FRAMEWORKS:
2 Chronicles 21: Jehoram of Judah
[Introductory
Notes: The record of Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son, here
is one of rebuke and disciplinary correction for his ungodliness.]
v.1-3
Jehoshaphat's family
v.1
Then
Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was
buried with them in the City of David. And Jehoram
his son succeeded him as king.
v.2
Jehoram's
brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah,
Azariahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat
king of Israel.
v.3
Their
father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and articles
of value, as well as fortified cities in Judah, but he had given
the kingdom to Jehoram because he was his firstborn son.
v.4-7
Jehoram, next king of Judah
v.4
When
Jehoram established himself firmly over his
father's kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with
some of the officials of Israel.
v.5
Jehoram
was thirty-two years old when he became king,
and he reigned in Jerusalem for eight years.
v.6
He
followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab
had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil
in the eyes of the Lord.
v.7
Nevertheless,
because of the covenant the Lord
had made with
David, the Lord
was not willing
to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp
for him and his descendants for ever.
v.8-11
Edom breaks free Judah
v.8
In
the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its
own king.
v.9
So
Jehoram went there with his officers and all his chariots. The
Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose
up and broke through by night.
v.10
To
this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah.
Libnah
revolted at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the Lord
, the God of
his ancestors.
v.11
He
had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused
the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah
astray.
v.12-15
Elijah prophesies against Jehoram
v.12
Jehoram
received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said:
‘This
is what the Lord,
the God of your father David, says: “You have not followed the
ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah.
v.13
But
you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel, and you have
led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves,
just as the house of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own
brothers, members of your own family, men who were better than
you.
v.14
So
now the Lord
is about to
strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that
is yours, with a heavy blow.
v.15
You
yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels,
until the disease causes your bowels to come out.”'
v.16,17
Others are used to discipline Jehoram
v.16
The
Lord
aroused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines
and of the Arabs who lived near the
Cushites.
v.17
They
attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found
in the king's palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a
son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest.
v.18-20
Jehoram's agonizing death
v.18
After
all this, the Lord
afflicted
Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.
v.19
In
the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels
came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His
people made no funeral fire in his honour, as they had for his
predecessors.
v.20
Jehoram
was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in
Jerusalem for eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret,
and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the
kings.
Continue
to Ch.22