2 Chronicles 21:2-4

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 21:2

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 Jews F24 T. Hieros. Sanhedrin, fol. 29. 4. , to be the same with Hiel that rebuilt Jericho; indeed it was rebuilt in the... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Chronicles 21:4

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... read more

Adam Clarke

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

And he had brethren - the sons of Jehoshaphat , king of Israel . - Jehoshaphat certainly was not king of Israel, but king of Judah. ישראל Yisrael must be a corruption in the text, for יהודה Yehudah ; which is the reading of the Syriac, Arabic, Septuagint, and Vulgate: the Chaldee, only agrees with the Hebrew text. And the reading of the versions is supported by thirty-eight of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. The word Judah should therefore be restored to the text. 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Chronicles 21:4

Slew all his brethren - What a truly diabolic thing is the lust of power! it destroys all the charities of life, and renders those who are under its influence the truest resemblants of the arch fiend. That he might sit the more secure upon his throne, this execrable man imbrues his hands in the blood of his own brothers! There are more instances of this species of cruelty among bad Asiatic kings than among any other class of men. The history of every country abounds in proofs; even... 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

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