2 Crônicas 21
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 21
NJB (LXX versing) Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat in Judah Jehoram Reigns in Judah Jehoram's Wicked Reign and His Punishment 21:1-3 21:1-3 21:2-7 King Jehoram of Judah Accession of Jehoram; He Massacres His Brothers 21:2-4 21:2-4 21:4-7 21:4-7 21:5-7 21:5-7 Revolt Against Judah The Disasters of His Reign 21:8-11 21:8-11 21:8-10 21:8-11 21:8-11 21:11-15 21:12-15 21:12-15 21:12-15 21:12-15 21:16-17 21:16-17 21:16-17 21:16-17 21:16-19 21:18-20 21:18-20 21:18-20 21:18-19 21:20 21:20 Etc.
2 Crônicas 21:1-3
21:1 "slept with his fathers" This is not literal. It is a Hebraic idiom for burial. There was a royal tomb where most of the kings were buried (cf. 2 Chr. 21:20). SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? SPECIAL TOPIC: BURIAL PRACTICES "the city of David" This designation could, depending on the context, refer to Bethlehem, the place of David's birth and childhood Jerusalem, the place where David built his palace, the capital of his kingdom 21:2-3 Jehoshaphat's sons (LXX adds "six") are named. They were given some governmental responsibilities (i.e., control of some fortified cities), as well as much wealth. Their firstborn brother will feel threatened by them and have them killed (cf. 2 Chr. 21:4). This would have damaged the Messianic line and required a son from Jehoram (cf. v. 17, "Jehoahaz," also called "Ahaziah"). Jehoshaphat was blessed by God with seven sons but Jehoram was not, having only one son! This fact would have been quickly recognized by ANE hearers/readers. The name Jehoram for a king in Judah shows the influence of Israel. Jehoram was the name of an earlier king of Israel. The abbreviated form is "Joram." SPECIAL TOPIC: SATANIC ATTEMPTS TO THWART THE MESSIANIC LINE SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM 21:2 "the king of Israel" Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah but for the Chronicler he was the only true king of YHWH's covenant people. Judah was the true "Israel" (cf. 2 Chr. 12:6; 23:2; 28:19,27). The NRSV and REB, following the LXX and Peshitta, change "Israel" to "Judah" but the UBS Text Project, p. 466, gives "Israel" a "B" rating (some doubt). 21:3 "firstborn" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRSTBORN.
2 Crônicas 21:4-7
21:4 "some of the rulers of Israel also" This must refer to leaders in Judah who opposed his deviation of YHWH's law (cf. 2 Chr. 21:6). See note at 21:2. Josephus, Antiq. 9.5.1., says they were governors appointed by his father Jehoshaphat. 21:6 Judah became idolatrous like Israel. Jehoram was influenced by his wife Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab (cf. 2 Kgs. 8:18,26; 2 Chr. 18:1), the king of Israel. Apparently Judah returned to the worship of Ba'al and Asherah. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST "(for Ahab's daughter was his wife)" There is some confusion about Athaliah's parents. The NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 420, has a good paragraph. "According to 2 Kgs 8:18, Athaliah was the daughter of Jezebel and Ahab, but according to 2 Kgs 8:26 and 2 Chron 22:2 (BHS) she was the daughter of Omri. Katzenstein (78) thinks she was orphaned when Omri died and was raised by Ahab and Jezebel. For this reason she was also called the daughter of Ahab (2 Kgs 8:18; 2 Chron 21:6). Her marriage to Joram, king of Judah, sealed an alliance with the southern neighbor (Bright, 238). Unfortunately this eventually led to the introduction of the Baal cult in Jerusalem." "he did evil in the sight of the Lord" This is a recurrent phrase. It does not specify the offense but here it is idolatry (cf. 2 Kgs. 8:16-24). 21:7 YHWH's promises to David (i.e., 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17) were remembered and honored even during the reign of an evil king. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT "to give a lamp" The IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 442, has a good suggestion for the meaning of this imagery. "Lamps were often used metaphorically in Israel to symbolize life and prosperity. They were often placed in tombs for this reason. The expression "his lamp" is often used in Scripture to symbolize life. As an eternal flame is a symbol of endurance and remembrance, so the reign of a descendant of David in Jerusalem provides a link to God's promise to David's dynasty (2 Sam 7:8-16). Similar uses of the word in Ugaritic and Akkadian are tied to perpetuation of rule or divine presence. Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III is referred to as the light of all mankind. An Old Babylonian idiom expresses a family having no descendants by the image of its brazier going out."
