2 Chronicles 21:12-15 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

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 to Joram in few words, and according to his conception of it as a whole" (Bertheau); but "this judgment rests on dogmatic grounds, and flows from a principle which refuses to recognize any supernatural prediction in the prophetic utterances" (Keil).

3 . Elijah, the author named in the text. Besides being in the text, the word occurs in all existing Hebrew manuscripts and in all the Oriental versions.

II. THE DATE OF THE WRITING . Again different explanations.

1 . After Elijah ' s translation. The notions that either Elijah sent the letter from heaven by an angel (Grotius), or spoke it from the clouds (Menken), may be discarded as conjectures wanting in support from any intelligible analogies (Keil).

2 . Before Elijah ' s translation. Here two views emerge.

III. THE CONTENTS OF THE WRITING .

1 . A twofold accusation.

2 . A twofold retribution.

IV. THE FULFILMENT OF THE WRITING .

1 . The invasion of Jehoram ' s kingdom. ( 2 Chronicles 21:16 .)

2 . The affliction of Jehoram ' s body. Whatever the malady, a violent dysentery, or some disease of the intestines, it was

Learn:

1 . God's knowledge of the histories, characters, and actions of men ( Proverbs 15:3 ).

2 . God's ability to foresee and reveal to men the nature and tendency of their or others' acts ( Genesis 18:17 ; Genesis 41:28 ; 1 Samuel 9:15 ).

3 . God's determination to be avenged of them that do wickedly without respect of persons ( Psalms 34:16 ; Psalms 37:38 ).

4 . God's resources for executing his purposes of judgment or mercy.—W.