2 Chronicles 21: Jehoram kills his brothers, and Elijah's letter
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What happens?
Jehoshaphat dies and his son Jehoram becomes king. Jehoram kills all his brothers and some of the princes of Israel, walks in the way of the kings of Israel because he is married to Ahab's daughter, and Edom and Libnah revolt against him. A letter comes from Elijah the prophet saying that Yahweh will strike his people and that he will have a bowel disease. The Philistines and Arabians carry off his possessions, his wives and his sons except the youngest, Yahweh strikes him with an incurable disease, and he dies, buried in David's city but not in the tombs of the kings.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. In verses 12 to 15 a letter comes from Elijah the prophet. It begins "Yahweh, the God of David your father, says", but these are the words of a letter written by a person, so they are not in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city; and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.
In plain English: Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in David's city. His son Jehoram became king in his place.
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2He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
In plain English: Jehoram had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah (spelled a little differently in Hebrew), Michael and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
Good to know: Two of the six sons are called Azariah. The Hebrew spells the first Azaryah and the second Azaryahu, both with the same dictionary entry. The text does not say more about them.
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3Their father gave them great gifts of silver, of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
In plain English: Their father gave them many gifts of silver, gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah. But he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
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4Now when Jehoram had risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel.
In plain English: When Jehoram had risen up over his father's kingdom and made himself strong, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the leaders of Israel.
Good to know: The text says it plainly: Jehoram killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the leaders of Israel. tells his reign without this killing. Verse 13 comes back to it, and verse 17 says the youngest of his own sons was the only one left to him.
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5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
In plain English: Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
Good to know: gives the same age and reign, thirty-two years old and eight years in Jerusalem. Verse 20 repeats both.
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6He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did Ahab’s house, for he had Ahab’s daughter as his wife. He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight.
In plain English: He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as Ahab's house did, for Ahab's daughter was his wife. He did what was evil in Yahweh's eyes.
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7However Yahweh would not destroy David’s house, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children always.
In plain English: Yet Yahweh was not willing to destroy David's house, because of the covenant he had made with David, and because he had said he would give a lamp to David and to his descendants always (literally: all the days).
Good to know: says nearly the same, but there Yahweh would not destroy "Judah" for David his servant's sake, and the covenant is not named. This verse says "David's house" and names the covenant.
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8In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.
In plain English: In his days Edom rebelled against Judah (literally: from under the hand of Judah) and made a king over themselves.
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9Then Jehoram went there with his captains and all his chariots with him. He rose up by night and struck the Edomites who surrounded him, along with the captains of the chariots.
In plain English: So Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots. He got up by night and struck down the Edomites who were surrounding him, and the commanders of the chariots.
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10So Edom has been in revolt from under the hand of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.
In plain English: So Edom has been in revolt against Judah to this day. Libnah also rebelled at that time against him (literally: from under his hand), because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.
Good to know: says Edom revolted "to this day" and that Libnah revolted at the same time, and gives no reason. This verse adds the reason: "because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers". Jehoram's night battle against Edom is in verse 9; also says he crossed over, to Zair, and that the people fled to their tents.
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11Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem play the prostitute, and led Judah astray.
In plain English: He also made high places in the mountains of Judah. He made the people living in Jerusalem play the prostitute, and he pushed Judah astray.
The Hebrew word: "Play the prostitute" is zanah, which the dictionary gives as "to commit adultery ... figuratively, to commit idolatry". It is in only 2 verses of 2 Chronicles, here and in verse 13, and this Bible says "prostitute" in both. The text does not say what Jehoram did beyond making high places.
Good to know: The making of high places is not in the 2 Kings account of Jehoram.
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12A letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Yahweh, the God of David your father, says, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
In plain English: A letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "Yahweh, the God of David your father, says: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Good to know: This is the only place in 2 Chronicles where Elijah is named, in 1 verse of the book. The text does not say when the letter was written. Verses 12 to 15 are the words of a letter from Elijah, who writes what Yahweh says.
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13but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute like Ahab’s house did, and also have slain your brothers of your father’s house, who were better than yourself,
In plain English: but you have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the people living in Jerusalem play the prostitute, as Ahab's house did, and you have also killed your brothers, your father's house, who were better than you,
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14behold, Yahweh will strike your people with a great plague, including your children, your wives, and all your possessions;
In plain English: see, Yahweh is about to strike your people with a great blow (this Bible: plague), and your sons, your wives and all your property.
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15and you will have great sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.’”
In plain English: And you will be very sick with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the sickness, day after day."
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16Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians who are beside the Ethiopians;
In plain English: Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit (or: the mind, the will) of the Philistines and of the Arabs who are beside the Cushites.
The Hebrew word: "Spirit" is ruach, which the dictionary gives as "wind; ... breath ... spirit". It is in 10 verses of 2 Chronicles, and this Bible says "spirit" in all 10. Here Yahweh stirs up "the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians".
What changes: Read as "spirit" in the sense of the mind or will, Yahweh moves the people to come. The text does not say how he did it.
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17and they came up against Judah, broke into it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house, including his sons and his wives, so that there was no son left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
In plain English: They came up against Judah, broke into it, and carried away all the property found in the king's house, and also his sons and his wives. No son was left to him except Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
Good to know: The youngest son is called Jehoahaz here. In the people of Jerusalem make "Ahaziah his youngest son" king. The Hebrew has two different names, and the text does not say whether they are one man.
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18After all this Yahweh struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
In plain English: After all this, Yahweh struck him in his bowels with a sickness that had no healing.
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19In process of time, at the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of severe diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
In plain English: As the days went by, about the time the end of two years came, his bowels came out because of his sickness, and he died of severe diseases. His people made no burning for him, like the burning for his fathers.
The Hebrew word: "Burning" is serefah, which the dictionary gives as "cremation". The word is in 2 verses of 2 Chronicles, here and , where the people "made a very great fire" for Asa. The text does not say what was burned.
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20He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He departed with no one’s regret. They buried him in David’s city, but not in the tombs of the kings.
In plain English: He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He went with no desire (or: with no one's regret). They buried him in David's city, but not in the tombs of the kings.
The Hebrew words: Word for word the Hebrew says "he went with not desire". The word for "desire" (chemdah) the dictionary gives as "delight". The WEB reads it as "with no one's regret".
What changes: Read as no one's regret, nobody mourned his going. Read as "without desire", he went without anyone's delight in him. The text does not say which.
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