2 Chronicles 21:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:3

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 21:3

The kingdom gave he to Jehoram - He made him co-partner with himself in the kingdom about three years before his death; so that he reigned only five years after the death of his father Jehoshaphat. See the notes on 2 Kings 8:16 , etc.; and on the same, 2 Chronicles 1:17 , where an attempt is made to settle this disturbed chronology. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:1-11

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:1-20

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:1-20

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:2-11

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:3

The father's foreseeing care issued very differently from what he had thought, waking now the greed and murderous intent of Jehoram. Jehoshaphat, nevertheless, was but following in the wake of the head of the separated kingdom of Judah, Rehoboam ( 2 Chronicles 11:22 , 2 Chronicles 11:23 ), wherein he is said to have "dealt wisely;" even the parallel (in the matter of one son Abijah, sen of Maachah, the favourite wife, being appointed king) obtaining there in an aggravated form, as he was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Chronicles 21:3

Jehoshaphat departed from Rehoboam’s policy (2 Chronicles 11:23 note), actually making over to his sons the “fenced cities” in which they dwelt. This, it is probable, provoked the jealousy of Jehoram, and induced him to put them to death 2 Chronicles 21:4.Because he was the firstborn - Compare Deuteronomy 21:15-17. Exceptions to this rule in the northern and southern kingdoms are Solomon, where divine appointment superseded the natural order, Abijah 2 Chronicles 11:22 note), and Jehoahaz (2... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Chronicles 21:3

2 Chronicles 21:3. With fenced cities of Judah Over which he made them governors. This he seems to have done prudently; thus providing well for them, that they might not be tempted to envy their brother the kingdom, nor to quarrel among themselves: but “things excellently designed,” says Strigelius, from Cicero, “have often a very ill event.” This wealth and authority of theirs, made their brother first fear them, and then, through his wicked covetousness, contrive to cut them off, that he... read more

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