Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 21:18
And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
Verse 18. The Lord smote him] “And after all these things the WORD Of the Lord smote his bowels,” &c. – Targum.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
After all this the Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. What it was is not agreed upon; some take it be an “hernia”, or rupture; others, the falling of the “anus”, or a fistula in it; others, the colic, or iliac passion; but generally it is thought to be a dysentery, or bloody flux; the Targum is,
“the Word of the Lord broke him.”
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The second punishment fell upon the body and life of the king. The Lord smote him in his bowels to (with) disease, for which there was no healing. is in apposition to , literally, “to not being healing.”
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(18) With an incurable disease.This is correct. Literally, to a disease, to want of healing. (Comp. 2Ch. 36:16.) The Syriac and Arabic make 2Ch. 21:16-18 part of the prophecy.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 21:18. The Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease Dr. Mede observes, that “two impious kings are recorded to have had the same end; Antiochus Epiphanes, and Agrippa, of whom it was said, , of what avail are bowels to those who have no bowels? Now, this distemper seems to me to be no other than a severe dysentery; for in this the intestines are ulcerated, and blood flows from the eroded vessels, together with some excrement, which is always liquid and filmy matter; and sometimes also some fleshy strings come away, so that the very intestines may seem to be ejected.” See Mede’s Med. Sacr. ch. 4. It is remarkable, that there was no calamity which could be thought of, that did not befal this wicked prince. His kingdom was destroyed and depopulated by the fiercest nations; his treasures ransacked; his wives carried into captivity; his children slain; himself afflicted with a sore disease for two years; and, when he was dead, denied the honour of a royal sepulchre, such as his father had. All which calamities were threatened in a writing sent him in the name of Elijah, that he might not think that they came by chance, but be assured that they took place by the special direction of Almighty God, as a punishment for his iniquity.
REFLECTIONS.1st, Jehoshaphat’s death opened the succession to the unworthy Jehoram, whom, during his lifetime, he had associated with him in the government.
1. Jehoram’s reign opened with the most bloody and unnatural murder of his brethren, lest any of them, more pious than himself, should oppose the idolatry that he intended to introduce; and the princes of Israel, the great men who had settled in Judah under Jehoshaphat, were massacred, because, probably they refused to comply with his abominable innovations, or remonstrated against his crimes. Note; (1.) Ambition is deaf to the cries of nature or humanity. (2.) Tyrants ever rule in fear, and all their precautions shew the tormented state of their own minds. (3.) Kingdoms supported by bloodshed are in a tottering condition indeed.
2. Those whom he feared as his opposers being removed, he throws off the mask, and, like Ahab his father-in-law, establishes gross and bare-faced idolatry; not only inviting the people by his countenance, but compelling them by force, to frequent his abominable sacrifices. What a curse on a land is a wicked king!
2nd, 1. Elijah, by his letter, reproaches him with his iniquities, and his forsaking the ways of his pious forefathers, to whom he was a great scandal. Tyranny, idolatry, and murder, are particularly charged upon him, and judgment pronounced for these crimes. Ruin should overtake his family and people; and, smitten of God by a disease terrible and loathsome, he should linger out the remains of his life without ease or remedy. Note; Diseases are God’s scourges: he can soon make those a burden to themselves who are by their crimes a burden to the earth.
2. The war being disregarded, the accomplishment of the threatening was speedy. [1.] The Arabians, stirred up of God, made an irruption into Judah; plundered the king’s palace, either that at Jerusalem, or it may he some palace in the country, where the court at that time was; slew all his sons but one, chap. 2Ch 21:17 2Ch 22:1 and carried away his wives captive, except Athaliah, who escaped. [2.] A disease, painful as incurable, seized him, rendered him incapable of recovering his losses; and, robbed of every domestic comfort, without hope in God, and under his curse in body and soul, he lingered two long years, and then those bowels, which yearned not over his brethren, fell out, and he died. Note; The sick bed of a sinner is among the most miserable scenes on this side hell: the body tormented with pain, death standing with terrible aspect before him, horror of conscience increasing every pang, and a fearful looking for judgment, already waking up the gnawing worm which never dies.
3. He died unlamented, and was buried with disgrace. Glad to be rid of such a monster, they carried him to a common grave, as unworthy a place in the sepulchre of his ancestors; and, as his memory was odious, they burnt no sweet spices over him, leaving the loathsome corpse an emblem of the more loathsome soul. Note; Tyrants, when alive, though feared, will be hated; and, when dead, will be branded with infamy.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ch 21:18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
Ver. 18. And after all this. ] Because he proved incorrigible. Plectimur, nec tamen flectimur.
Smote him in his bowels.
a Act. and Mon., 1904; Ibid., 1146.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 21:18-20
2Ch 21:18-20
PROPHECY OF SICKNESS AND DEATH FULFILLED
“And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. And it came to pass, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.”
Despite those titles, power, and pelf
The wretch concentrated all in self,
Living shall forfeit fair renown.
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from which he sprung,
Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.
–Sir Walter Scott, The Lay of the Last Minstrel.
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 21:18-19. This affliction was predicted in 2Ch 21:15, hence it was brought on by a miracle. It was a fatal disease but not swift in its progress, for he lingered on for two years. It was a decaying form of disease, so that in the last stages his bowels were expelled from his body in the process of regular discharges and resulted in his death. Made no burning refers to the burning of incense and sweet odors that was practiced often in connection with the burial of noted persons. (Ch. 16:14; 1Sa 31:12.)
2Ch 21:20. This is a summing up of the life of Jehoram. Without being desired is translated by Moffatt, “with no one to regret him.” Being a descendant of David, he was buried in the city of David. His personal corruptions were so great that he was not buried in the sepulchres allotted to the other kings.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
am 3117-3119, bc 887-885
And after all: “His son Ahaziah Prorex, soon after.”
an incurable disease: 2Ch 21:15, 2Ki 9:29, Act 12:23
Reciprocal: 2Ch 24:25 – great diseases Psa 38:7 – my loins Zec 14:12 – Their flesh Rev 16:2 – a noisome
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 21:18. The Lord smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease Dr. Mede observes, two impious kings are recorded to have had the same end that this Jehoram had: Antiochus Epiphanes and Agrippa, of whom it was said, , Of what avail are bowels to those who have no bowels, who show no pity or compassion? It is true, even good men, and those who are dear to God, may be afflicted with diseases of this kind: but to such they are fatherly chastisements, and, by the support of divine consolation, the soul may have ease and peace, even then when the body is afflicted with pain; which certainly was not the case with Jehoram.