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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 21 verses 12–20
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 (Kg2 3:11); but that might be, and that description might be given of him, while Elijah was yet on earth: and it is certain that that history is put out of its proper place, for we read of Jehoshaphat's death, and Jehoram's coming to the crown, before we read of Elijah's translation, Kg1 22:50. We will suppose that the time of his departure was at hand, so that he could not go in person to Jehoram; but that, hearing of his great wickedness in murdering his brethren, he left this writing it is probable with Elisha, to be sent him by the first opportunity, that it might either be a means to reclaim him or a witness against him that he was fairly told what would be in the end hereof. The message is sent him in the name of the Lord God of David his father (Ch2 21:12), upbraiding him with his relation to David as that which, though it was his honour, was an aggravation of his degeneracy. 1. His crimes are plainly charged upon him - his departure from the good ways of God, in which he had been educated, and which he had been directed and encouraged to walk in by the example of his good father and grandfather, who lived and died in peace and honour (Ch2 21:12) - his conformity to the ways of the house of Ahab, that impious scandalous family - his setting up and enforcing idolatry in his kingdom - and his murdering his brethren because they were better than himself, Ch2 21:13. These are the heads of the indictment against him. 2. Judgment is given against him for these crimes; he is plainly told that his sin should certainly be the ruin, (1.) Of his kingdom and family (Ch2 21:14): "With a heavy stroke, even that of war and captivity, will the Lord smite thy people and thy children," etc. Bad men bring God's judgments upon all about them. His people justly suffer because they had complied with his idolatry, and his wives because they had drawn him to it. (2.) Of his health and life: "Thou shalt have great sickness, very painful and tedious, and at last mortal," Ch2 21:15. This he is warned of before, that his blood might be upon his own head, the watchman having delivered his soul; and that when these things so particularly foretold, came to pass, it might appear that they did not come by chance, but as the punishment of his sins, and were so intended. And now if, as he had learned of Ahab to do wickedly, he had but learned even of Ahab to humble himself upon the receipt of this threatening message from Elijah - if, like (Kg1 21:27), he had rent his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted - who knows but, like him, he might have obtained at least a reprieve? But it does not appear that he took any notice of it; he threw it by as waste-paper; Elijah seemed to him as one that mocked. But those that will not believe shall feel.
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, Ch2 21:17. Thus God made it evident that the controversy was with him and his house. Here it is only said, They carried away his sons; but we find (Ch2 22:1) that they slew them all. Blood for blood. He had slain all his brethren, to strengthen himself; and now all his sons are slain but one, and so he is weakened. If he had not been of the house of David, that one would not have escaped. When Jeroboam's house, and Baasha's, and Ahab's, were destroyed, there was none left; but David's house must not be wholly extirpated, though sometimes wretchedly degenerated, because a blessing was in it, no less a blessing than that of the Messiah.
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, Deu 28:58, Deu 28:59. His disease was very grievous. It lay in his bowels, producing a continual griping, and with this there was a complication of other sore diseases. The affliction was moreover very tedious. Two years he continued ill, and could get no relief; for the disease was incurable, though he was in the prime of life, not forty years old. Asa, whose heart was perfect with God though in some instances he stepped aside, was diseased only in his feet; but Jehoram, whose heart was wicked, was struck in his inwards, and he that had no bowels of compassion towards his brethren was so plagued in his bowels that they fell out. Even good men, and those who are very dear to God, may be afflicted with diseases of this kind; but to them they are fatherly chastisements, and by the support of divine consolations the soul may dwell at ease even then when the body lies in pain. These sore diseases seized him just after his house was plundered and his wives and children were carried away. (1.) Perhaps his grief and anguish of mind for that calamity might occasion his sickness, or at least contribute to the heightening of it. (2.) By this sickness he was disabled to do any thing for the recovery of them or the revenge of the injury done him. (3.) It added, no doubt, very much to his grief, in his sickness, that he was deprived of the society of his wives and children and that all the substance of his house was carried away. To be sick and poor, sick and solitary, but especially to be sick and in sin, sick and under the curse of God, sick and destitute of grace to bear the affliction, and of comfort to counter-balance it - is a most deplorable case.
