2Ch 21:19 | KingComments | STEP | “So after all this”, that is to say after all the misfortune by means of enemies, the LORD strikes Jehoram with a sickness that runs slowly and for which no cure is possible ( ). As Elijah has predicted, it is a disease of his bowels. The word used here for ‘disease’ is only found in four other texts ( ; ; ). The chronicler, as it were, holds us up as a mirror the end of a wicked man. In the quoted texts in which the word ‘disease’ appears, Psalm 103:3 lights up comfortingly. If we suffer from such a disease and then resort to the LORD, He will provide a solution. The slowness of the disease can be seen as a proof of God’s grace, giving him time to repent. Asa also fell ill at the end of his life ( ). Asa is a man who is faithful in his heart, but has gone the wrong way at the end of his life. This is illustrated by the fact that he gets sick at his feet . Jehoram is a man who is unfaithful in his heart . That is illustrated by the disease of his bowels . He who, so to speak has had no compassion for his brothers ‘in his bowels’, is struck in his bowels. During his sickness he does not receive any support from wives or children, because they have all been killed. He also receives no pity from the people. No one has appreciated him during his life, no one regrets him when he dies. He goes, still quite young and after a rather short reign. This is a dark page in the history of God’s people in Judah. There will be a few more of these dark pages, until Joash becomes king and the darkness fades away a little.

‏ 2 Chronicles 21:19

Death of Jehoram

“So after all this”, that is to say after all the misfortune by means of enemies, the LORD strikes Jehoram with a sickness that runs slowly and for which no cure is possible (2Chr 21:18). As Elijah has predicted, it is a disease of his bowels. The word used here for ‘disease’ is only found in four other texts (Deu 29:22; Psa 103:3; Jer 14:18 ; Jer 16:4). The chronicler, as it were, holds us up as a mirror the end of a wicked man. In the quoted texts in which the word ‘disease’ appears, Psalm 103:3 lights up comfortingly. If we suffer from such a disease and then resort to the LORD, He will provide a solution.

The slowness of the disease can be seen as a proof of God’s grace, giving him time to repent. Asa also fell ill at the end of his life (2Chr 16:12). Asa is a man who is faithful in his heart, but has gone the wrong way at the end of his life. This is illustrated by the fact that he gets sick at his feet. Jehoram is a man who is unfaithful in his heart. That is illustrated by the disease of his bowels. He who, so to speak has had no compassion for his brothers ‘in his bowels’, is struck in his bowels. During his sickness he does not receive any support from wives or children, because they have all been killed. He also receives no pity from the people.

No one has appreciated him during his life, no one regrets him when he dies. He goes, still quite young and after a rather short reign. This is a dark page in the history of God’s people in Judah. There will be a few more of these dark pages, until Joash becomes king and the darkness fades away a little.