Page:03.BCOT.KD.HistoricalBooks.B.vol.3.LaterProphets.djvu/412

 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 21:1-3Jehoshaphat'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.

Verse 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.

Verses 5-9
2Ch 21:5-9Duration and spirit of Joram's reign. - These verses agree with 2Ki 8:17-22, with the exception of some immaterial divergences, and have been commented upon in the remarks on that passage. - In 2Ch 21:7 the thought is somewhat otherwise expressed than in 2Ki 8:19 : “Jahve would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that He had made with David;” instead of, “He would not destroy Judah because of David His servant, as He had said.” Instead of לבניו ניר לו לתת we have in the Chronicle וּלבניו ניר לו לתת, to give him a lamp, and that in respect of his sons, w being inserted before לבניו to bring the idea more prominently forward. In regard to שׂריו עם, 2Ch 21:9, instead of צעירה, 2Ki 8:21, see on 2 Kings ''loc. cit.'' At the end of 2Ch 21:9 the words, “and the people fled to their