2Ch 21 | TNotes

Summary for 2Chr 21:2-7: 21:2-7 ^a Jehoram, whose wife was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (18:1 ^b; 21:6 ^c; 22:2 ^d), was the first king of David’s line to receive a totally negative evaluation. His murders (21:4 ^e) seriously threatened the continuation of the dynasty, which was only preserved because of the Lord’s own loyal faithfulness to David (21:7 ^f). On three other occasions, violence was perpetrated against the royal family that all but ended the dynasty (see 21:17 ^g; 22:8-9 ^h, 10-11 ⁱ).
21:5 ^j After a three-year co-regency with his father, Jehoram reigned from 848 to 841 BC.
Summary for 2Chr 21:8-11: 21:8-11 ^k Jehoram’s disobedience caused him to lose the gains that Asa and Jehoshaphat had won.

• the Edomites revolted: During Solomon’s reign, control of the territory of Edom gave Israel access to the rich trade from Arabia. The Edomites had also rebelled before Solomon’s death (1 Kgs 11:14-22 ^l), and were probably not under Rehoboam’s control. They apparently came under Judah’s control again following their defeat by Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 20:1-30 ^m; cp. 1 Kgs 22:47 ⁿ).

• The town of Libnah was at the western end of the valley of Elah, on the border of the territory of the Philistines.
Summary for 2Chr 21:12-15: 21:12-15 ^o The letter from Elijah the prophet to Jehoram announced judgment for his disobedience.
Summary for 2Chr 21:16-17: 21:16-17 ^p Jehoram’s inability to resist the initial revolts of Edom and Libnah (21:8-10 ^q) encouraged other attacks on Judah, this time by the Philistines and the Arabs. Once again, the royal line was nearly destroyed.
Summary for 2Chr 21:18-20: 21:18-20 ^r Jehoram died after a long and painful bowel disease. He was not given the dignity of an honorary funeral rite (see 16:14 ^s) and was buried in disgrace away from the royal cemetery.