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 . read more
Until thy bowels fall out - This must have been occasioned by a violent inflammation: by the same death perished Antiochus Epiphanes, and Herod Agrippa. 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 letter of Elijah. I. THE AUTHOR OF THE WRITING . Various suggestions. 1 . Elisha, who entered on the duties of his calling before the death of Jehoshaphat ( 2 Kings 3:11 ), and who accordingly would be the most likely party from whom should proceed such a communication as Jehoram received. In this case the name of Elijah must have been substituted in the text for that of Elisha (Kennicott, Jamieson). 2 . A later historian, "who describes the relation of Elijah... read more
Therefore against Jehoram and Judas Iscariot and Herod was it decreed that their very bowels should bear witness. read more
2 Chronicles 21:15. By reason of the sickness day by day That is, from day to day continually, Hebrew, days upon days: or, (as days are often put for a year,) year upon year: that is, one year after another for two years, as the event shows, 2 Chronicles 21:19. read more
Jezebel’s Baalism in Judah (21:1-23:21)The Baalism of Ahab and Jezebel remained strong in the northern kingdom during the successive reigns of their sons Ahaziah and Joram (2 Kings 1:1-8:15). It spread to Judah in the reign of Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram, who was married to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (21:1-20; see notes on 2 Kings 8:16-24).Judah’s next king, Ahaziah, at the direction of his mother Athaliah and her northern relatives, cooperated with the idolatrous northern... read more
E. Jehoram ch. 21The events from Jehoram’s reign that the Chronicler selected present a classic example of the consequences that follow departing from Yahweh. The king violated God’s will by murdering his brothers (2 Chronicles 21:4) and practicing idolatry (2 Chronicles 21:6)."Jehoram is the first king of the Davidic line of whom the Chronicler’s judgment is totally negative." [Note: Williamson, 1 and 2 . . ., p. 303.] "There is both irony and retributive justice in that Jehoram sets in motion... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:12-20
Here we have, I. A warning from God sent to Jehoram by a writing from Elijah the prophet. By this it appears that Jehoram came to the throne, and showed himself what he was before Elijah's translation. It is true we find Elisha attending Jehoshaphat, and described as pouring water on the hands of Elijah, after the story of Elijah's translation (2 Kgs. 3:11); but that might be, and that description might be given of him, while Elijah was yet on earth: and it is certain that that history is put... read more