2 Crônicas 21:8-11
21:8 "Edom revolted" This was just one of several rebellions and invasions. Edom ‒ 2 Chr. 21:8-10 Libnah, 2 Chr. 21:10 Philistines ‒ 2 Chr. 21:16 the Arabs who were allied with the Ethiopians ‒ 2 Chr. 17:11 SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL 21:9 Apparently Jehoram initially defeated Edom but the resentment remained (Josephus, Antiq. 9.5.1.). However, the REB and NET Bible translate this as a defeat by Edom. "Joram, with his commanders and all his chariots, pushed on into Edom. When the Edomites encircled him and his chariot-commanders he made a sortie by night and broke out." The UBS Text Project, p. 467, suggests that verse 9 is about a Judean victory, not defeat. It gives the NASB/MT version an "A" rating (high probability). Edom was defeated by Jehoshaphat, a godly king. It fits OT theology much better for Jehoram, a wicked king, to be defeated by Edom! NASB, NRSV, NJB, REB, LXX "commanders" NKJV, TEV, JPSOA, "officers" "princes" The term "commanders" (BDB 978) appears twice. There is some confusion as to whose "commanders" (cf. 2 Kgs. 8:21), Edom's Judah's and who went to their tents (2 Kgs. 8:21). Edom (defeated) Judah (defeated) The parallel account in 2 Kgs. 8:21 seems to replace the initial use of "commanders" with a place name, "Zair" (BDB 859 II). 21:10 "to this day" See full note at 2 Chr. 5:9. 21:11 This is the restoration of the legal status of idolatry. There have been two ways to translate. in the mountains of Judah (most translations), "mountains" ‒ ???? in the cities of Judah (LXX, Vulgate), "cities" ‒ ???? Both options would fit Ba'al worship, which was worshiped on natural high places manmade rock platforms which were in every village NASB, NKJV "led Judah astray" "made Judah go astray" "made Judah wayward" "seduced" "perverted Judah" The MT has the VERB (BDB 623, KB 673, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw), which here denotes forcing them into idolatry (cf. 2 Chr. 21:13). "to play the harlot" This phrase was both literal and literary.
2 Crônicas 21:12-15
21:12 "Elijah the prophet" The ministry of the prophet is covered much more intensively in 1 Kings 17 ‒ 2 Kgs. 2:14. This is the only mention of Elijah in all of Chronicles. He is used to intensify God's message. There is no record in Kings of Elijah dealing with Judean kings. The footnote in Josephus, Antiq. 9.5.2, suggests there is a textual confusion and it should be Elisha. No Hebrew MSS support this. For a good brief discussion of Elijah's letter, see Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 226-227. This letter from Elijah fits the pattern of written prophetic sources used by the Chronicler. 21:15 "you will suffer severe sickness" The PRONOUN is singular, thereby referring to Jehoram and not "your people" of 2 Chr. 21:14, who will also suffer. The NOUN (BDB 318) and ADJECTIVE (BDB 912 I) are both PLURAL. This is an example of the PLURAL OF MAJESTY, which would intensify the concept (i.e., "severe sickness").
2 Crônicas 21:16-17
21:16 "the spirit of. . ." See SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE. "the Arabs" This refers to nomadic tribes on the southern border of Palestine who were controlled by the Ethiopian rulers of Egypt (cf. 2 Chr. 14:9-15). 21:17 "wives" The LXX has "daughters" to match "sons."
2 Crônicas 21:18-20
21:18 The exact disease is not specified but it had to do with his bowels protruding. It is described as very painful and protracted. There are several Judean kings who suffered physical ailments because of their covenant disobedience. Asa ‒ 2 Chr. 16:12-14 Jehoram ‒ here Uzziah ‒ 2 Chr. 26:16-23 Disobedience has consequences (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). YHWH is no respecter of persons. Sin affects all. 21:19-20 "his people made no fire for him" This seems to refer to a special honorary bonfire, not cremation (cf. 2 Chr. 16:14). 2 Chronicles 21:20 clearly shows how unpopular he was as king. no fire (i.e., Jer. 34:5) no friends no royal burial (cf. 2 Chr. 24:25; 26:23; 28:27; 33:20)