The big picture
2 Chronicles 21 opens in verse 1 with “Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also…”, and closes in verse 20 with “Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem…” Repeated or prominent terms include Judah, LORD, Jehoram, David, house. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Chronicles · King James Version · 202 Chronicles 21:1-7
1–7: Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in…
2 Chronicles 21:1–7 opens with “Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David…” and reaches “Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 21 develops its own movement around Judah, LORD, Jehoram, David, house, with particular weight carried by Jehoram, David, Israel.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son…” Naming David and Jehoram keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and…” Naming Azariah and Jehoshaphat keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah…” Naming Jehoram and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 21:1-7
King James Version1Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
2And 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.
3And 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.
4Now 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.
5Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
6And 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 .
7Howbeit 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.
2 Chronicles 21:8-14
8–14: In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and…
2 Chronicles 21:8–14 opens with “In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.” and reaches “Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 21 develops its own movement around Judah, LORD, Jehoram, David, house, with particular weight carried by Judah, Edomites, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.” Naming Edomites and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the…” Naming Edomites and Jehoram keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Chronicles 21:8-14
King James Version8In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.
9Then 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.
10So 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.
11Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
12And 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,
13But 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:
14Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
2 Chronicles 21:15-20
15–20: Thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy…
2 Chronicles 21:15–20 opens with “And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason…” and reaches “Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Chronicles 21 develops its own movement around Judah, LORD, Jehoram, David, house, with particular weight carried by bowels, sickness, years.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bowels, sickness, disease. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the…” Naming Arabians and Ethiopians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Chronicles 21:15-20
King James Version15And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
16Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
17And 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.
18And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
19And 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.
20Thirty 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Chronicles 21:1 begins with “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.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Chronicles 21:9 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
2 Chronicles 21:20 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Judah, LORD, Jehoram, David, house, sons help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How is God's faithfulness shown in both halves of the family?
Isaac is born as promised, and Ishmael is heard and preserved with a future of his own.
Why does a well deserve narrative space?
Water sustains life and makes residence possible in a land Abraham does not yet own.
KJV words made clear
- dominion
- responsibility or rule
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.