---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  2 Chronicles 21"
description: "CHAPTER 21   :-. JEHORAM
SUCCEEDS JEHOSHAPHAT. 1-4. Jehoshaphat slept with his
fathers . . . Jehoram . . . reigned—The late king left seven
sons; two of t"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/2-chronicles/21"
---

CHAPTER 21

. JEHORAM
SUCCEEDS JEHOSHAPHAT.

**1-4. Jehoshaphat slept with his
fathers . . . Jehoram . . . reigned**—The late king left seven
sons; two of them are in our version named Azariah; but in the Hebrew
they appear considerably different, the one being spelt "Azariah,"
and the other "Azariahu." Though Jehoshaphat had made his
family arrangements with prudent precaution, and while he divided the
functions of royalty in his lifetime (compare ), as well as fixed the succession to the throne in his
oldest son, he appointed each of the others to the government of a
fenced city, thus providing them with an honorable independence. But
this good intentions were frustrated; for no sooner did Jehoram find
himself in the sole possession of sovereign power than, from
jealousy, or on account of their connections, he murdered all his
brothers, together with some leading influential persons who, he
suspected, were attached to their interest, or would avenge their
deaths. Similar tragedies have been sadly frequent in Eastern courts,
where the heir of the crown looks upon his brothers as his most
formidable enemies, and is therefore tempted to secure his power by
their death.
. HIS WICKED
REIGN.

**6, 7. he walked . . . as did the
house of Ahab, for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife**—The
precepts and examples of his excellent father were soon obliterated
by his matrimonial alliance with a daughter of the royal house of
Israel. Through the influence of Athaliah he abolished the worship of
the Lord, and encouraged an introduction of all the corruptions
prevalent in the sister kingdom. The divine vengeance was denounced
against him, and would have utterly destroyed him and his house, had
it not been for a tender regard to the promise made to David ([2 Samuel 7:29](../../../kjv/2-samuel/7/29);
[2 Kings 8:19](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/19)).
[2 Kings 8:19](../../../kjv/2-kings/8/19). EDOM AND
LIBNAH REVOLT.

**8-10. the Edomites revolted**—That
nation had been made dependent by David, and down to the time of
Jehoshaphat was governed by a tributary ruler ([1 Kings 22:47](../../../kjv/1-kings/22/47);
[2 Kings 3:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/3/9)). But that king having
been slain in an insurrection at home, his successor thought to
ingratiate himself with his new subjects by raising the flag of
independence [JOSEPHUS].
The attempt was defeated in the first instance by Jehoram, who
possessed all the military establishments of his father; but being
renewed unexpectedly, the Edomites succeeded in completely
emancipating their country from the yoke of Judah ([2 Kings 3:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/3/9)). Libnah, which lay on the southern frontier and towards
Edom, followed the example of that country.

**12-15. there came a writing to him
from Elijah the prophet**—That prophet's translation having taken
place in the reign of Jehoshaphat [[2 Kings 2:11](../../../kjv/2-kings/2/11);
[2 Kings 2:12](../../../kjv/2-kings/2/12)], we must conclude that
the name of Elijah has, by the error of a transcriber, been put for
that of Elisha.

**13-19. hast made Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem . . . like to the whoredoms of the house of
Ahab**—that is, introduced the superstitions and vices of
Phoelignician idolatry (see on ). On this account, as well as for his unnatural
cruelties, divine vengeance was denounced against him, which was soon
after executed exactly as the prophet had foretold. A series of
overwhelming calamities befell this wicked king; for in addition to
the revolts already mentioned, two neighboring tribes (see ) made hostile incursions on the southern and western
portions of his kingdom. His country was ravaged, his capital taken,
his palace plundered, his wives carried off, and all his children
slain except the youngest. He himself was seized with an incurable
dysentery, which, after subjecting him to the most painful suffering
for the unusual period of two years, carried him off, a monument of
the divine judgment. To complete his degradation, his death was
unlamented, his burial unhonored by his subjects. This custom,
similar to what obtained in Egypt, seems to have crept in among the
Hebrews, of giving funeral honors to their kings, or withholding
them, according to the good or bad characters of their reign.

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