Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 21

Verses 1-20

2 Chronicles 21:1-20 . The Reign of Jehoram (see notes on 1 Kings 22:50, 2 Kings 8:17-22).— A large part of this section has nothing corresponding to it in 1 and 2 K.

2 Chronicles 21:1. Cf. 1 Kings 22:50.

2 Chronicles 21:5-7 . Cf. 2 Kings 8:17-22.

2 Chronicles 21:7 . a lamp to him and. . . : the “ lamp” is an expression symbolic of a man’ s life commemorated and thus continued in his posterity; cf. the “ torch of life” illustrated by the Lampadephoria of the Greeks.

2 Chronicles 21:8-10 . Cf. 2 Kings 8:20-22; in 2 Chronicles 21:9 the Chronicler omits the words of 2 Kings 8:21 b, “ and the people fled to their tents,” which refer to Jehoram’ s army.

2 Chronicles 21:11-15 . This supposed letter of Elijah can scarcely be historical; he was a prophet of the northern kingdom. It is probably due to the Chronicler, who wished to emphasize the fact that Jehoram’ s disease was the work of Yahweh ( 2 Chronicles 21:18) by making the prophet of Yahweh foretell it; cf. the case of Ahaziah ( 2 Kings 1:4).

2 Chronicles 21:16 f. the Arabians. . . : cf. notes on 2 Chronicles 14:9 ff.— Jehoahaz: Ahaziah (see. 2 Chronicles 22:1) .— the burning: see note on 2 Chronicles 16:14.— without being desired: for the idea see Jeremiah 22:18.