--- title: "Clarke" description: "reign of eight years, 18-20. NOTES ON CHAP. XXI Verse 2 Chronicles 21:2. And he had brethren - the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel. — Jehoshaphat cert" image: "/images/missing.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-chronicles/21" --- *reign of eight years*, 18-20. NOTES ON CHAP. XXI Verse [2 Chronicles 21:2](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/2). ***And he had brethren - the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of**********Israel.*** — Jehoshaphat certainly was not king of *Israel*, but king of *Judah*. ישראל Yisrael must be a corruption in the text, for יהודה *Yehudah*; which is the reading of the *Syriac, Arabic,* *Septuagint*, and *Vulgate*: the *Chaldee*, only agrees with the Hebrew text. And the reading of the *versions* is supported by *thirty-eight* of *Kennicott's* and *De Rossi's* MSS. The word *Judah* should therefore be restored to the text. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:3](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/3). ***The kingdom gave he to Jehoram*** — He made him co-partner with himself in the kingdom about *three* years before his death; so that he reigned only *five* years after the death of his father Jehoshaphat. See the notes on [2 Kings 8:16](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/16), c. and on the same, [2 Chronicles 1:17](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/1/17), where an attempt is made to settle this disturbed chronology. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:4](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/4). ***Slew all his brethren*** — What a truly diabolic thing is the *lust of power*! it destroys all the charities of life, and renders those who are under its influence the truest resemblants of the arch fiend. That he might sit the more secure upon his throne, this execrable man imbrues his hands in the blood of his own brothers! There are more instances of this species of cruelty among bad Asiatic kings than among any other class of men. The history of every country abounds in proofs; even that of our own is not the least barren. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/6). ***He had the daughter of Ahab to wife*** — This was *Athaliah*, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, who was famous for her impieties and cruelty, as was her most profligate mother. It is likely that she was the principal cause of Jehoram's cruelty and profaneness. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:7](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/7). ***To give a light to him*** — To give him a *descendant*. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:8](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/8). ***In his days the Edomites revolted*** — See on [2 Kings 8:21](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/21). Verse [2 Chronicles 21:11](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/11). ***To commit fornication*** — That is, to *serve idols*. The Israelites were considered as joined to Jehovah as a *woman* is joined to her *husband*: when *she* associates with *other men*, this is *adultery*; when *they* served *other gods*, this was called by the same name, it was *adultery* against Jehovah. This is frequently the only meaning of the terms *adultery* and *fornication* in the Scriptures. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:12](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/12). ***There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet*** — From [2 Kings 2:11](../../../kjv/2-kings/2/11), it is evident that Elijah had been translated in the reign of Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram. How then could he send a letter to the son? Some say he sent it from heaven by an angel; others, that by the spirit of prophecy he foresaw this defection of Jehoram, and left the letter with Elisha, to be sent to him when this defection should take place; others say that *Elijah* is put here for *Elisha*; and others, that *this Elijah* was not the *same* that was translated, but another prophet of the same name. There are others who think that, as Elijah was still in the *body*, for he did not *die*, but was *translated*, he sent this letter from that secret place in which he was hidden by the Almighty. All the *versions* have *Elijah*, and all the MSS. the same reading. Dr. *Kennicott* contends that *Elisha* was the writer; for *Elijah* had been taken up to heaven *thirteen* years before the time of this writing. Our *margin* says, the letter *was written* *before his assumption*, and refers to [2 Kings 2:1](../../../kjv/2-kings/2/1). These are all *conjectures*; and I could add *another* to their number, but still we should be where we were. I should adopt the conjecture relative to *Elisha*, were not every *Hebrew* MS., and *all* *the Oriental versions*, against it; to which may be added, that the author of this book does not once mention *Elisha* in any part of his work. It is certainly a possible case that this *writing* might have been a *prediction* of Jehoram's impiety and miserable death, delivered in the time of the prophet, and which was now laid before this wicked king for the first time: and by it the prophet, though not among mortals, still continued to speak. I can see no solid reason against this opinion. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:14](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/14). ***Will the Lord smite*** — "The WORD of the Lord will send a great mortality." - *Targum*. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:15](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/15). ***Until thy bowels fall out*** — This must have been occasioned by a violent inflammation: by the same death perished *Antiochus Epiphanes*, and *Herod Agrippa*. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/16). ***The Philistines, and - the Arabians*** — We have no other account of this war. Though it was a predatory war, yet it appears to have been completely ruinous and destructive. What a general curse fell upon this bad king; in his *body, soul, substance,* *family*, and *government*! Verse [2 Chronicles 21:17](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/17). ***Save Jehoahaz the youngest*** — This person had at least *three* names, *Jehoahaz, Ahaziah*, ([2 Chronicles 22:1](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/22/1),) and *Azariah*, ([2 Chronicles 22:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/22/6).) Verse [2 Chronicles 21:18](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/18). ***The Lord smote him*** — "And after all these things the WORD Of the Lord smote his bowels," &c. - *Targum*. Verse [2 Chronicles 21:19](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/19). ***After the end of two years, his bowels fell out*** — The *Targum* seems to intimate that he had a constipation and inflammation in his bowels; and that at last his bowels gushed out. ***No burning*** — "His people made no burning of aromatic woods for him, as they had done for his forefathers." - *Targum*. See on [2 Chronicles 16:14](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/16/14). Verse [2 Chronicles 21:20](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/21/20). ***Departed without being desired.*** — He was hated while he lived, and neglected when he died; visibly cursed of God, and necessarily execrated by the people whom he had lived only to corrupt and oppress. No *annalist* is mentioned as having taken the pains to write any account of his vile life. This summary mention of him consigns him to the execration of posterity, and holds in the view of every prudent governor, the rock on which he split and wrecked the state. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-chronicles/21#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Clarke's Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-chronicles/21#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-chronicles/21","name":"Clarke's Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-chronicles/21#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"reign of eight years, 18-20. 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