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2 Kings Chapter
Twenty-one
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 21
This
chapter relates Jehoram's succession to the throne of Judah, and the murders
and idolatries committed by him, 2 Chronicles 21:1,
the revolt of the Edomites from him, and some of his own people, 2 Chronicles 21:8,
a writing of Elijah to him, threatening a great plague to him and his family, 2 Chronicles 21:12,
the raising up of several enemies against him, 2 Chronicles 21:16,
his sickness, death, and burial, 2 Chronicles 21:18.
2 Chronicles
21:1 And Jehoshaphat
rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David.
Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
YLT
1And Jehoshaphat lieth with
his fathers, and is buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram
his son reigneth in his stead.
Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers,.... See Gill
on 1 Kings 22:50.
2 Chronicles
21:2 2 He
had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael,
and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
YLT
2And he hath brethren, sons
of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael,
and Shephatiah; all these [are] sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel,
And he had brethren, the sons of Jehoshaphat,.... That is,
Jehoram had, who succeeded him: their names follow:
Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and
Shephatiah; two of them were of the same name; though it may be observed,
that in the Hebrew text they are somewhat distinguished, the latter is called
Azariah; Jehiel is said, by the JewsF24T. Hieros. Sanhedrin, fol.
29. 4. , to be the same with Hiel that rebuilt Jericho; indeed it was rebuilt
in the times of Jehoshaphat, and was a city of the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:21 which
was under his jurisdiction; but it can never be thought that he would ever
suffer a son of his to rebuild it; besides, he is expressly said to be a
Bethelite, 1 Kings 16:34,
all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel; which
generally, since the division of the kingdom, designs the ten tribes, but
cannot be the meaning here, because Jehoshaphat was only king of two tribes,
Judah and Benjamin; they were tribes of Israel indeed, and so he was king of a
part of Israel; and besides, many out of the ten tribes came and settled in his
kingdom, and were under his government; though some think he is so called,
because he concerned himself so much for the kingdom of Israel, and more than
for his own; but the Vulgate Latin, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions,
all read king of Judah; wherefore some are of opinion that Israel is a mistake
of the transcriber; but this need not be supposed, since he was of right king
of Israel, and was in fact king of two tribes that belonged to Israel.
2 Chronicles
21:3 3 Their
father gave them great gifts of silver and gold and precious things, with
fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was
the firstborn.
YLT
3and their father giveth to
them many gifts of silver and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced
cities in Judah, and the kingdom he hath given to Jehoram, for He [is] the
first-born.
And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and
of precious things,.... As jewels and precious stones; or precious garments, as the
Targum, in like manner as Abraham gave to his sons, when he sent them from
Isaac:
with fenced cities in Judah; not as their own
property, but he appointed them governors in them, to defend them against an
enemy, and as a mark of honour to them:
but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the
firstborn; strictly observing the law in Deuteronomy 21:16,
which was not always done; though it was reckoned by the Heathens contrary to
the law of nations to give the kingdom to the youngerF25Justin. e
Trogo, l. 16. c. 2. .
2 Chronicles 21:4 4 Now when Jehoram was
established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed
all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of
Israel.
YLT
4And Jehoram riseth up over
the kingdom of his father, and strengtheneth himself, and slayeth all his
brethren with the sword, and also -- of the heads of Israel.
Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father,.... Succeeded
him in it, and reigned alone, for he had reigned with his father some years
before his death; see Gill on 2 Kings 8:16,
he strengthened himself; in the kingdom, by some
means or another closely attaching the greater part of the princes, and people
of the land, unto him, when he thought himself well settled and established on
the throne; though some understand it of making strong, or hardening his heart
to do what is next mentioned:
and slew all his brethren with the sword; either to get
their riches into his hands, or lest, being religious princes, they should
oppose his restoring idolatry, and for that reason the people should depose
him, and set up one of them; and therefore he dispatched them out of the way to
secure himself, and carry his point:
and divers also of the princes of Israel; such who had
removed out of the ten tribes, for the sake of religion, and therefore would
never agree to the introduction of idolatry among them, for which reason
Jehoram slew them; and perhaps they might express their disapprobation and
abhorrence of his murder of his brethren.
2 Chronicles 21:5 5 Jehoram was
thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in
Jerusalem.
