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Saturday, July 5th, 2025
the Week of Proper 8 / Ordinary 13
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

2 Chronicles 21:12

One day he got a letter from Elijah the prophet. It read, "From God , the God of your ancestor David—a message: Because you have not kept to the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and Asa your grandfather, kings of Judah, but have taken up with the ways of the kings of Israel in the north, leading Judah and Jerusalem away from God, going step by step down the apostate path of Ahab and his crew—why, you even killed your own brothers, all of them better men than you!— God is going to afflict your people, your wives, your sons, and everything you have with a terrible plague. And you are going to come down with a terrible disease of the colon, painful and humiliating."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Disease;   Elijah;   Jehoram;   Thompson Chain Reference - Elijah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflictions of the Wicked, the;   Diseases;   Kings;   Prophets;   Sickness;   Sins, National;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Asa;   Elijah;   Joram or Jehoram;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jehoram;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elijah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Writing;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Elijah;   Epistle;   Jehoram;   Jerusalem;   Obadiah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chronicles, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   Elijah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Joram, Jehoram;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Athaliah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Eli'jah;   Jeho'ram;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apostasy;   Elijah;   Jehoram;   Writing;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Elijah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then a letter came to Jehoram from the prophet Elijah, saying:
Hebrew Names Version
There came a writing to him from Eliyah the prophet, saying, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Yehoshafat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Yehudah,
King James Version
And 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,
English Standard Version
And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "Thus says the Lord , the God of David your father, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
New Century Version
Then Jehoram received this letter from Elijah the prophet: This is what the Lord , the God of your ancestor David, says, "Jehoram, you have not lived as your father Jehoshaphat lived and as Asa king of Judah lived.
New English Translation
Jehoram received this letter from Elijah the prophet: "This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: ‘You have not followed in the footsteps of your father Jehoshaphat and of King Asa of Judah,
Amplified Bible
Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying, "Thus says the LORD God of David your father (ancestor): 'Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
New American Standard Bible
Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, "This is what the LORD, the God of your father David says: 'Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat and the ways of Asa king of Judah,
World English Bible
There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Geneva Bible (1587)
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the Prophet, saying, Thus sayth the Lord God of Dauid thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the wayes of Iehoshaphat thy father, nor in the wayes of Asa King of Iudah,
Legacy Standard Bible
Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of your father David, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Berean Standard Bible
Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, which stated: "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,
Contemporary English Version
One day, Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet that said: I have a message for you from the Lord God your ancestor David worshiped. He knows that you have not followed the example of Jehoshaphat your father or Asa your grandfather.
Complete Jewish Bible
A letter came to him from Eliyahu the prophet which said, "Here is what Adonai , the God of David your ancestor, says: ‘You have not lived by the examples of Y'hoshafat your father or Asa king of Y'hudah.
Darby Translation
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the 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,
Easy-to-Read Version
Jehoram received this message from Elijah the prophet: "This is what the Lord , the God your father David followed, says, ‘Jehoram, you have not lived the way your father Jehoshaphat lived. You have not lived the way King Asa of Judah lived.
George Lamsa Translation
And there was brought to him a letter from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says the LORD God of David your father: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Good News Translation
The prophet Elijah sent Jehoram a letter, which read as follows: "The Lord , the God of your ancestor David, condemns you, because you did not follow the example of your father, King Jehoshaphat, or that of your grandfather, King Asa.
Lexham English Bible
And a letter from Elijah the prophet came to him, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father: ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father or in the ways of Asa, the king of Judah,
Literal Translation
And a writing came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, So says Jehovah, the God of your father David, Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat, and in the ways of Asa the king of Judah,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But there came a wrytinge vnto him fro the prophet Elias, sayenge: Thus sayeth the LORDE God of thy father Dauid: Because thou hast not walked in the wayes of thy father Iosaphat, nether in ye wayes of Asa the kynge of Iuda,
American Standard Version
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the 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,
Bible in Basic English
And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, The Lord, the God of your father David, says, Because you have not kept to the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or the ways of Asa, king of Judah,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And there came a writing to him from Elia the prophete, saying, Thus sayth the Lord God of Dauid thy father: Because thou hast not walked in the wayes of Iehosaphat thy father, and in the wayes of Asa king of Iuda:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying: 'Thus saith the LORD, the 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;
King James Version (1611)
And there came a writing to him from Eliiah the Prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Dauid thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the wayes of Iehoshaphat thy father, nor in the wayes of Asa king of Iudah:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And there came to him a message in writing from Eliu the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of thy father David, Because thou hast not walked in the way of thy father Josaphat, nor in the ways of Asa king of Juda,
English Revised Version
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the 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;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe lettris weren brouyt to hym fro Elie, the prophete, in whiche it was writun, The Lord God of Dauid,
Update Bible Version
And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, Because you haven't walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Webster's Bible Translation
And 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,
New King James Version
And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, 4 Thus says the LORD God of your father David: 4 Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
New Living Translation
Then Elijah the prophet wrote Jehoram this letter: "This is what the Lord , the God of your ancestor David, says: You have not followed the good example of your father, Jehoshaphat, or your grandfather King Asa of Judah.
New Life Bible
Then a letter came to him from Elijah the man of God, saying, "The Lord God of your father David says, ‘You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat, and the ways of King Asa of Judah.
New Revised Standard
A letter came to him from the prophet Elijah, saying: "Thus says the Lord , the God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or in the ways of King Asa of Judah,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then came there unto him, a writing, from Elijah the prophet, saying, - Thus, saith Yahweh, 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;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was a letter brought him from Eliseus the prophet, in which it was written: Thus saith the Lord the God of David thy father: Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Josaphat thy father nor in the ways of Asa king of Juda,
Revised Standard Version
And a letter came to him from Eli'jah the prophet, saying, "Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father, 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehosh'aphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
Young's Literal Translation
And there cometh in unto him a writing from Elijah the prophet, saying, `Thus said Jehovah, God of David thy father, Because that thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, and in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet saying, "Thus says the LORD God of your father David, 'Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and the ways of Asa king of Judah,

