John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:5-11
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 read more
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 read more
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... read more
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. read more
A life spent in undoing. For the quarter of a century Jehoshaphat spent all his individual power and devoted all the weight of his royal office to the work of establishing piety, justice, and (in consequence) real prosperity throughout his kingdom. And right well he succeeded. When he died he left Judah much purer, stronger, and richer than he found it. Then came his firstborn son in succession to him. And what came with him? What else but a baneful and lamentable undoing of all that he... read more
A reign of unmitigated shame. To the career of Jehoshaphat of almost exemplary excellence, that of Jehoram, his son, forms a contrast most humiliating. Obviously it is not the least painful feature of this latter that it so inevitably forces into our memory the parental fault, which, if it were not the cause and very foundation of an eldest son s abandoned character and course of conduct, could not fail to have given opportunity for it, and could not fail to incur the responsibility before... read more
The character of Jehoram. I. A DEGENERATE SON . 1. The advantages Jehoram possessed. 2 . The disadvantages under which he laboured. II. AN UNNATURAL BROTHER . 1 . The names of Jehoram ' s brothers. Six in number; they had excellent names. 2 . The ranks of Jehoram ' s brothers. Princes of the blood royal, they were well provided for and well placed by their father, whose crown fell to Jehoram as heir-apparent. Great gifts of silver, gold,... read more
See 2 Kings 8:18. The writer of Kings only tells us in general terms that Jehoram “did evil in the sight of the Lord,” and “walked in the way of the house of Ahab.” Here, in 2 Chronicles 21:11, 2 Chronicles 21:13, we have particulars of his idolatry. Jehoram, it seems, seduced by the evil influence of his wife - Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab - permitted the introduction of Baal-worship, idolatrous altars in various high places, groves (Asherahs), images, and pillars; the people were not only... read more
2 Chronicles 21:11. He made high places Not to the Lord, whose sworn enemy he was, but to Baals, or false gods. Caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication Spiritual whoredom, or idolatry, seducing them to eat things sacrificed to idols, (Revelation 2:20,) not only by his counsel and example, but, as it follows, by force, by threats, and penalties. read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:1-11
We find here, I. That Jehoshaphat was a very careful indulgent father to Jehoram. He had many sons, who are here named (2 Chron. 21:2), and it is said (2 Chron. 21:13) that they were better than Jehoram, had a great deal more wisdom and virtue, and lived up to their education, which he went counter to. They were very hopeful, and any of them more fit for the crown than he; and yet, because he was the first-born (2 Chron. 21:3), his father secured the kingdom to him, and portioned his brethren... read more