Never surely did any kingdom change its king so
much for the worse as Judah did, when Jehoram, one of the vilest,
succeeded Jehoshaphat, one of the best. Thus were they punished for
not making a better use of Jehoshaphat's good government, and their
disaffectedness (or coldness at least) to his reformation,
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
We find here,
I. That Jehoshaphat was a very careful
indulgent father to Jehoram. He had many sons, who are here named
(
II. That Jehoram was a most barbarous
brother to his father's sons. As soon as he had settled himself in
the throne he slew all his brethren with the sword, either by false
accusation, under colour of law, or rather by assassination. By
some wicked hand or other he got them all murdered, 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. The
wicked fear where no fear is, or pretend to do so, in order to
conceal their malice. Jehoram, it is likely, hated his brethren and
slew them for the same reason that Cain hated Abel and slew him,
because their piety condemned his impiety and won them that esteem
with the people which he had lost. With them he slew divers of the
princes of Israel, who adhered to them, or were likely to avenge
their death. The princes of Judah, those who had taught the good
knowledge of the Lord (
III. That Jehoram was a most wicked king,
who corrupted and debauched his kingdom, and ruined the reformation
that his good father and grandfather had carried on: He walked
in the way of the house of Ahab (
IV. That when he forsook God and his
worship his subjects withdrew from their allegiance to him. 1. Some
of the provinces abroad that were tributaries to him did so. The
Edomites revolted (
V. That yet God was tender of his covenant
with the house of David, and therefore would not destroy the royal
family, though it was so wretchedly corrupted and degenerated,
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.
Here we have, I. A warning from God sent to
Jehoram by a writing from Elijah the prophet. By this it appears
that Jehoram came to the throne, and showed himself what he was
before Elijah's translation. It is true we find Elisha attending
Jehoshaphat, and described as pouring water on the hands of Elijah,
after the story of Elijah's translation (
II. The threatened judgments brought upon him because he slighted the warning. No marvel that hardened sinners are not frightened from sin and to repentance by the threatenings of misery in another world, which is future and out of sight, when the certain prospect of misery in this world, the sinking of their estates and the ruin of their healths, will not restrain them from vicious courses.
1. See Jehoram here stripped of all his
comforts. God stirred up the spirit of his neighbours
against him, who had loved and feared Jehoshaphat, but hated and
despised him, looking upon it as a scandalous thing for a nation to
change their gods. Some occasion or other they took to quarrel with
him, invaded his country, but, as it should seem, fought neither
against small nor great, but the king's house only; they made
directly to that, and carried away all the substance that was
found in it. No mention is made of their carrying any away
captive but the king's wives and his sons,
2. See him tormented with sore diseases
and of long continuance, such as were threatened in the law
against those that would not fear the Lord their God,
3. See him buried in disgrace. He reigned
but eight years, and then departed without being desired,