Jehoshaphat dies 1
Jehoram kills his brothers and becomes king 4
Edom in rebellion against Judah 8
Letter from prophet Elijah 12
The Lord sent the philistines and the Arabs against Judah 16
Jehoram died at age 40 and no one was sorry 20
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¶ Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his
fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
.2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. .3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn. |
1 -
Jehoram reigned He had been coregent with his father for two years
2ki0816.
2 - King of Israel This term was applied to the whole kingdom, then to the northern part after the whole land was split. Here it designated only the southern part, usually called Judah. Israel may be seen as the name of the Southern Kingdom also in 2ch1201, etc. 3 - Great gifts Rehoboam had done something similar 2ch1123. 3 - Firstborn This was the custom and in the plan of God de2115. But there were exceptions 1ch2805. |
| .4
Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened
himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the
princes of Israel.
.5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. .6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. 7 Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever. |
4 - Slew his brethren They had been given charge of various cities and could have been a threat. Of course this was still murder v13. His wife, Athaliah, may have influenced him. She later committed a similar crime 2ch2210. |
| .8
In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and
made themselves a king.
.9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots. 10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers. 11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto. |
8 -
Edomites revolted Their nation had apparently been occupied by Jehoshaphat
1ki2247,
2ch2036.
11 - High places These had been removed 2ch1403, 2ch1706. 11 - Fornication In the worship of heathen gods. No doubt under the influence of Athaliah who was daughter of Ahab and his pagan wife, Jezebel. Satan often tempts to exercise sexual sin. |
| .12
¶ And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,
Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked
in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
.13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself: 14 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: 15 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day. |
12
- Elijah This is the only mention of him in the Chronicles, probably
because their focus was more on the kingdom of Judah while he was in the
Northern Kingdom of Israel. His life is covered in 1ki17-21
and 2ki01 and 02.
13-15 - [Jehoram] walked in the way of Kings of Israel "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." (JFB Commentary) |
| .16
Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines,
and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. |
16
- Against Jehoram "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!" (Clarke)
17 - Jehoahaz Also known as Ahaziah 2ch2201, 2ki0824-26. He is also Azariah. The names have common Hebrew meanings. |
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And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. |
19 - Burning Usually they burned fragrant spices and woods. 2ch1614, je3405. |
| .20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings. | Not in sepulchres See 2ch2425. |
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