2 Chronicles 21:4

2Ch 21:4 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.

Ver. 4. He strengthened himself.] By gifts, likely, he gained to his party vain men, as Jeroboam also did, in those cities that were given to his brethren.

He slew all his brethren with the sword.] All, lewd losel (profligate)! what a bloody foundation was here laid of his kingdom - not unlike that of Cain, of Cambyses, of Romulus, of Jugurtha, of Caracalla, of the cruel Turks at this day - but it came home to him, as God is the avenger of all such. See God’s judgments upon his sons shortly after, {2Ch 21:17} and also upon his grandchildren. {2Ch 22:10-11} Only Jehoahaz was left of the one, and Joash of the other; and these also merely for God’s promise’ sake to David. {2Ch 21:7}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ch 21:4. He strengthened himself — Hardened his heart, as the word חזק, chazak, often signifies; and slew all his brethren with the sword — Either by false accusation, under colour of law, or rather by assassination, 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. And divers also of the princes of Israel — Either, 1st, Of Judah, here called Israel, as in 2Ch 21:2. Or rather, 2d, Of Israel properly so called; not the princes of all Israel, or of the several tribes thereof, but the chief of those Israelites who, out of love to God and the true religion, had forsaken their estates in the kingdom of Israel, and were now incorporated with the kingdom of Judah: these he slew, because he thought they would be most zealous for that religion which he was resolved to oppose.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Because the wicked live ever in fear, and also are ambitious, they become cruel, and spare not to murder them, whom by nature they ought most to cherish and defend.

Meaning, of Judah and Benjamin.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 4. Slew all his brethren] What a truly diabolic thing is the lust of power! it destroys all the charities of life, and renders those who are under its influence the truest resemblants of the arch fiend. That he might sit the more secure upon his throne, this execrable man imbrues his hands in the blood of his own brothers! There are more instances of this species of cruelty among bad Asiatic kings than among any other class of men. The history of every country abounds in proofs; even that of our own is not the least barren.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

4. to the kingdom] R.V. over the kingdom.

he strengthened himself, and slew] R.V. and had strengthened himself, he slew. For “strengthened himself” cp. 2Ch_1:1 (note).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jehoram was thirty two years old,.... Of these verses; see Gill on Kg2 8:17, Kg2 8:18, Kg2 8:19, Kg2 8:20, Kg2 8:21, Kg2 8:22

2 Chronicles 21:11

ch2 21:11

ch2 21:11

ch2 21:11Moreover, he made high places in the mountains of Judah,.... Temples and altars for idols, which, being built on mountains, had the name of high places; and these Jehoram made or rebuilt were those which had been pulled down by Asa and Jehoshaphat:

and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication; that is, idolatry, drawing them by his own example to worship Baal, for he did what Ahab and his family did, Ch2 21:6, and compelled Judah thereto; the inhabitants of Jerusalem falling into the same idolatrous practice with him, he forced the inhabitants of the cities, and in the country, to do the same, who it seems were not so willing and ready to comply therewith.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

The execution of several “princes of Israel” (i. e. of Judah; see 2Ch 20:34 note) implies that Jehoram’s brothers found supporters among the chief men of the country, and that Jehoram’s sole sovereignty was not established without a struggle.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Sword. This cruel policy (H.) has been very common in the East. C. --- Israel. They had perhaps opposed his impious plans, animated by his brethren. God presently chastised him with the rebellion of Idumea; and though Joram gained a victory over Seir, (4 K. viii. 21.) he was not able to reduce the nation, being called off by other wars, v. 16. His own subjects at Lobna, a Levitical city in Juda, also abandoned him. Dreadful evils were denounced in a letter from the prophet Elias, who had been translated to paradise nine years before, and at last the honours of sepulture were denied to the wicked king. T.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

He strengthened himself; he took courage and hardened his heart, as that word sometimes signifies.

Slew all his brethren with the sword; partly because they either did, or he knew that they would, oppose him in his wicked designs; and partly for his own security, lest his people, who, as he believed, would be highly exasperated with the execution of his counsels, should advance any of them to the throne, and depose him.

Of the princes of Israel; either,

1. Of Judah, here called Israel, or which See Poole "2Ch 21:2". Or,

2. The princes or chief men of Israel, properly so called; not the princes of all Israel, or of the several tribes thereof, but the chief of those Israelites who, out of love to God and to the true religion, had forsaken their estates and worthy advantages in the kingdom of Israel, and were now incorporated with the kingdom of Judah. These he especially struck at, either,

1. Because his wife instigated him thereunto, both to punish them for their revolt from her father, and to deter others from following their example. Or,

2. Because he justly and truly thought these would be most firm and constant to and zealous for that religion which he was resolved to oppose, being both by their conscience and interest obliged to it.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Slew all his brethren and also of the princes of Israel. It may be, as suggested by the genius of the last clause of our yet. 13, that Jehoram"s wicked heart prompted him the rather because his own works were evil and his brothers" righteous. He may have thought their practical witness against him, and that of the "princes" who shared their fate, would be growingly inconvenient, and would work in them a necessary disloyalty. (Jud 9:1-5) On the ether showing, the "princes" now cut down may have shown partiality and affection to the six brothers, one or other of them.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Strengthened himself - He hardened his heart, as that word sometimes signifies. Princes - The chief of those Israelites, who out of love to God and the true religion, had forsaken their estates in the kingdom of Israel, and were now incorporated with the kingdom of Judah: because he thought these would be most zealous for that religion which he was resolved to oppose.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

risen up over his father's kingdom

To "rise up over" something is an idiom that means to control it. AT: "taken complete control over his father's kingdom" (See: Idiom)

he killed all his brothers with the sword

Jehoram probably did not kill them personally, but had other people do it for him. AT: "he caused all of his younger brothers to be killed" (See: Metonymy)

translationWords

kingdom

sword

reign

Jerusalem

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.