2Ch 21:13 | KingComments | STEP | Then Elijah suddenly appears on stage through a letter. Here Elijah must already have gone to heaven, an event described in 2 Kings ( ). How then anyway a letter from him? It is a prophetic letter in which Elijah writes down events that have been announced to him by the LORD. The letter is handed over to Jehoram at the right time. This letter from Elijah is noteworthy in the light of the area and the nature of his service. Elijah has served as a prophet in the ten tribes realm. That is the area of his service. The service he does through the letter is directed at the king of Judah and the situation there. His service has always been oral and now we read that he wrote something. It is the first time that we read of the writing of any prophet. It is a letter to this evil king. The content of the letter does fit in with Elijah’s service, which was not only, but nevertheless mainly a service of judgment. The letter contains a word from the LORD, Who presents Himself to Jehoram as “the LORD God of your father David”. The remembrance to David shows the great contrast between David and Jehoram. This way of presenting also makes it clear that the LORD is not the God of Jehoram. The content of the letter is the announcement of judgment with its reasons. First the different reasons are given: 1. Jehoram did not go in the ways of his father Jehoshaphat and in the ways of his grandfather Asa; 2. on the contrary, he has gone in the ways of the kings of Israel; 3. he has caused the people to play the harlot as the house of Ahab has done with Israel; 4. moreover, he has killed his brothers, his own family, people who are better than him. The judgment is in accordance with his grave sins. The list is detailed and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of clarity. There will come great calamity about 1. his people, 2. his children, 3. his wives, 4. his property and 5. himself. He himself will suffer a severe sickness, a disease of his bowels. That disease will be so severe that his bowels come out because of the sickness. That will result in his death. So first Jehoram is struck in what surrounds him, what he cherishes, where he sees his importance reflected, what serves his honor. Then he is taken out of this life by a two-year lasting terrible sickness.

‏ 2 Chronicles 21:13

A Letter From Elijah

Then Elijah suddenly appears on stage through a letter. Here Elijah must already have gone to heaven, an event described in 2 Kings (2Kgs 2:1 ; 11). How then anyway a letter from him? It is a prophetic letter in which Elijah writes down events that have been announced to him by the LORD. The letter is handed over to Jehoram at the right time.

This letter from Elijah is noteworthy in the light of the area and the nature of his service. Elijah has served as a prophet in the ten tribes realm. That is the area of his service. The service he does through the letter is directed at the king of Judah and the situation there. His service has always been oral and now we read that he wrote something. It is the first time that we read of the writing of any prophet. It is a letter to this evil king.

The content of the letter does fit in with Elijah’s service, which was not only, but nevertheless mainly a service of judgment. The letter contains a word from the LORD, Who presents Himself to Jehoram as “the LORD God of your father David”. The remembrance to David shows the great contrast between David and Jehoram. This way of presenting also makes it clear that the LORD is not the God of Jehoram.

The content of the letter is the announcement of judgment with its reasons. First the different reasons are given:

1. Jehoram did not go in the ways of his father Jehoshaphat and in the ways of his grandfather Asa;

2. on the contrary, he has gone in the ways of the kings of Israel;

3. he has caused the people to play the harlot as the house of Ahab has done with Israel;

4. moreover, he has killed his brothers, his own family, people who are better than him.

The judgment is in accordance with his grave sins. The list is detailed and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of clarity. There will come great calamity about

1. his people,

2. his children,

3. his wives,

4. his property and

5. himself. He himself will suffer a severe sickness, a disease of his bowels. That disease will be so severe that his bowels come out because of the sickness. That will result in his death.

So first Jehoram is struck in what surrounds him, what he cherishes, where he sees his importance reflected, what serves his honor. Then he is taken out of this life by a two-year lasting terrible sickness.