1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, (see Deut. 31:16; and contrast his ally's end [18:34]) and was buried with his fathers in the city of David.
G7 D -1-5. Introduction.
E 6,7. Events. Personal.
E 8-10. Events. Public.
D 20. Conclusion.
And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. (He was designated to be king in the 17th year of his father, but crowned in his father's 23rd year. He reigned 8 years in Jerusalem: 2 with his father, and 6 after his father's death [cp. 2 Kings 1:17; 8:16].)
796-788 B.C.
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 Judah.
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.
4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, (this mischief of his marriage [18:1] was thus seen soon. The enemies design into breaking into the royal line so as to destroy the promises og Gen. 3:15 and Sam. 7:16 is seen. Jehoshaphat had made the beginning [18:1]; Jehoram follows it up in [21:4]; the Arabians continue the assault [21:17; 22:1]; Athaliah nearly succeeds in accomplishing the design of Satan [22:10]) 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: (i.e. Athaliah) and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.
7 However 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 lamp to him and to his sons for ever. (Cp. 1 Kings 15:4; 11:36. The word always refers to this promise to David.)
E n 8-10. Revolts. Edom and Libnah.
o 11-15. Judgments. Prophesied.
n 16,17. Invasions. Philistines and Arabians.
o 18,19. Judgments. Fulfilled.
8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, (thus fulfilling Gen. 27:40. Cp. 2 Kings 8:20) and made themselves a king.
9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, (cp. 2 Kings 8:21. They went to Zair) 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 to this day. (cp. 2 Kings 8:22) The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers. (Libnah was a city of the priests [Josh. 21:13]. The Temple was broken up [24:4,7], and the priests combined to dethrone Athaliah, and to restore the worship of Yehovah [23:14-17; 24:4-11])
11 Moreover he made high places in the cities of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, (literal as well as spiritual, connected with the worship of the 'Ashērah. See Deut. 16:31) and compelled Judah thereto. (Cp. Deut. 4:19)
12 And there was brought a writing to him (why assume that Elijah then sent it? It may have "come" as Holy Scripture comes to us today, though written in the past. It does not say a "letter" [which would be 'iggereth, or sepher a book], but any writing, written at any time; probably a prophetic writing to be delivered at this particular time) from Elijah the prophet, (long since risen [2 Kings 2: cp. 3:11]. This is only mentioned of Elijah in Chronicles) saying, "Thus saith the Lord God of David your father, 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
13 But have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also have slain your brethren of your father's house, which were better than thyself:
14 Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite your people, and your sons, and your wives, and all your goods:
15 And you shall have great sickness by disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.' "
16 Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, (these were tributaries before this [17:11]) and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
17 And they came up into Judah, (and as far as Jerusalem, which also they took) 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; (except Athaliah) so that there was never a son left him, (this shows how nearly the plot of the great enemy succeeded in breaking up the royal line. See v.4) save Jehoahaz, (or Ahaziah [22:1], or Azariah [22:6]. All the same meaning = Yahaveh takes hold. On the various spelling of the names, see 1 Chron. 25:11) the youngest of his sons.
18 And after all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
796 B.C.
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. (i.e. of spices)
20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed unregretted. However they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchers of the kings.