2 Chronicles 21:5-20

6. THE REIGN OF JEHORAM (2 Chronicles 21:5-20)

TEXT

2 Chronicles 21:5. Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. 7. Howbeit Jehovah 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 alway.

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 smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots. 10. So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day: then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Jehovah, 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 harlot, and led Judah astray. 12. And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the 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, 13. but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, like as the house of Ahab did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, who were better than thyself: 14. behold, Jehovah will smite with a great plague thy people and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance; 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.-'
16. And Jehovah stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians that are beside the Ethiopians: 17. and they came up against 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.
18. And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19. And it came to pass, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. 20. Thirty and 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 sepulchres of the kings.

PARAPHRASE

2 Chronicles 21:5. He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years, in Jerusalem. 6. But he was as wicked as the kings who were over in Israel. Yes, as wicked as Ahab, for Jehoram had married one of the daughters of Ahab, and his whole life was one constant binge of doing evil. 7. However, the Lord was unwilling to end the dynasty of David, for he had made a covenant with David always to have one of his descendants upon the throne.

8. At that time the king of Edom revolted, declaring his independence of Judah. 9. Jehoram attacked him with his full army and with all of his chariots, marching by night, and almost managed to subdue him, 10. But to this day Edom has been successful in throwing off the yoke of Judah. Libnah revolted too, because Jehoram had turned away from the Lord God of his fathers.
11. What's more, Jehoram constructed idol shrines in the mountains of Judah, and led the people of Jerusalem in worshiping idols; in fact, he compelled his people to worship them. 12. Then Elijah the prophet wrote him this letter: The Lord God of your ancestor David says that because you have not followed in the good ways of your father Jehoshaphat, nor the good ways of King Asa, 13. but you have been as evil as the kings over in Israel, and have made the people of Jerusalem and Judah worship idols just as in the times of King Ahab, and because you have killed your brothers who were better than you. 14. now the Lord will destroy your nation with a great plague. You, your children, your wives, and all that you have will be struck down. 15. You will be stricken with an intestinal disease and your bowels will rot away.
16. Then the Lord stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs living next to the Ethiopians to attack Jehoram. 17. They marched against Judah, broke across the border, and carried away everything of value in the king's palace, including his sons and his wives; only his youngest son, Jehoahaz, escaped.
18. It was after this that Jehovah struck him down with the incurable bowel disease. 19. In the process of time, at the end of two years, his intestines came out and he died in terrible suffering. (The customary pomp and ceremony was omitted at, his funeral.) 20. He was thirty two years old when he began to reign and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and died unmourned. He was buried in Jerusalem, but not in the royal cemetery.

COMMENTARY

In order to secure his position as king, Jehoram massacred all of his brothers. Along with them, many princes were put to death. The cruelties of Ahab and Jezebel were perpetuated in the new king of Judah. Jehovah was merciful to His people in that the reign of Jehoram extended only through eight years. The Bible record explains Jehoram's failures on the basis of his alliance with the northern kingdom which included his marriage with Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel. The king of Judah was charged with the sin of walking the way of the kings of Israel. His manner of life and failure as a king were sufficient reasons for Jehovah to bring the kingdom of Judah to an end at that time. Jehoram's connection with the line of David caused God to be merciful to him and his subjects. The lamp of verse seven has to do with kingly leadership (see 2 Samuel 7). Jehoram had to contend with rebellion on the part of the Edomites and the people of Libnah. Libnah was a village in Judah about twenty five miles southwest of Jerusalem. Judah's relationship with Edom was regulated largely by the inner strength or weakness of the southern kingdom. On this occasion (2 Chronicles 21:8-10) Jehoram was able to accomplish a military victory over Edom; however the Edomites continued in revolution against the southern kingdom. Jehovah used Edom and Libnah in this manner to bring judgment on Jehoram because of his failure as a king.

In order to convince Jehoram that he was wicked, Jehovah directed Elijah to write a review of the king's sins. This is the only mention of Elijah in the Books of Chronicles. This Elijah is to be identified with the man of God who was called troubler of Israel by Ahab (1 Kings 18:17). In setting up idol worship Jehoram was not content simply to provide materials and places for such worship. He led Judah astray. He forced his people to become idolatrous. He rejected the good examples of Jehoshaphat and Asa. He found his models for leadership in the sinful kings of the northern kingdom. He massacred his brothers. Elijah told him that he was the least worthy of all his brothers to serve as king.[63] He could expect continuing crises in his government. His own family would be brought under Jehovah's judgment and he, himself, would be stricken with a mortal bowel disease. This writing of Elijah indicates that some of the prophet's prior to the eighth century B.C. reduced their messages to written form. The kind of accusation brought against Jehoram reminds us of Elijah's words against Ahab and Jezebel.

[63] Cook, F. C., The Bible Commentary, I Samuel-Esther, p. 401

The king of Israel's troubles accumulated rapidly. Philistines along the coast of the Great Sea and Arabians who lived on the perimeter of the great desert revolted. They attacked Jerusalem and carried away much booty along with the wives and sons of Jehoram. Jehoahaz was the only remaining son of the king. Elsewhere he is named Ahaziah and Azariah. The curse in Elijah's writing was thus being fulfilled. Jehoram's final sickness and death proved beyond doubt that he was judged because of his sins. Jehoahaz probably reigned with his father during the last two years of Jehoram's life. Jehoram died in dishonor and was not buried in that plot reserved for the kings of Judah. The tragic epitaph for his life was, he departed without being desired.[64]

[64] Clarke, Adam, A Commentary and Critical Notes, Vol. II., p. 675