2 Chronicles 21

21:2-7 Jehoram, whose wife was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (18:1; 21:6; 22:2), was the first king of David’s line to receive a totally negative evaluation. His murders (21:4) seriously threatened the continuation of the dynasty, which was only preserved because of the Lord’s own loyal faithfulness to David (21:7). On three other occasions, violence was perpetrated against the royal family that all but ended the dynasty (see 21:17; 22:8-9, 10-11).

21:5 After a three-year co-regency with his father, Jehoram reigned from 848 to 841 BC.

21:8-11 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), 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; cp. 1 Kgs 22:47). • The town of Libnah was at the western end of the valley of Elah, on the border of the territory of the Philistines.

21:12-15 The letter from Elijah the prophet to Jehoram announced judgment for his disobedience.

21:16-17 Jehoram’s inability to resist the initial revolts of Edom and Libnah (21:8-10) encouraged other attacks on Judah, this time by the Philistines and the Arabs. Once again, the royal line was nearly destroyed.

21:18-20 Jehoram died after a long and painful bowel disease. He was not given the dignity of an honorary funeral rite (see 16:14) and was buried in disgrace away from the royal cemetery.