11 Chronicles Chapter 21

Jehoram Reigns in Judah

• 2Chronicles 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. 

Slept with the fathers simply means their natural death and their souls departing. The righteous went to paradise or Abraham's bosom and the wicked go to Hades to await judgment. There is no soul sleep. After the resurrection of Jesus the righteous souls go to what we call Heaven.

• 2Chronicles 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. 
• 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.

Jehoram was given the right to the kingdom since he was born first. All Jehoshaphat's sons received gifts and an inheritance from their father.  

• 2Chronicles 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. 

This wicked son killed everyone who might be a threat to his kingdom. He wanted to make sure none of his brothers would try to reign instead of him with the help of some of the princes who might help his brethren. He wanted to secure his reign as king but instead he lost the blessing of God. He actually started out all wrong. Without the blessing of God no kingdom is secure.

This is what puzzles me greatly. Why do people want to rule so badly that they will steal, lie, cheat, ruin the reputation of or even kill to rule over people? What could they possibly gain? It happens today even among the civilized countries. We see it happening to those that hate Donald Trump. It is so evil, wrong and some day all that do these things will stand before the judge of all the earth. It is all for nothing when the day comes that they leave the body and go to the place of torment forever. All for nothing. Riches, kingdoms, houses, lands are gone from them forever. I wouldn't want that responsibility even if I didn't have to campaign or do any public speaking and it was handed to me.

• 2Chronicles 21:5  Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 
• 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. 
• 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. 

God allowed this because of His promise to David. Jehoram was very wicked. Married a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Queen Athaliah was wicked just like her mother.

• 2Chronicles 21:8  In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. 
• 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. 
• 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. 

The wars continued under this wicked king because God's hand of protection was partly removed because of his wickedness.

• 2Chronicles 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. 

So sad when a king departs from God and returns to idolatry. I would guess that the reason is for control over the people. Control many times live in fear of losing their place and will attempt to control them with unfair laws, fear or false religion. This shows us that any religion that has to be forced with cruelty can never be one of truth. God wants people to love and serve Him because we desire His righteousness and willingly receive Him into their lives. The kingdom of Heaven is received by those that desire to serve God with all their hearts, not forced into it by the fear of man.

• 2Chronicles 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, 
• 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: 
• 14  Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: 
• 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. 
• 16  Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians: 
• 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. 
• 18  And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 
• 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. 
• 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.

What a sad disgusting story. He had no healer. His death was physical sickness which caused his great suffering. Yet we do not hear of any repentance or change of heart. All for nothing. Elijah seems to have been too far away to come in person so he sent a letter to him. God was not sleeping. He brought judgment but it wasn't sudden. He allowed a sickness to come upon him that seemed to be slow probably to give him time to repent but he did not. To kill his own brothers, to return to idolatry and use force on people to commit sexual sins was blatant rebellion against God. He was probably influenced by his wicked mother. We read more about her later.

Philistines, Arabs and Ethiopians became enemies and God didn't stop them like He would have done for a righteous king.

Hey! we need God on our side if we want our nation to survive.

His sons except the youngest, his wives and his substance were taken away. He had no respectable departing from this life. The people didn"t even bury him in the sepulchres of the kings. Sad ending. He died at the age of 40. All for nothing. What a waste. -DJC

11 Chronicles Chapter 22