3.See him buried in disgrace. He reigned but eight years, and then departed without being desired, Ch2 21:20. Nobody valued him while he lived, none lamented him when he died, but all wished that no greater loss might ever come to Jerusalem. To show what little affection or respect they had for him, they would not bury him in the sepulchres of the kings, as thinking him unworthy to be numbered among them who had governed so ill. The excluding of his body from the sepulchres of his fathers might be ordered by Providence as an intimation of the everlasting separation of the souls of the wicked after death, from the spirits of just men. This further disgrace they put upon him, that they made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers, Ch2 21:19. His memory was far from being sweet and precious to them, and therefore they did not honour it with any sweet odours or precious spices, though we may suppose that his dead body, after so long and loathsome a disease, needed something to perfume it. The generality of the people, though prone to idolatry, yet had no true kindness for their idolatrous kings. Wickedness and profaneness make men despicable even in the eyes of those who have but little religion themselves, while natural conscience itself often gives honour to those who are truly pious. Those that despise God shall be lightly esteemed, as Jehoram was.
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SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 21:15 delivers a chilling prophecy of divine judgment against King Jehoram of Judah, detailing a severe and prolonged physical affliction as a direct consequence of his extreme wickedness. This verse describes a "great sickness by disease of thy bowels," culminating in the horrifying expulsion of his intestines "day by day," a graphic and agonizing demise that underscores the gravity of his apostasy, violence, and rebellion against the Lord.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is the climactic pronouncement of judgment within a prophetic letter delivered to King Jehoram, attributed to the prophet Elijah, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 21:12-15. The letter arrives after Jehoram has already committed egregious sins, including the brutal murder of all his brothers to consolidate power (2 Chronicles 21:4) and leading Judah into idolatry, following the practices of the house of Ahab due to his marriage to Athaliah (2 Chronicles 21:6). The prophecy details the specific, agonizing nature of his death, which is then recounted as fulfilled in 2 Chronicles 21:18-19. This immediate context highlights the direct correlation between Jehoram's actions and God's severe retribution, serving as a stark contrast to the righteous reign of his father, Jehoshaphat, detailed in 2 Chronicles 17-20.
Historical & Cultural Context: King Jehoram reigned in Judah from approximately 848-841 BC. His marriage to Athaliah, the daughter of the infamous King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, was a pivotal moment, introducing the deeply entrenched Baal worship of the Northern Kingdom into Judah. This was a profound breach of the Mosaic Covenant and a direct affront to Yahweh. The murder of his brothers was a ruthless act of political consolidation, reminiscent of ancient Near Eastern despots rather than a king in the Davidic line, who was expected to rule with justice and righteousness. The prophetic message delivered by Elijah (or a prophet in his spirit, as Elijah himself had already ascended to heaven according to 2 Kings 2:11) underscores the continued active involvement of God in the affairs of His people, holding even kings accountable to the covenant. The graphic nature of the illness described would have been understood by the ancient audience as a clear sign of divine judgment, a visible manifestation of God's wrath against profound wickedness.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within 2 Chronicles and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it vividly portrays Divine Justice and Retribution, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant and His righteous response to flagrant sin, especially from those in positions of authority. Jehoram's agonizing death is presented not as a random misfortune but as a direct, divinely ordained consequence of his unrighteous reign and egregious sins, particularly his idolatry and bloodshed. Secondly, it underscores the Consequences of Sin, emphasizing that sinful choices, particularly those involving spiritual rebellion and violence, carry severe and often painful repercussions, both for the individual and the nation. Jehoram's physical suffering serves as a gruesome mirror to his spiritual corruption. Finally, the verse highlights the theme of Prophetic Warning and Fulfillment, as the prophecy delivered through Elijah's letter (2 Chronicles 21:12) serves as a final, merciful warning before the inevitable execution of God's judgment, demonstrating God's patience even in the face of persistent rebellion.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The description in 2 Chronicles 21:15 employs Graphic Imagery to convey the severity and horror of Jehoram's judgment. The phrase "until thy bowels fall out" is intensely vivid and visceral, designed to evoke a strong emotional and physical response from the reader, underscoring the depth of God's wrath against Jehoram's profound wickedness. This extreme depiction might also be seen as a form of Hyperbole, magnifying the suffering to emphasize the magnitude of the divine punishment, though it could also describe a literal, agonizing medical condition. Furthermore, there is an element of Poetic Justice or Irony at play. Jehoram's reign was characterized by internal corruption—idolatry, murder, and a departure from the covenant—and his judgment manifests as a devastating internal physical decay. His "bowels," often associated with compassion or one's inner being, are afflicted, symbolically reflecting the spiritual rot and lack of compassion that defined his rule. The "day by day" suffering also serves as a form of Emphasis, highlighting the relentless and inescapable nature of the divine judgment.