2 Chronicles 21:1-22:9

Memory Verse: 21:7

Questions

Outline

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I. Jehoram King of Judah (21:1-20)

>1. Who became king of Judah when Jehoshaphat died? (1-3; 2 Kings 8:16-17) How had Jehoshaphat treated his sons? What does this show about his character?

* 2 Chronicles 21:1-3 "Then Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king. 2 Jehoram's brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 3 Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and articles of value, as well as fortified cities in Judah, but he had given the kingdom to Jehoram because he was his firstborn son.

* "Jehoshaphat" -Jehoshaphat was king of Judah from 873 to 849 B.C. This is the only place all his sons are listed.

* This study is about 2 kings of Judah. Both did not have faith in the Lord God. They followed the evil practices of the past king of Israel, Ahab who though he was shown many evidence that the Lord is God, followed Baal and his horrible religious practices. So did his wife Jezebel.

The Lord spared Judah because David's love of and faith in the Lord God.

Two men made an impact, David and Ahab, way after their deaths. David a very good impact. Ahab a very evil impact. My actions will have impact for generations to come. Make good decisions. Not evil.

* "Jehoram" -Jehoram was king of Judah from 849 to 842 B.C. His father Jehoshaphat had him reign as regent from 853 to 849. (2 Kings 8:16-17) During his reign Joram (Jehoram) was king of Israel from 853 to 842 B.C. The two established stronger ties between their two countries than previous generations.

* 2 Kings 8:16-24 also record Jehoram, king of Judah.

* "Jehoram's brothers..." -Listing a king's brothers is unusual in Chronicles and Kings.

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* Israel did not calculated a king's ascension and reign as other nations. After Israel and Judah split Judah kept calculating to "old way" and Israel switched and started calculating the way other nations did around them. Read "The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings" by Edwin Richard Thiele for more understanding on how Israel and Judah calculated the dates of their king's ascension and reign.

>2. What kind of king was Jehoram? (4-7) How did he establish his kingdom? What does it mean to "walk in the ways of the kings of Israel? Who was his wife? What does this say about his character?

* 2 Chronicles 21:4-7 "When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father's kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the princes of Israel. 5 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. 6 He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 7 Nevertheless, because of the covenant the LORD had made with David, the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever."

* "he put all his brothers to the sword" -2 Kings does not record this bloody assassination of all potential rival to the throne.

* "along with some of the princes of Israel" -2 Kings does not record these murders. It is probable that either the Israelites princes were visiting their sister, queen Athaliah in Judah or they were leading men in the southern kingdom who opposed having a king of Judah married to a daughter of Ahab king of Israel. Most likely he assassinating all these people at his wedding banquet. King Jehoram and queen Athaliah would certainly prove in their future to do such a thing in a hopes to reunite Judah and Israel under their joint reign.

* "eight years" -Jehoram was king of Judah from 849 to 842 B.C. His father Jehoshaphat had him reign as regent from 853 to 849. (2 Kings 8:16-17) Jehoshaphat's 18th year was also Jehoram's second year.

* "for he married a daughter of Ahab" -Jehoram king of Judah married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. (18:1) Her parents were very evil as is recorded in 1 Kings 16:29 to 22:40.

* "He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel" -All of Israel's kings were evil according to the Bible.

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>3. Who rebelled against Jehoram? (8-10a) What had their relationship been to Judah before Jehoram's reign? (17:10-11, 20:29-30; 1Kings 22:47) Was the battle between Judah and Edom decisive? What does this say about God?

* 2 Chronicles 21:8-10a "In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king. 9 So Jehoram went there with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night. 10 To this day Edom has been in rebellion against Judah."

* 2 Kings 8:20-24 also records Edom's rebellion.

* 1 Kings 22:47 says, "There was then no king in Edom; a deputy ruled."

* 2 Chronicles 17:10-11 "The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

* 2 Chronicles 20:29-30 "The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side."

* "Edom"

* "Edomites surrounded him... but he rose up and broke through by night" -2 Kings 8:23-24 add "...his army, however, fled back home."

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>4. Who else rebelled against Jehoram? (10b-11) Why did this happen? How was he a bad influence to Judah? What does this teach about how to be a bad or a good leader?

* 2 Chronicles 21:10b-11 "Libnah revolted at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers. 11 He had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray."

* "Libnah" -Libnah was located between Judah and Philistia.

* "because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD" -2 Kings 8:22 does not include this statement, though it is obviously true.

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>5. Who was Elijah? (12; 1 Kings 17:1) What did his letter say? Why would this be needed to say? Did Jehoram have a chance to repent? What does this say about God?

* 2 Chronicles 21:12-15 "Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said: "This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: 'You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah. 13 But you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and you have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your father's house, men who were better than you. 14 So now the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow. 15 You yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out.'"

* 2 Kings 8 does not include this letter from Elijah.

* "Elijah the prophet" -Elijah is only mentioned here in Chronicles. 1 Kings 11:1 to 2 Kings 2:14 focus on Elijah's ministry in detail.

* 1 Kings 17:1 "Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

* Elijah's letter was probably written for later delivery to King Jehoram. Elisha the prophet must have held it till the time was right. Elijah was taken to heaven before Jehroam became king. However, some claim that Elijah's translation may well have taken place as late as 848 B.C. Yet, the fact that it is a letter indicates that it was written and then held until the right time to deliever it.

