2 Kings 8:21 kjv
So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.
2 Kings 8:21 nkjv
So Joram went to Zair, and all his chariots with him. Then he rose by night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots; and the troops fled to their tents.
2 Kings 8:21 niv
So Jehoram went to Zair with all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night; his army, however, fled back home.
2 Kings 8:21 esv
Then Joram passed over to Zair with all his chariots and rose by night, and he and his chariot commanders struck the Edomites who had surrounded him, but his army fled home.
2 Kings 8:21 nlt
So Jehoram went with all his chariots to attack the town of Zair. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he went out at night and attacked them under cover of darkness. But Jehoram's army deserted him and fled to their homes.
2 Kings 8 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 25:23 | "Two nations are in your womb...the older shall serve the younger." | Prophecy of inherent rivalry between Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom). |
| Num 20:18-21 | Edom refused Israel passage, meeting them with a strong force. | Edom's historical independence and antagonism toward Israel. |
| 2 Sam 8:13-14 | "He made a name for himself...Edom became David’s servants." | David's successful conquest and subjugation of Edom, establishing Judah's control. |
| 1 Kgs 11:14-17 | The Lord raised up Hadad the Edomite as an adversary. | Early stirrings of Edomite resistance against Israel's dominion. |
| 2 Kgs 3:9-10, 26 | Kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom united to fight Moab. | Edom's participation and role within the larger regional power dynamics. |
| 2 Kgs 8:20 | In his days Edom revolted from under the authority of Judah. | The immediate cause leading to Joram's military expedition in verse 21. |
| 2 Kgs 8:22 | So Edom has been in revolt from under the authority of Judah to this day. | Confirms the permanence and success of the Edomite rebellion detailed in v. 21. |
| 2 Chron 21:8 | In his days Edom revolted from under the authority of Judah. | Parallel account corroborating Edom's successful revolt. |
| 2 Chron 21:9-10 | Jehoram went with his commanders...the Edomites revolted to this day. | Direct parallel, explicitly connecting the revolt's lasting success to Joram's reign. |
| Psa 60:8 | "Over Edom I will cast My shoe." | Symbolizes divine dominion and conquest over Edom, contrasting its present independence. |
| Psa 108:9 | "Over Edom I will cast My shoe." | Reiteration of the imagery of triumphant control over Edom. |
| Isa 34:5-6 | "My sword shall be bathed in heaven...upon Edom." | Prophetic declaration of divine judgment and desolation for Edom. |
| Isa 63:1-6 | "Who is this coming from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?" | Vision of God's final vengeance, a dramatic confrontation with Edom. |
| Jer 49:7-22 | Prophecy concerning Edom. | Extensive prophecy detailing Edom's impending ruin for its pride and treachery. |
| Ez 25:12-14 | "Because Edom has dealt revengefully against the house of Judah..." | Prophetic judgment emphasizing Edom's persistent hostility towards Judah. |
| Ez 35:1-15 | Prophecy against Mount Seir (Edom). | Condemnation of Edom for celebrating and participating in Jerusalem's fall. |
| Amos 1:11-12 | "Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Edom..." | Prophetic denunciation of Edom's ruthless pursuit of its brother. |
| Obad 1:10-14 | "For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you." | Core prophecy against Edom for its gloating and inaction during Jerusalem's crisis. |
| Judg 7:19-22 | Gideon's surprise night attack scattered the Midianites. | Example of a successful tactical night maneuver for strategic advantage. |
| 1 Sam 19:10-12 | David escapes from Saul's attempt to kill him at night. | Illustration of utilizing the cover of night for desperate movement or escape. |
| Prov 28:1 | "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." | Indirectly suggests internal disorder or fear contributing to the army's flight. |
2 Kings 8 verses
2 Kings 8 21 Meaning
Joram, king of Judah, embarked on a military expedition with his chariots to Zair in Edomite territory to suppress the ongoing rebellion. Although he initiated a bold nocturnal maneuver to break out from an Edomite encirclement, his infantry scattered and fled, signaling a severe tactical setback and confirming Judah's definitive loss of dominion over Edom.
2 Kings 8 21 Context
This verse details King Joram's (also known as Jehoram) attempt to reclaim Judah's authority over Edom. It directly follows 2 Kings 8:20, which records Edom's successful rebellion from Judah's dominion and their establishment of an independent kingship. Joram, who reigned eight years in Jerusalem (2 Kgs 8:17), had married Ahab's daughter (2 Kgs 8:18) and notoriously "walked in the ways of the kings of Israel." This reign was largely marked by wickedness, departing from the faithfulness of his father, Jehoshaphat. Historically, Edom, a long-standing rival, had been subdued by King David centuries prior. Its re-assertion of independence during Joram's rule is depicted as a consequence of Judah's spiritual decline under a faithless king. The outcome described in verse 21 – an incomplete military success culminating in a rout of his own troops – confirms the permanent loss of Judahite control over Edom, a point explicitly emphasized in the following verse.