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The agonizing judgment pronounced upon King Jehoram in 2 Chronicles 21:15 serves as a profound theological statement about God's character and the nature of sin. It underscores the truth that while God is merciful and patient, He is also perfectly holy and just, and His righteousness demands that sin, especially persistent and egregious rebellion, be met with consequences. This passage reveals that leadership carries a profound accountability before God, and those who lead His people astray or commit acts of violence and apostasy will face severe divine retribution. It is a stark reminder that God does not trifle with sin, and His warnings are not idle threats but certain promises of judgment for the unrepentant. The physical suffering mirrors the spiritual corruption, illustrating the biblical principle that actions have consequences, and a life lived in rebellion against God ultimately leads to suffering and separation from His blessing.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The horrific judgment upon King Jehoram in 2 Chronicles 21:15, while unique in its graphic detail, offers timeless principles for reflection and application in our lives today. Firstly, it powerfully reminds us of the accountability of leadership. Whether in the church, family, or society, those entrusted with influence bear a greater responsibility before God. Their choices have far-reaching spiritual and societal impacts, and God holds them to a high standard. Secondly, this passage is a stark reminder of the reality of consequences for sin. While we live under grace in the New Covenant, the principle that sin, if unrepented, leads to destructive outcomes remains true. Jehoram's physical suffering was a direct manifestation of his spiritual corruption and violent acts. This should prompt us to examine our own lives, confess our sins, and walk in repentance, understanding that God's justice is an immutable aspect of His character. Finally, understanding God's justice helps us to appreciate His holiness and righteousness more deeply. It cultivates a healthy fear of the Lord, not a terror that drives us away, but a reverence that draws us into obedient submission and a profound appreciation for His mercy.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was Elijah still alive when he sent this letter to Jehoram?
Answer: This is a point of scholarly discussion. According to 2 Kings 2:11-12, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind before Jehoram's reign began in Judah. Jehoram's father, Jehoshaphat, was still king when Elijah ascended. Therefore, the letter mentioned in 2 Chronicles 21:12 was likely a posthumous prophecy delivered by a disciple or prophet from Elijah's school, or perhaps a prophetic message given to Elijah during his lifetime that was preserved and delivered at the divinely appointed time. This emphasizes the enduring nature of God's word and the certainty of its fulfillment, regardless of the messenger's physical presence.
What was the specific medical condition that caused Jehoram's bowels to "fall out"?
Answer: The biblical text graphically describes the symptoms but does not provide a modern medical diagnosis. The description "disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out" suggests a severe and prolonged gastrointestinal illness, possibly extreme dysentery, Crohn's disease with severe complications, or a form of rectal prolapse. The phrase "fall out" could also imply a general, severe discharge or expulsion of internal contents. The primary purpose of the text is not to offer a medical explanation but to portray the agonizing and humiliating nature of a divinely ordained judgment, emphasizing the direct link between Jehoram's profound wickedness and his physical suffering.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The gruesome judgment upon King Jehoram in 2 Chronicles 21:15, a direct consequence of his profound rebellion and sin, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate reality of sin's wages and points us to the Christ. Jehoram's suffering was a personal, physical manifestation of God's wrath against his own unrighteousness. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ, who was perfectly righteous and without sin (Hebrews 4:15), willingly bore the full weight of God's wrath for our sins. The "great sickness" and internal decay that afflicted Jehoram serve as a grim picture of the spiritual death and corruption that sin brings to humanity (Romans 6:23). Christ, however, endured an infinitely greater suffering, not for His own transgressions, but as the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His agony on the cross, where He was "stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted" (Isaiah 53:4), was the ultimate "falling out" – the outpouring of divine judgment upon sin, so that those who believe in Him might be spared eternal damnation. Jehoram's internal decay was a sign of his spiritual rot; Christ's perfect inner being and obedience allowed Him to become sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), freeing us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13) and offering eternal life in His place.