YLT
5A son of thirty and two
years [is] Jehoram in his reigning, and eight years he hath reigned in
Jerusalem,
Verses 5-10
Jehoram was thirty two years old,.... Of these verses; see
Gill on 2 Kings 8:17, 2 Kings 8:18, 2 Kings 8:19, 2 Kings 8:20, 2 Kings 8:21, 2 Kings 8:22
2 Chronicles 21:6 6 And he walked in the way
of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the
daughter of Ahab as a wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
YLT
6and he walketh in the way
of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab, for a daughter of Ahab hath
been to him for a wife, and he doth the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah,
2 Chronicles 21:7 7 Yet the Lord would not
destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with
David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
YLT
7and Jehovah hath not been
willing to destroy the house of David, for the sake of the covenant that He
made with David, and as He had said to give to him a lamp, and to his sons --
all the days.
2 Chronicles 21:8 8 In his days Edom revolted
against Judah’s authority, and made a king over themselves.
YLT
8In his days hath Edom
revolted from under the hand of Judah, and cause a king to reign over them;
2 Chronicles 21:9 9 So Jehoram went out with
his officers, and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and attacked
the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots.
YLT
9and Jehoram passeth over
with his heads, and all the chariots with him, and it cometh to pass, he hath
risen by night and smiteth the Edomites who are coming round against him, and
the princes of the chariots,
2 Chronicles 21:10 10 Thus Edom has been in
revolt against Judah’s authority to this day. At that time Libnah revolted
against his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his
fathers.
YLT
10and Edom revolteth from under
the hand of Judah unto this day; then doth Libnah revolt at that time from
under his hand, because he hath forsaken Jehovah, God of his fathers,
2 Chronicles 21:11 11 Moreover he made high
places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to
commit harlotry, and led Judah astray.
YLT
11also, he hath made high
places in the mountains of Judah, and causeth the inhabitants of Jerusalem to
commit whoredom, and compelleth Judah.
Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah,.... Temples
and altars for idols, which, being built on mountains, had the name of high
places; and these Jehoram made or rebuilt were those which had been pulled down
by Asa and Jehoshaphat:
and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication; that is,
idolatry, drawing them by his own example to worship Baal, for he did what Ahab
and his family did, 2 Chronicles 21:6,
and compelled Judah thereto; the inhabitants of Jerusalem falling into the same
idolatrous practice with him, he forced the inhabitants of the cities, and in
the country, to do the same, who it seems were not so willing and ready to
comply therewith.
2 Chronicles 21:12 12 And a letter came to him
from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the Lord God of your
father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your
father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
YLT
12And there cometh in unto
him a writing from Elijah the prophet, saying, `Thus said Jehovah, God of David
thy father, Because that thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy
father, and in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet,.... Not what
was written by him after his ascension to heaven, and from thence came to
Jehoram, even seven years after that, as say some Jewish writersF26Seder
Olam Rabba, c. 17. Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 12. 1. A. M. 3050. ; nor
was it a writing from another person of the same name in those times, since of
such an one we nowhere read; nor from Elisha bearing the name of Elijah, having
a double portion of his spirit on him, since he is never so called; but this
was a writing of Elijah's before his ascension, who, foreseeing by a spirit of
prophecy what Jehoram would be guilty of, wrote this, and gave it to one of the
prophets, as Kimchi suggests, and most probably to Elisha, to communicate it to
him at a proper time; and who might, as the above writer intimates, think it
came immediately from heaven:
saying, thus saith the Lord God of David thy father; and from
whose God he had departed, and to which ancestor of his he was so much unlike:
because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy
father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah; neither trod in the
steps of his father nor grandfather.
2 Chronicles
21:13 13 but
have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot like the harlotry of the house of
Ahab, and also have killed your brothers, those of your father’s household, who
were better than yourself,
YLT
13and thou dost walk in the
way of the kings of Israel, and dost cause Judah and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem to commit whoredom like the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also
thy brethren, the house of thy father, who are better than thyself, thou hast
slain;
And hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel,....
Worshipping the calves, and even Baal, with other idols, as they did:
and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a
whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab; meaning
spiritual whoredoms or idolatries:
and hast also slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were
better than thyself; more religious, more humane, more prudent, and fitter for
government.
2 Chronicles
21:14 14 behold,
the Lord
will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives,
and all your possessions;
YLT
14lo, Jehovah is smiting -- a
great smiting -- among thy people, and among thy sons, and among thy wives, and
among all thy goods –
Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people,.... They
going into the same idolatry with himself willingly, at least great part of
them, and therefore deserved to be smitten, and which would be a punishment to
him:
and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods; which should
be carried captive, as the event shows.
2 Chronicles
21:15 15 and
you will become very sick with a disease of your intestines, until your
intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.
