Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 21

Verses 1-7

See note on 2 Kings 8:16

Verses 8-11

See note on 2 Kings 8:20

Verse 12

2 Chronicles 21:12

The loss of Edom and the city of Libnah was just the least of Jehoram’s trouble. He hardened his neck against the Lord and destroyed himself (Proverbs 29:1). Yet the Lord often uses spectacular methods in attempt to bring men to their senses. This He did with Jehoram. A dire warning and prediction came from Elijah, who had been translated to heaven several years previously. It was as though the Lord had posted Jehoram a letter right out of heaven. While it is not positively impossible this could have happened, there is no reason to believe that the letter was not composed before the translation of the prophet according to divine revelation. Either way it should have a tremendous impact on the wicked king.

The writing from Elijah first reminded Jehoram of the good examples in his predecessors, his fathers, he had ignored. David, Asa, and Jehoshaphat are specifically mentioned. God’s blessings in their reigns were enough to cause Jehoram to see how he ought to live his life. Instead, however, he had adopted the negative example of the house of Ahab and insisted that Judah partake of that spiritual fornication also. As the capstone of all Jehoram had committed fratricide, executing his six brothers, all of whom were better than himself, said the Lord. These men evidently protested the apostasy of Jehoram, along with their friends, who were also slain.

Because of these excesses Jehoram’s troubles were to extend to every part of him, his kingdom, his family, and his person. It would consist of a plague which would take away wives, children, and property. Jehoram would contract an awful disease, which would be compounded by other illnesses, and would eventually result in rupture of his very intestines until he died because of it.

The Philistines attacked the kingdom when Jehoram’s sins had weakened it beyond physical help. Then a force of Arabians from deep in the desert, adjacent to Ethiopia, came up against Jerusalem, breached the wall, and pillaged the palace. They took his wives and his sons, only one son escaping, the youngest. He is called Jehoahaz here, Ahaziah in other places. The names are the same, the "Jeho" prefix of the one, in the Hebrew, being the equivalent of the "-iah" suffix of the other, and the "Ahaz" appearing in both.

The terrible bowel disease also now attacked the king, his rupture becoming gradually worse until his intestines actually fell out, and he died. The people were relieved at Jehoram’s death, for there was no love manifested for him. The customary burning of sweet odors for him was not carried out. He had reigned only eight years and was only forty years of age. Sin soon runs its terrible course in the rebel against God. The case of Nabal is a good example of this (I Samuel, chapter 25). Jehoram was buried in the city of David, but was denied a sepulchre among the kings, his predecessors.