Chronicles 21:11. A letter comes to him from Elijah, 2-Chronicles 21:12-15. The Philistines and Arabians come up against him, pillage his house, and take away his wives, with all his sons except Jehoahaz, 2-Chronicles 21:16, 2-Chronicles 21:17. He is smitten with an incurable disease in his bowels; of which, in two years, he dies miserably, after a profligate reign of eight years, 2-Chronicles 21:18-20.
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 21
This chapter relates Jehoram's succession to the throne of Judah, and the murders and idolatries committed by him, 2-Chronicles 21:1, the revolt of the Edomites from him, and some of his own people, 2-Chronicles 21:8, a writing of Elijah to him, threatening a great plague to him and his family, 2-Chronicles 21:12, the raising up of several enemies against him, 2-Chronicles 21:16, his sickness, death, and burial, 2-Chronicles 21:18.
(2-Chronicles 21:1-11) The wicked reign of Jehoram.
(2-Chronicles 21:12-20) Jehoram's miserable end.
Jehoshaphat's Death, and the Reign of His Son Joram - 2-Chronicles 21
The account of the death and burial of Jehoshaphat is carried over to 2 Chron 21, because Joram's first act after Jehoshaphat's death, 2-Chronicles 21:2., stands in essential connection with that event, since Joram began his reign with the murder of all his brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat (2-Chronicles 21:2-4). The further account of Joram (2-Chronicles 21:5-10) agrees almost verbally with the account in 2-Kings 8:17-22; then in 2-Chronicles 21:12-19 there follows further information as to the divine chastisements inflicted upon Joram for his crime, which is not found in 2 Kings; and in 2-Chronicles 21:20 we have remarks on his end, which correspond to the statements in 2-Kings 8:24.
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