2 Chronicles 21 5

2 Chronicles 21:5 kjv

Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 21:5 nkjv

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 21:5 niv

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

2 Chronicles 21:5 esv

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 21:5 nlt

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

2 Chronicles 21 verses

2 Chronicles 21 5 Meaning

This verse provides the standard historical and chronological introduction to the reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, as king of Judah. It specifies his age at the time he ascended the throne and the total duration of his rule. These factual details serve as a foundational chronological marker, setting the stage for the narrative of profound spiritual and political decline that characterizes his reign, marking a stark contrast to his father's (mostly) righteous governance.

2 Chronicles 21 5 Context

The twenty-first chapter of 2 Chronicles opens with the transfer of power from the righteous King Jehoshaphat to his son, Jehoram. This verse, therefore, sets a formal and factual chronological baseline for a narrative that quickly descends into deep spiritual depravity and severe political decline. While Jehoshaphat had been largely faithful and seen divine aid and prosperity, Jehoram's reign marks a tragic turning point for Judah. The subsequent verses in this chapter detail Jehoram's brutal act of killing all his brothers (2 Chr 21:4), his abandonment of Yahweh to walk in the ways of wicked kings of Israel (2 Chr 21:6) primarily influenced by his wife Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, and the resultant divine judgment including Edom and Libnah rebelling (2 Chr 21:8-10) and an incurable disease (2 Chr 21:18).

Historically, the Chronicler, writing in the post-exilic period, carefully presents the reign of kings as directly correlated to their faithfulness to God and the Mosaic covenant. Jehoram's account serves as a strong didactic warning, illustrating the severe consequences of royal apostasy for the entire kingdom. His short and tumultuous reign is positioned within the ongoing saga of the Davidic covenant. Although individual kings could fail and face judgment, God's promise to David of an enduring dynasty (2 Sam 7) meant that a son would always sit on the throne, even through such periods of extreme unfaithfulness, demonstrating God's steadfastness amidst human failings.

2 Chronicles 21 5 Word analysis

• Jehoram: (Hebrew: יְהוֹרָם, Yehoram). The name means "Yahweh is exalted" or "Yahweh is high." This meaning presents a stark and profound irony. Despite bearing a name that attributes glory and elevation to the Lord, Jehoram's subsequent actions, immediately described after this verse, show a life marked by gross apostasy, rebellion against the divine covenant, and the very defilement of Yahweh's worship. This disjunction highlights the tragic and profound contrast between his sacred name and his profane conduct.
• was thirty-two years old: This specific detail is a common, factual notation in biblical royal chronologies. Such precise age statements reinforce the Chronicler's intent to provide an accurate historical account. His relatively young age at ascension, combined with his actions, indicates an immediate and conscious choice of evil, rather than a gradual decline due to prolonged power or senility.
• when he became king: This phrase denotes the official inauguration and commencement of his regal authority. It signifies a transition point of immense spiritual and national importance, initiating the period during which all his subsequent wicked policies and their devastating effects would unfold, marking a profound shift from the more godly leadership of his father, Jehoshaphat.
• and he reigned: This verb signifies the active exercise and duration of his sovereignty, encompassing the entire spectrum of his royal duties, decisions, and influence over Judah during this period.
• eight years: This relatively short duration, compared to the longer reigns of his predecessors, underscores the swift decline and immediate divine displeasure experienced under Jehoram's rule. The brevity of his kingship is often interpreted by scholars as a testament to the accelerated judgment meted out by God upon a monarch who so quickly and flagrantly abandoned the divine covenant, indicating a calamitous and swift impact on the nation.
• in Jerusalem: This geographical detail specifies the capital city as the seat of Jehoram's power. Jerusalem, being the chosen city for the Temple and the symbolic heart of God's presence among His people, emphasizes the audacity and severity of Jehoram's sins, as his ungodly rule and idol worship originated and permeated from the very spiritual center of Judah.

• "Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years": This entire phrase is a standard formulary found in the books of Kings and Chronicles, consistently used to introduce new reigns. It encapsulates the vital statistics of the monarch's tenure, serving as a concise and factual temporal marker. This declaration sets the precise boundaries for the account of his wickedness that follows, providing the chronological framework against which the profound moral and spiritual failures of his brief but impactful rule are to be understood. The exact numerical data ground the subsequent narrative in verifiable history, enabling the audience to grasp the scale of the spiritual decay over a relatively short period.

2 Chronicles 21 5 Bonus section

• The precise chronological details presented in this verse (age at accession, duration of reign, and place of rule) were standard elements of ancient Near Eastern historiography for recording the reigns of monarchs, providing both historical grounding and context for the ensuing narrative.
• Jehoram's reign marks the formal beginning of a lineage deeply affected by the wicked house of Ahab, particularly through his marriage to Athaliah (daughter of Ahab and Jezebel). This intermarriage was a pivotal point, corrupting the Davidic line with Baal worship and leading to subsequent widespread idolatry and national distress, thereby highlighting the critical importance of pure worship and separation from pagan influences.
• Despite Jehoram's profound wickedness and the divine judgments upon him and the kingdom, the Davidic covenant, as promised by God to David (2 Sam 7), remained unbroken. Even through such a deeply flawed king, God's promise to maintain a lamp for David's house in Jerusalem endured, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness even when His chosen vessels falter dramatically.

2 Chronicles 21 5 Commentary

This concise verse functions as the critical opening datum for the tragic reign of King Jehoram. Far from being a mere dry historical detail, it implicitly prefaces a period of intense moral decay and divine judgment for Judah. Jehoram's accession at thirty-two years old and his brief eight-year reign from Jerusalem, the spiritual heartland, immediately set a foreboding tone. His relatively short rule signifies a time of God's swift disfavor upon a king who so decisively turned away from the ways of his forefathers and ushered in a renewed era of apostasy and violence. The mention of his specific age and the length of his reign serve as factual anchors, highlighting the stark and devastating contrast with his righteous father and signaling the profound shift from obedience to rebellion.