YLT
15and thou, with many
sicknesses, with disease of thy bowels, till thy bowels come out, by the
sickness, day by day.'
And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels,.... Which was
a just retaliation to him, for having no bowels of compassion on his brethren
whom he slew:
until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day; that
continuing day after day, and even year after year, the space of two years, as
appears from 2 Chronicles 21:19.
2 Chronicles
21:16 16 Moreover
the Lord
stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians who were
near the Ethiopians.
YLT
16And Jehovah waketh up
against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, who [are]
beside the Cushim,
Moreover, the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the
Philistines,.... Which had been depressed in the times of Jehoshaphat, to
whom they brought their presents and tribute willingly, 2 Chronicles 17:11.
and of the Arabians that were near the Ethiopians; not the
Ethiopians of Africa, as the Targum, for the Arabians were not near them, but
the Chusaean Arabs or Midianites, see Numbers 12:1. The
Targum is, the Word of the Lord did this.
2 Chronicles
21:17 17 And
they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions
that were found in the king’s house, and also his sons and his wives, so that
there was not a son left to him except Jehoahaz,[a] the
youngest of his sons.
YLT
17and they come up into
Judah, and rend it, and take captive all the substance that is found at the
house of the king, and also his sons, and his wives, and there hath not been
left to him a son except Jehoahaz the youngest of his sons.
And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, &c. l In
an hostile manner:
and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's
house, his gold, silver, and precious things, the rich furniture of his
palace; no mention is made of any other plunder in the city, or the country; so
that they seem to have had their principal eye to the king's palace, and the
spoil of that; being so directed by the providence of God, who had stirred them
up to do this as a punishment of Jehoram:
and his sons also, and his wives; these they also carried
away, all but Athaliah, who hid herself; he through his disease not being able
to make any opposition, or to get any forces together to withstand them:
so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest
of his sons; the same that is called Ahaziah and Azariah, 2 Chronicles 22:1
so the prophecy in 2 Chronicles 21:14
was fulfilled.
2 Chronicles 21:18 18 After all this the Lord struck him in
his intestines with an incurable disease.
YLT
18And after all this hath
Jehovah plagued him in his bowels by a disease for which there is no healing,
After all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable
disease. What it was is not agreed upon; some take it be an
"hernia", or rupture; others, the falling of the "anus", or
a fistula in it; others, the colic, or iliac passion; but generally it is
thought to be a dysentery, or bloody flux; the Targum is,"the Word of the
Lord broke him.'
2 Chronicles 21:19 19 Then it happened in the
course of time, after the end of two years, that his intestines came out
because of his sickness; so he died in severe pain. And his people made no
burning for him, like the burning for his fathers.
YLT
19and it cometh to pass, from
days to days, and at the time of the going out of the end of two years, his
bowels have gone out with his sickness, and he dieth of sore diseases, and his
people have not made for him a burning like the burning of his fathers.
And it came to pass that in process of time, after the end of two
years,.... So long he was afflicted and tortured with the above
disease:
his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness; either in
like manner as Judas's did, Acts 1:18 or as in
the manner the bowels of Arius are said to do, while sitting on the seat of the
vaultF1Sozomen. Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c. 29, 30. ; or perhaps only what
was contained in the bowels is meant, if it was the colic:
so he died of sore diseases; he seems to have had a
complication of them, and these very painful and distressing:
and the people made no burning for him, like the burnings of his
fathers; as they did for his grandfather Asa, 2 Chronicles 16:14,
they did not burn spices or odoriferous wood, as the Targum; though his body,
because of the stench of it, needed it, as Jarchi observes.
2 Chronicles 21:20 20 He was thirty-two years
old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s
sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the
tombs of the kings.
YLT
20A son of thirty and two
[years] was he in his reigning, and eight years he hath reigned in Jerusalem,
and he goeth without desire, and they bury him in the city of David, and not in
the graves of the kings.
Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he
reigned in Jerusalem eight years,.... See 2 Kings 8:17,
and departed without being desired; to live, either by
himself, being weary of life through the pain he endured; or by his people, he
being so wicked a prince, and so ill beloved by them, that nobody wished to
have him live, but were glad to hear of his death; the meaning is, he died
unlamented; his death is expressed by a departing out of this world into
another, a phrase more than once used for death in the New Testament, see John 13:1,
howbeit, they buried him in the city of David, but not in the
sepulchres of the kings; they showed him some respect for the sake of his father, by
burying him in the city of David, but denied him the honour of lying in the
royal sepulchres, see 2 Kings 8:24.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)