Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 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.
4. to the kingdom ] R.V. over the kingdom.
he strengthened himself, and slew ] R.V. and had strengthened himself, he slew. For “strengthened himself” cp. 2Ch 1:1 (note).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The execution of several princes of Israel (i. e. of Judah; see 2Ch 20:34 note) implies that Jehorams brothers found supporters among the chief men of the country, and that Jehorams sole sovereignty was not established without a struggle.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. Slew all his brethren] What a truly diabolic thing is the lust of power! it destroys all the charities of life, and renders those who are under its influence the truest resemblants of the arch fiend. That he might sit the more secure upon his throne, this execrable man imbrues his hands in the blood of his own brothers! There are more instances of this species of cruelty among bad Asiatic kings than among any other class of men. The history of every country abounds in proofs; even that of our own is not the least barren.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He strengthened himself; he took courage and hardened his heart, as that word sometimes signifies.
Slew all his brethren with the sword; partly because they either did, or he knew that they would, oppose him in his wicked designs; and partly for his own security, lest his people, who, as he believed, would be highly exasperated with the execution of his counsels, should advance any of them to the throne, and depose him.
Of the princes of Israel; either,
1. Of Judah, here called Israel, or which See Poole “2Ch 21:2“. Or,
2. The princes or chief men of Israel, properly so called; not the princes of all Israel, or of the several tribes thereof, but the chief of those Israelites who, out of love to God and to the true religion, had forsaken their estates and worthy advantages in the kingdom of Israel, and were now incorporated with the kingdom of Judah. These he especially struck at, either,
1. Because his wife instigated him thereunto, both to punish them for their revolt from her father, and to deter others from following their example. Or,
2. Because he justly and truly thought these would be most firm and constant to and zealous for that religion which he was resolved to oppose, being both by their conscience and interest obliged to it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father,…. Succeeded him in it, and reigned alone, for he had reigned with his father some years before his death; [See comments on 2Ki 8:16],
he strengthened himself; in the kingdom, by some means or another closely attaching the greater part of the princes, and people of the land, unto him, when he thought himself well settled and established on the throne; though some understand it of making strong, or hardening his heart to do what is next mentioned:
and slew all his brethren with the sword; either to get their riches into his hands, or lest, being religious princes, they should oppose his restoring idolatry, and for that reason the people should depose him, and set up one of them; and therefore he dispatched them out of the way to secure himself, and carry his point:
and [divers] also of the princes of Israel; such who had removed out of the ten tribes, for the sake of religion, and therefore would never agree to the introduction of idolatry among them, for which reason Jehoram slew them; and perhaps they might express their disapprobation and abhorrence of his murder of his brethren.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2Ch 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.
Ver. 4. He strengthened himself. ] By gifts, likely, he gained to his party vain men, as Jeroboam also did, in those cities that were given to his brethren.
He slew all his brethren with the sword.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
slew all his brethren. The mischief of his marriage (2Ch 18:1) was thus soon seen. The enemy’s design in breaking into the royal line so as to destroy the promises of Gen 3:15 and 2Sa 7:16 is seen. See App-23. Jehoshaphat made the beginning (2Ch 18:1); Jehoram follows it up (2Ch 21:4); the Arabians continue the assault (2Ch 21:17; 2Ch 22:1); Athaliah nearly succeeds in accomplishing the design of Satan (2Ch 22:10).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
2Ch 21:4-7
2Ch 21:4-7
JEHORAM’S VICIOUS MURDER OF ALL HIS BROTHERS
“Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children alway.”
“Jehovah would not destroy the house of David” (2Ch 21:7). The very mention of such a thing in this paragraph is a mark of the diabolical threat that existed at this moment in the history of the Chosen People. In these events, Satan was moving swiftly and methodically toward that very goal: the total destruction of the house of David. And when Jehoram’s evil mother Athaliah was finally able to seize power for herself, she all but accomplished it.
We cannot leave this without mentioning the disaster that always results from contracting a marriage with an evil partner. Jehoshaphat is credited with being a good king; but he was incredibly stupid in arranging a marriage for his first-born son and presumptive heir to the throne of Judah with the wicked Jezebel II, whose name was Athaliah.
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 21:4. Jehoram was a wicked man, and was unreasonably suspicious of his younger brothers. There was no indication that they expected to reign, for their father had settled the matter before he died. When a man makes a distribution of his possessions personally while living, it indicates he does not want some other arrangement made after his death. As far as we can learn, these brothers had accepted their father’s settlement, content with the favors that had been bestowed upon them. Notwithstanding, and utterly regardless of all the considerations set forth in the preceding verse, Jehoram was evil-minded toward his brothers and determined to remove them from his presence. These innocent victims were murdered soon after the new king took the throne.
2Ch 21:5. Reigned in Jerusalem is an expression used frequently. It is to keep us clear as to which city was the capital of Judah. This is important from the fact that other cities have, from time to time, been the headquarters of the people of God; but one only, Jerusalem, was the capital of the original kingdom.
2Ch 21:6. Walked . . . ways . . . kings of Israel. Such a comparison was sufficient to classify any man, for every king of Israel (the 10 tribes) was an idolater and otherwise a wicked man. But while all of them were wicked, some were worse than others, and among the very worst ones was Ahab. For he had the daughter of Ahab to wife; the writer accounts for the wickedness of Jehoram by this fact. That is significant, and let us get a view of the great danger connected with the marriage between God’s people and those who are not. Serious difficulties are always likely to result.
2Ch 21:7. House of Davd means the family of David. The throne passed from father to son on down through the generations, unless an exception was made due to some serious fault of the heir. The Lord had promised David that his descendants should come upon the throne of Judah in their proper order, and thus the sins of Jehoram were overlooked and he was permitted to retain his seat.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
slew all: 2Ch 21:17, 2Ch 22:8, 2Ch 22:10, Gen 4:8, Jdg 9:5, Jdg 9:56, Jdg 9:57, 1Jo 3:12
Reciprocal: 1Ki 1:12 – the life 2Ki 3:7 – wilt thou go 2Ki 10:7 – slew seventy 2Ch 21:2 – Israel 2Ch 21:13 – hast slain 2Ch 22:9 – the house
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 21:4. He strengthened himself Hardened his heart, as the word , chazak, often signifies; and slew all his brethren with the sword Either by false accusation, under colour of law, or rather by assassination, pretending, it is likely, that he could not think himself safe in the government till they were taken out of the way. Those that mean ill themselves, are commonly, without cause, jealous of those about them. And divers also of the princes of Israel Either, 1st, Of Judah, here called Israel, as in 2Ch 21:2. Or rather, 2d, Of Israel properly so called; not the princes of all Israel, or of the several tribes thereof, but the chief of those Israelites who, out of love to God and the true religion, had forsaken their estates in the kingdom of Israel, and were now incorporated with the kingdom of Judah: these he slew, because he thought they would be most zealous for that religion which he was resolved to oppose.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and {b} slew all his brethren with the sword, and [divers] also of the princes of {c} Israel.
(b) Because the wicked always live in fear, and also are ambitious, they become cruel and spare not to murder them, whom by nature they ought most to cherish and defend.
(c) Meaning, of Judah and Benjamin.