2 Chronicles 21 8

2 Chronicles 21:8 kjv

In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.

2 Chronicles 21:8 nkjv

In his days Edom revolted against Judah's authority, and made a king over themselves.

2 Chronicles 21:8 niv

In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king.

2 Chronicles 21:8 esv

In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own.

2 Chronicles 21:8 nlt

During Jehoram's reign, the Edomites revolted against Judah and crowned their own king.

2 Chronicles 21 verses

2 Chronicles 21 8 Meaning

This verse succinctly describes a significant event during the reign of Jehoram, king of Judah: the successful revolt of Edom from under Judahite control, culminating in Edom establishing its own monarchy. It marks a clear indication of Judah's weakened state and the beginning of its decline, attributed directly to Jehoram's wickedness and departure from the Lord's ways. The event represents a severe political, economic, and symbolic loss for Judah.

2 Chronicles 21 8 Context

2 Chronicles 21:8 details a crucial turning point in the reign of King Jehoram of Judah, immediately following a description of his profound wickedness. Jehoram ascended the throne after his righteous father Jehoshaphat, but quickly plunged Judah into apostasy by marrying Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, adopting their idolatrous practices. His reign began with the heinous act of murdering all his brothers and some Judahite princes (2 Chr 21:4), effectively eliminating any challenge to his authority and displaying utter disregard for life and familial ties. This verse presents the Edomite revolt as one of the earliest and most direct consequences of his ungodly rule. It's a vivid illustration of the Chronicler's central theological principle: fidelity to God brings blessing and prosperity (like under Jehoshaphat), while disobedience leads to divine judgment, weakness, and loss of control over vassal states, just as it did for Jehoram and Judah. This revolt also reversed decades of Judahite dominion over Edom established since David's time.

2 Chronicles 21 8 Word analysis

• In his days: This phrase directly links the event described to the specific period of Jehoram's reign. It establishes a chronological and causal relationship between the king's character and actions, and the unfolding historical events. The Chronicler uses such temporal markers to attribute political fortunes directly to royal piety or impiety.
• Edom (אֱד֖וֹם, 'ĕḏōm): Edom refers to the nation descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother. Located south-east of Judah, controlling vital trade routes and mineral resources (e.g., copper mines). Historically, Edom was often a hostile neighbor of Israel. They had been under Judahite control, with a governor, since David's conquest (2 Sam 8:13-14) and later confirmed by Jehoshaphat. Their revolt signifies a significant blow to Judah's regional power and economic interests, particularly access to ports on the Red Sea like Ezion-Geber, crucial for trade.
• revolted (וַיִּפְשְׁעוּ, wayyifšə‘ū): Derived from the verb פָּשַׁע (pāšaʿ), meaning "to transgress, rebel, revolt, sin against." It denotes a deliberate act of rebellion and breach of covenant or allegiance. Theologically, in the Chronicler's view, Edom's rebellion is not merely a political uprising but a divine instrument, or at least a divinely permitted outcome, against a disobedient king and kingdom.
• from under the hand (מִתַּ֤חַת יַד, mittaḥaṯ yaḏ) of Judah: This idiomatic phrase signifies "from under the power or authority of Judah." It clearly states that Edom was previously subjugated and controlled by Judah. Its breaking away shows a loss of control, directly illustrating Judah's weakening grip on its vassal states, a result of God withdrawing His blessing from the wicked king.
• and made a king over themselves: This indicates a complete and definitive act of self-determination and full independence. Edom did not just cease to pay tribute or reject Judahite authority; they re-established their own sovereign leadership. This act solidified their political autonomy, which remained in effect, as noted in 2 Kings 8:22, "So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah to this day." This final step showed Judah's inability to restore its authority.

• Words-group Analysis:
• "In his days Edom revolted": This succinct phrase directly attributes the significant national loss of Edom to the specific period of Jehoram's kingship. The cause-and-effect relationship, characteristic of the Chronicler's theological history, implicitly connects Jehoram's ungodly reign, previously described, with the immediate downturn in Judah's national fortune. It implies God's hand allowing or orchestrating the revolt as a consequence of the king's actions.
• "from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves": This describes a transition from subjugation to absolute independence. The language highlights Judah's diminishing power and authority. The act of making their own king is the ultimate expression of rejecting foreign suzerainty, signifying not just a temporary rebellion but a permanent separation and restoration of their historical sovereignty, mirroring how Israel lost territories when they became unfaithful to God.

2 Chronicles 21 8 Bonus section

This revolt had long-term economic repercussions for Judah, particularly regarding trade routes. Control over Edom granted Judah access to the valuable maritime trade through the Gulf of Aqaba and the port of Ezion-Geber. Losing Edom meant losing direct access to these profitable routes and possibly critical resources like copper. The Chronicler intentionally parallels this event with other divine judgments against Jehoram's reign, such as the Philistine and Arabian raids (2 Chr 21:16-17) and Jehoram's terminal illness (2 Chr 21:18-19), underscoring a consistent pattern of consequence for his disobedience.

2 Chronicles 21 8 Commentary

2 Chronicles 21:8 is a precise summary of the political fallout resulting from King Jehoram's wickedness. The successful Edomite revolt served as a clear sign of God's disfavor and the withdrawal of His protection from Judah, demonstrating the divine principle that rebellion against God leads to instability and loss within the kingdom. Edom's defection, a long-held subjugated territory crucial for trade and buffer protection, represented a substantial economic and strategic blow. It marks the commencement of a downward spiral for Judah under Jehoram, signaling a direct consequence of his idolatry and murderous reign (2 Chr 21:5-7, 10), even as the Davidic covenant ensured the lineage would continue, though greatly diminished.