2 Chronicles 21:5

21:1-11 Jehoram hated his brethren, and slew them, for the same reason that Cain hated Abel, and slew him, because their piety condemned his impiety. In the mystery of Providence such men sometimes prosper for a time; but the Lord has righteous purposes in permitting such events, part of which may now be made out, and the rest will be seen hereafter.

Verse 5. - He reigned eight years. This rejoin dates to begin with the twenty-second or twenty-third year of the reign of his father Jehoshaphat, according to note on ver. 1, above. The parallel of 2 Kings 8:17-21 may be consulted for our vers. 5-11; our vers. 11, 13 expound in clearer detail the "evil" that Jehoram wrought than the narrative of Kings. 2 Chronicles 21:5

Duration and spirit of Joram's reign. - These verses agree with 2 Kings 8:17-22 , with the exception of some immaterial divergences, and have been commented upon in the remarks on that passage. - In 2 Chronicles 21:7 the thought is somewhat otherwise expressed than in 2 Kings 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, 2 Chronicles 21:9 , instead of צעירה, 2 Kings 8:21 , see on 2 Kings c. cit. At the end of 2 Chronicles 21:9 the words, "and the people fled to their tents" ( 2 Kings 8:21 ), whereby the notice of Joram's attempt to bring Edom again under his sway, which is in itself obscure enough, becomes yet more obscure.