2 Kings 8 21 Word analysis
- So Joram (וַיֵּלֶךְ יוֹרָם, vayyēleḵ Yōrām): Joram, the son of King Jehoshaphat, ruled Judah. His name Yehoram means "Yahweh is exalted." Despite the meaning, his reign was marked by ungodliness, deviating from the spiritual path of his predecessors. His initiative to quell the Edomite rebellion signifies a response to a critical loss of Judahite sovereignty.
- went to Zair (אֶל-צָעִיר, ’el-Tza‘îr): Zair is an unidentified location within the territory of Edom, potentially Mount Seir itself, the mountainous region forming Edom's core. Its mention emphasizes Joram's offensive movement directly into the rebellious territory, indicating a concerted effort to restore control.
- and all his chariots with him (וְכָל-רִכְבּוֹ עִמּוֹ, vəḵāl-riḵbô ‘immô): Chariots represented the premier, heavy striking force in ancient Near Eastern warfare, akin to modern armored units. Joram bringing "all his chariots" indicates he committed his full military might, emphasizing the significance and scale of this campaign to recover Edom.
- And he rose by night (וַיָּקָם בַּלַּיְלָה, vayyāqām ba(l)laylāh): This action signifies a desperate or highly tactical maneuver. Moving by night suggests either a surprise attack intended to catch the enemy off guard or a desperate attempt to break free from an encircling force, the latter confirmed by the subsequent phrase. Such nocturnal operations were perilous but could offer a distinct advantage or chance for escape in dire circumstances.
- and attacked the Edomites (וַיַּךְ אֶת-אֱדוֹמִים, vayyaḵ ’eṯ-’Ěḏôwmîm): Joram launched an assault. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, identified throughout scripture as ancient adversaries of Israel, their conflict tracing back to the birthright struggle. Their revolt marked the successful culmination of a long desire for autonomy from Judah.
- who had surrounded him (הַנָּסְבִים עָלָיו, hannāsᵊḇîm ‘ālāyw): This detail reveals the immediate predicament. Joram and his forces were encircled, likely ambushed or besieged by the Edomites. This entrapment underscores the high-stakes nature of his nocturnal attack, transforming it from an offensive into a necessary breakthrough.
- and the captains of the chariots (וְשָׂרֵי הָרֶכֶב, vəśārê hāreḵeḇ): This refers to the high-ranking officers commanding the chariot units. Their mention separately from "Joram" and "his chariots" implies either they fought exceptionally close to Joram, or they were specifically targeted, or perhaps only the chariot commanders and their crews remained steadfast while the rest of the army faltered.
- but the people fled to their tents (וַיָּנֻס הָעָם לְאֹהָלָיו, vayyānus hā‘ām lə’ōhāḷāyw): This phrase indicates a rout or a disorganizing retreat of the infantry. "Fled to their tents" is an idiomatic expression for an army breaking rank and dispersing to their homes or encampments, signaling a defeat or abandonment of the battle. This outcome decisively undermined Joram's campaign, securing Edom's hard-won independence despite his temporary breakthrough.
2 Kings 8 21 Bonus section
The chronicler's account in 2 Chronicles 21 provides a crucial theological framework for understanding Joram's failures. It attributes the loss of Edom and subsequent adversities not merely to military setbacks but to Joram's deliberate unfaithfulness: "Because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers" (2 Chron 21:10). This aligns the historical outcome—Edom's lasting independence—with God's justice, emphasizing that blessings and dominion were often tied to Judah's fidelity to its covenant with God. Joram's ungodly character (marrying into Ahab's idolatrous house) thus bore national consequences, weakening Judah's external influence and territorial control.
2 Kings 8 21 Commentary
2 Kings 8:21 vividly portrays the dire circumstances of King Joram of Judah during his attempt to suppress the Edomite rebellion. Despite marshalling his elite chariot forces and executing a high-stakes night attack to break free from an Edomite encirclement, his campaign was ultimately a failure. The phrase "the people fled to their tents" signifies a comprehensive rout of the majority of his army, leaving him effectively defeated. This verse is not just a military anecdote; it marks a significant geopolitical shift, cementing Edom's independence from Judah, a loss explicitly confirmed in the subsequent verse (2 Kgs 8:22). Biblically, this decline in Judah's power is frequently presented as a consequence of King Joram's wicked reign and his departure from the covenant with God, leading to divine judgment upon his kingdom.