2Ch 21:2-4 | KD | STEP | The account of the death and burial of Jehoshaphat is carried over to 2 Chron 21, because Joram’s first act after Jehoshaphat’s death, 2Ch 21:2., stands in essential connection with that event, since Joram began his reign with the murder of all his brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat ( ). The further account of Joram ( ) agrees almost verbally with the account in 2Ki 8:17-22; then in there follows further information as to the divine chastisements inflicted upon Joram for his crime, which is not found in 2 Kings; and in we have remarks on his end, which correspond to the statements in 2Ki 8:24. Jehoshaphat’s death, and the slaughter of his sons by Joram . - , 2Ch 21:3. Joram had six brothers, whom their father had plentifully supplied with means of subsistence - presents in silver, gold, and precious things - “in the fenced cities of Judah;” i.e., he had made them, as Rehoboam also had made his sons, commandants of fortresses, with ample revenues; but the kingdom he gave to Joram as the first-born. Among the six names two Azariah’s occur, - the one written Azarjah, the other Azarjahu. Jehoshaphat is called king of Israel instead of king of Judah, because he as king walked in the footsteps of Israel, Jacob the wrestler with God, and was a true king of God’s people.

‏ 2 Chronicles 21:2-4

Jehoshaphat’s Death, and the Reign of His Son Joram - 2 Chronicles 21

The account of the death and burial of Jehoshaphat is carried over to 2 Chron 21, because Joram’s first act after Jehoshaphat’s death, 2Ch 21:2., stands in essential connection with that event, since Joram began his reign with the murder of all his brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat (2Ch 21:2-4). The further account of Joram (2Ch 21:5-10) agrees almost verbally with the account in 2Ki 8:17-22; then in 2Ch 21:12-19 there follows further information as to the divine chastisements inflicted upon Joram for his crime, which is not found in 2 Kings; and in 2Ch 21:20 we have remarks on his end, which correspond to the statements in 2Ki 8:24.

2Ch 21:1-3 Jehoshaphat’s death, and the slaughter of his sons by Joram. - 2Ch 21:2, 2Ch 21:3. Joram had six brothers, whom their father had plentifully supplied with means of subsistence - presents in silver, gold, and precious things - “in the fenced cities of Judah;” i.e., he had made them, as Rehoboam also had made his sons, commandants of fortresses, with ample revenues; but the kingdom he gave to Joram as the first-born. Among the six names two Azariah’s occur, - the one written Azarjah, the other Azarjahu. Jehoshaphat is called king of Israel instead of king of Judah, because he as king walked in the footsteps of Israel, Jacob the wrestler with God, and was a true king of God’s people. 2Ch 21:4

Now when Joram ascended (raised himself to) the throne of his father, and attained to power (יתחזּק as in 2Ch 1:1), he slew all his brethren with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel, i.e., the tribal princes of his kingdom. It could hardly be from avarice that he slew his brothers, merely to get possession of their property; probably it was because they did not sympathize with the political course which he was entering upon, and disapproved of the idolatrous conduct of Joram and his wife Athaliah. This may be gathered from the fact that in 2Ch 21:13 they are called better than Joram. The princes probably drew down upon themselves the wrath of Joram, or of his heathen consort, by disapproving of the slaughter of the royal princes, or by giving other signs of discontent with the spirit of their reign.