Contextual Overview

12One day he got a letter from Elijah the prophet. It read, "From God , the God of your ancestor David—a message: Because you have not kept to the ways of Jehoshaphat your father and Asa your grandfather, kings of Judah, but have taken up with the ways of the kings of Israel in the north, leading Judah and Jerusalem away from God, going step by step down the apostate path of Ahab and his crew—why, you even killed your own brothers, all of them better men than you!— God is going to afflict your people, your wives, your sons, and everything you have with a terrible plague. And you are going to come down with a terrible disease of the colon, painful and humiliating." 16The trouble started with an invasion. God incited the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the Ethiopians to attack Jehoram. They came to the borders of Judah, forced their way in, and plundered the place—robbing the royal palace of everything in it including his wives and sons. One son, his youngest, Ahaziah, was left behind. The terrible and fatal disease in his colon followed. After about two years he was totally incontinent and died writhing in pain. His people didn't honor him by lighting a great bonfire, as was customary with his ancestors. He was thirty-two years old when he became king and reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. There were no tears shed when he died—it was good riddance!—and they buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3116, bc 888

a writing: "Which was writ before his assumption." 2 Kings 2:1, Jeremiah 36:2, Jeremiah 36:23, Jeremiah 36:28-32, Ezekiel 2:9, Ezekiel 2:10, Daniel 5:5, Daniel 5:25-29

Elijah the prophet: If the account of the translation of Elijah be given in the order in which it happened, then it occurred in the reign of Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram. Hence, it is probable that he wrote it before his assumption, and left it to be delivered by Elisha or one of the prophets. 2 Kings 2:11

in the ways of Jehoshaphat: 2 Chronicles 17:3, 2 Chronicles 17:4, 1 Kings 22:43

in the ways of Asa: 2 Chronicles 14:2-5, 1 Kings 15:11

Reciprocal: Hosea 5:1 - O house Hosea 6:5 - have I

Cross-References

Genesis 17:19
But God said, "That's not what I mean. Your wife, Sarah, will have a baby, a son. Name him Isaac (Laughter). I'll establish my covenant with him and his descendants, a covenant that lasts forever.
Genesis 21:7
She also said, Whoever would have suggested to Abraham that Sarah would one day nurse a baby! Yet here I am! I've given the old man a son!
Genesis 21:8
The baby grew and was weaned. Abraham threw a big party on the day Isaac was weaned.
1 Samuel 8:7
God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their King. From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they're doing it to you. So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they're in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they're likely to get from a king."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet,.... Not what was written by him after his ascension to heaven, and from thence came to Jehoram, even seven years after that, as say some Jewish writers z; nor was it a writing from another person of the same name in those times, since of such an one we nowhere read; nor from Elisha bearing the name of Elijah, having a double portion of his spirit on him, since he is never so called; but this was a writing of Elijah's before his ascension, who, foreseeing by a spirit of prophecy what Jehoram would be guilty of, wrote this, and gave it to one of the prophets, as Kimchi suggests, and most probably to Elisha, to communicate it to him at a proper time; and who might, as the above writer intimates, think it came immediately from heaven:

saying, thus saith the Lord God of David thy father; and from whose God he had departed, and to which ancestor of his he was so much unlike:

because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah; neither trod in the steps of his father nor grandfather.

z Seder Olam Rabba, c. 17. Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 12. 1. A. M. 3050.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This is the only notice which we have of Elijah in Chronicles. As a prophet of the northern kingdom, he engaged but slightly the attention of the historian of the southern one. The notice shows that Elijah did not confine his attention to the affairs of his own state, but strove to check the progress of idolatry in Judah. And it proves that he was alive after the death of Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 21:13; a fact bearing

(1) upon the chronological order of 2 Kings 2:1 (see the note), and

(2) showing that Elisha, who prophesied in the time of Jehoshaphat. 2 Kings 3:11-19 commenced his public ministry before his master’s translation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Chronicles 21:12. There came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet — From 2 Kings 2:11, it is evident that Elijah had been translated in the reign of Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram. How then could he send a letter to the son? Some say he sent it from heaven by an angel; others, that by the spirit of prophecy he foresaw this defection of Jehoram, and left the letter with Elisha, to be sent to him when this defection should take place; others say that Elijah is put here for Elisha; and others, that this Elijah was not the same that was translated, but another prophet of the same name. There are others who think that, as Elijah was still in the body, for he did not die, but was translated, he sent this letter from that secret place in which he was hidden by the Almighty. All the versions have Elijah, and all the MSS. the same reading. Dr. Kennicott contends that Elisha was the writer; for Elijah had been taken up to heaven thirteen years before the time of this writing. Our margin says, the letter was written before his assumption, and refers to 2 Kings 2:1.

These are all conjectures; and I could add another to their number, but still we should be where we were. I should adopt the conjecture relative to Elisha, were not every Hebrew MS., and all the Oriental versions, against it; to which may be added, that the author of this book does not once mention Elisha in any part of his work. It is certainly a possible case that this writing might have been a prediction of Jehoram's impiety and miserable death, delivered in the time of the prophet, and which was now laid before this wicked king for the first time: and by it the prophet, though not among mortals, still continued to speak. I can see no solid reason against this opinion.


 
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