2 CHRONICLES LESSON 21
We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 21:1 "Now Jehoshaphat
slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of
David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead."
Jehoram was the wicked son of Jehoshaphat, who married the
daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Jehoshaphat was buried in Jerusalem.
We will quickly find that Jehoram was the opposite of Jehoshaphat.
II Chronicles 21:2 "And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat,
Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and
Shephatiah: all these [were] the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel."
There will be very little written of these brothers of Jehoram,
because he murdered them.
II Chronicles 21:3 "And their father gave them great gifts of
silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in
Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he [was] the
firstborn."
It was the custom of the land for the eldest son to become king
in his father's stead. There was great wealth in the land that God had
given them from their victory over the Ammonites and the Moabites. It
appears, that Jehoshaphat gave them cities for their own, and gave
them silver and gold, so they would have a nice living.
II Chronicles 21:4 "Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom
of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with
the sword, and [divers] also of the princes of Israel."
We can see, in this one verse, the extent of Jehoram's
wickedness. He had no human kindness at all. We must remember, that he
had married Athaliah, one of the most wicked women in the Bible. I
believe she was even worse than her mother, Jezebel. She might have
helped influence Jehoram to do such a wicked thing as murdering his
own brothers.
II Chronicles 21:5 "Jehoram [was] thirty and two years old when
he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem."
He had a very short reign of just 8 years.
II Chronicles 21:6 "And he walked in the way of the kings of
Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab
to wife: and he wrought [that which was] evil in the eyes of the
LORD."
This Scripture does indicate that he chose to go the way of his
evil wife. He was just as evil as Ahab and Jezebel. He was evil in the
sight of the LORD. This should be an encouragement to Christian
parents whose children have gone bad. It is not always the influence
they were raised in that causes them to go bad. In this case, he
married an evil woman.
II Chronicles 21:7 "Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house
of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as
he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever."
The only thing that saved Jehoram from total destruction was the
promise God had made to David. Jehoram deserved to die. God had
promised that the descendents of David would reign as king of Judah
forever. This, of course, was fulfilled in Jesus.
II Chronicles 21:8 "In his days the Edomites revolted from under
the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king."
The Edomites had been paying tribute to Judah. They found a time
when they knew that God was not pleased with the king, and revolted
against Judah. They chose themselves a king to lead them.
II Chronicles 21:9 "Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and
all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the
Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots."
This army that went forth was there in physical strength. He had
to fight his own battles, because the LORD was not with him. He was
strong enough, that he smote Edom.
II Chronicles 21:10 "So the Edomites revolted from under the hand
of Judah unto this day. The same time [also] did Libnah revolt from
under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers."
They revolted, because they knew that he would not get help from
the LORD. They were fighting just a man, and not God. They would no
longer pay tribute to Jehoram.
II Chronicles 21:11 "Moreover he made high places in the
mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit
fornication, and compelled Judah [thereto]."
The fornication, spoken of here, is spiritual adultery. They
worshipped false gods in the high places. It appears, that not only
did Jehoram do this, but he caused the inhabitants to do this, also,
for fear of losing their lives, if they did not.
II Chronicles 21:12 "And there came a writing to him from Elijah
the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father,
Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father,
nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,"
The reason Elijah did not come in person, was that he was the
prophet to Israel. This still did not stop him from sending a written
warning to Jehoram. God had spared Jehoram a short time in honor of
his father, Jehoshaphat, and his grandfather, Asa. Now, he would be
punished on his own, because he refused to worship God and obey Him.
II Chronicles 21:13 "But hast walked in the way of the kings of
Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a
whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast
slain thy brethren of thy father's house, [which were] better than
thyself:"
Now, we see the charges against him. First of all, he was not
seeking the LORD with all his heart, as his father did. He had picked
up the evil habits of Athaliah, Jezebel's daughter. He had even
introduced the false gods of Israel into the land of Judah. He
viciously killed his brothers, who were more like his father than he
was.
II Chronicles 21:14 "Behold, with a great plague will the LORD
smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:"
A plague can be anything from war to disease. It is speaking of a
punishment that God sends on these evil people. I really believe that
A.I.D.S. is a plague on our society for the evil that exists. God is
the only One who can stop the epidemic.
II Chronicles 21:15 "And thou [shalt have] great sickness by
disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the
sickness day by day."
There are two other times in the Bible, when the bowels of a
person are affected by their sins. Judas Iscariot was one, and another
was Herod. This was diarrhea so bad they passed their bowels. This
type of diarrhea will kill you.
II Chronicles 21:16 "Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram
the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that [were] near
the Ethiopians:"
While the people of Judah were still sick, God stirred up the
Ethiopans, Arabians, and the Philistines against them.
II Chronicles 21:17 "And they came up into Judah, and brake into
it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's
house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son
left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons."
God was not on the side of Judah at this time, because of their
great sin. They were easy prey. The enemy came in, and took all of
valuable things out of the kings house and out of his sons' homes. The
only son that escaped, was a son whose name was Jehoahaz. Athaliah,
his wicked wife was not taken. Jehoahaz is called Ahaziah, or Azariah,
in other Scriptures.
II Chronicles 21:18 "And after all this the LORD smote him in
his bowels with an incurable disease."
This is speaking of Jehoram. His disease was so bad that it was
incurable, and he died. This was an appropriate way for this evil king
to die.
II Chronicles 21:19 "And it came to pass, that in process of
time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his
sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning
for him, like the burning of his fathers."
This disease was a plague from God, so there was no cure that man
had for it. Jehoram suffered with this disease of the bowels for two
years, and died when his bowels fell out of his body. He was not loved
of the people, and they did not mourn his death, as they would have a
king who did right.
II Chronicles 21:20 "Thirty and two years old was he when he
began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed
without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David,
but not in the sepulchres of the kings."
He was buried at the age of forty in the city of David,
Jerusalem. He was not given an honorable burial, and was not buried
with his father, Jehoshaphat. His was a reign of sin. He died as he
lived, without honor.
2 Chronicles 21 Questions
1. Who reigned in Jehoshaphat's place?
2. Who had Jehoram married?
3. What were her parents' names?
4. Jehoram is the opposite of ______________.
5. Who were the sons of Jehoshaphat?
6. What had Jehoshaphat given the other sons, besides Jehoram?
7. What did Jehoram do to all of his brothers?
8. How old was Jehoram, when he began to reign?
9. How many years did he reign?
10. Jehoram followed in whose ways?
11. Why did God not destroy Judah for these sins?
12. Who revolted from the rule of Judah at this time?
13. Jehoram built high places, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem
to commit ____________.
14. How did Elijah contact Jehoram?
15. What was the message God sent him through Elijah?
16. What were the charges against him?
17. What can a plague be?
18. What does the author believe is a modern plague?
19. What was the terrible disease that came upon them?
20. The LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the ___________.
21. What happened to Jehoram's sons?
22. Which was the only survivor of his sons?
23. What are some other names for Jehoahaz?
24. What happened to Jehoram?
25. How old was he, when he died?
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