* "You yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out" -2 Kings does not state the manner of his death.

* Jehoram was one of the worse kings of Judah. He followed the ways of Israel's terrible king and queen, Ahab and Jezebel because his wife was their daughter and he listened to her. Men can be lead away from God because of a woman of ill repute or they can be led to a closer relationship with Jesus because a woman of God.

Elijah sent king Jehoram a letter from the Lord. He not only warned him. He told him what bad events would come. Jehoram did not repent as David did when he sinned. When he died no one regretted it. They didn't even bury him with other kings.

When I sin, I can repent or resist rebuke.

>6. Who else attached Jehoram? (16-20) What was the result to Jehoram's household? How did this reflect what he had done to his siblings? How long was he sick? Did anyone morn his death? What does this say about his kind of rule?

* 2 Chronicles 21:16-20 "The LORD aroused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. 17 They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king's palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest. 18 After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. 19 In the course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His people made no fire in his honor, as they had for his fathers. 20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."

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II. Ahaziah King of Judah (22:1-9)

>7. How became king after Jehoram died? (1-2) Who had killed his brothers? Who was his mother? Who were her parents and grandparents? Why might her father not be mentioned?

* 2 Chronicles 22:1-2 "The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son, king in his place, since the raiders, who came with the Arabs into the camp, had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah began to reign. 2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri."

* 2 Kings 8:25-9:37 also record Ahaziah's reign. Chapter 9 focuses on his assassination.

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* Israel did not calculated a king's ascension and reign as other nations. After Israel and Judah split Judah kept calculating to "old way" and Israel switched and started calculating the way other nations did around them. Read "The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings" by Edwin Richard Thiele for more understanding on how Israel and Judah calculated the dates of their king's ascension and reign.

>8. What kind of man was King Ahaziah? Who was a bad influence to the king? Why did he decide to go to war against Hazael king of Aram? What did he do when he was wounded?

* 2 Chronicles 22:3-6 "He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. 4 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father's death they became his advisers, to his undoing. 5 He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram; 6 so he returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramoth in his battle with Hazael king of Aram. Then Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab because he had been wounded."

* 2 Kings 8:28-29 also record the battle against Hazael king of Aram.

* Ahaziah was as bad a king for Judah as his father, Jehoram. He to followed the evil ways of Israel's King Ahab and queen Jezebel for Ahaziah's mother was their daughter. He acted wickedly. His uncle, Joram was son of Ahab and king of Israel. God brought about their downfall. He died and his wicked mother made herself ruler of Judah by killing all her competitors, all of her deceased husband's family.

We all have a part of us that will do anything for power because we believe it is security. Its the sinful nature. Fear drives us to do that which we believe we would never do. Have faith in God and love the Lord like Jehoshaphat did. People will see and be positively influenced.

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>9. Who was bringing about all this disaster on Israel and Judah? (7-9) Who was Jehu? (2 Kings 9:1-3, 13) What did he do? What was the outcome of his endeavors?

* 2 Chronicles 22:7-9 "Through Ahaziah's visit to Joram, God brought about Ahaziah's downfall. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. 8 While Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's relatives, who had been attending Ahaziah, and he killed them. 9 He then went in search of Ahaziah, and his men captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. He was brought to Jehu and put to death. They buried him, for they said, "He was a son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart." So there was no one in the house of Ahaziah powerful enough to retain the kingdom."

* 2 Kings 9 goes into greater detail of Ahaziah's death.

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* "whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab" -The deals are in 2 Kings 9. The Lord was bringing judgment on Ahab's family as predicted by the prophets.

* Jehu claimed to be zealous for the Lord. He kept killing all of Ahab's house, including Ahab's son Joram, as Elijah had prophesied and as Elisha told him to do through the messenger.

Jehu also kept killing Ahaziah, the king of Judah's, house, and family. The Lord had not told him to do that. Yet, Ahaziah's wife was a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. And he subjected himself and Judah to their evil advice and ways. So in a way killing Judah's king was a continuation of destroy the influence of Ahab and Jezebel, the king and queen of Israel.

God was working in spite of their power as verses 7-8 say, "Through Ahaziah's visit to Joram, GOD brought about Ahaziah's downfall. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. While Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he found the officials of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's relatives, who had been attending Ahaziah, and he killed them."

Jehu wasn't told to do it, but God worked anyway. So what to learn?

US politics and society are in a terrible place. So many ways like ancient Israel and Judah. I can believe God is working. He is in charge and his will is completed always, even though it is confusing to figure out.

* Jehu,the king of Israel killed the king before him, Joram (aka Jehoram), and the king of Judah, Ahaziah. He ended the terrible religion of Baal in Israel. The Lord was pleased with him because he carried out what the Lord wanted to happen to Ahab and his family. Yet he was not perfect. "Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart." And he did not stop ending worship of the idle calves that Jeroboam started. I want to do the Lord's will. I want to live by love, faith, and hope. And so, to find favor with the Lord.

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>10. How did Athaliah respond when she learned of Jehu's actions? (10-12) How was the line of David kept? What does this say about the character of Athaliah and Jehosheba?

* 2 Chronicles 22:10-12 "When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah's sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. 12 He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land."

* 2 Kings 11:1-21 also recorders these events.

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