2 Chronicles 21

2 Chronicles 21:1

E. King Jehoram (Chap. 21)21:1-3 Beginning with the reign of Jehoram, the history recorded in 2 Chronicles is downhill all the way, ending in calamity and captivity. Two Azariahs are listed in verse 2 as brothers of Jehoram. The NKJV uses the alternative spelling of one (Azaryahu). 21:4-6 Judah’s fifth king chose to walk in the way of the kings of Israel instead of in the way of David. Jehoram was a murderer and an idolater. He ruthlessly killed all his own brothers to strengthen his hold on the throne. Scripture leaves us in no doubt as to the evil influence that caused Jehoram to act so wickedly: His wife was Ahab’s daughter (v. 6). Earlier Jehoshaphat had arranged the marriage between the two kingdoms, and now Judah was infected with the same wickedness that was ruining Israel. Ahab’s daughter Athaliah was a tool in Satan’s hands to bring judgment on God’s people. 21:7 But the LORD remembered the Davidic covenant and so He did not deal as sternly with Jehoram and Judah as He had dealt with Ahab and Israel. (“A lamp” means a descendant to serve as king.) Still, Judah was to suffer much because of this unholy union. 21:8-15 The Edomites, who had feared Judah during the days of Jehoshaphat (2Ch_17:10), now revolted. Libnah, a city in Judah, also rebelled. Jehoram made matters worse by leading his people further and further into idolatry. Even the prophecy of Elijah, contained in a letter to the king, failed to turn him from his course of evil. Jehoram certainly knew of the prophet’s powerful ministry in Israel, but he proved as unresponsive to it as Ahab had been. Elijah was taken to heaven sometime during the reign of Jehoshaphat (2Ki_2:11). Since Jehoram reigned with his father for about five years, Elijah may have been alive when this message was delivered. Or the prophet might have written the letter by divine instruction and given it to Elisha to deliver at the appropriate time. 21:16, 17 The Philistines and the Arabians carried away Jehoram’s possessions and his family, except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons (usually called Ahaziah). Since he had murdered his father’s family this punishment would seem to fit his own crime. 21:18-20 Jehoram died in severe pain from an incurable disease of the intestines. He departed this life to no one’s sorrow. Since he had not walked as the other kings had in life, he was not buried with them in death.