What does 2 Chronicles 21:16 mean?
"¶ Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:" - 2 Chronicles 21:16
2 Chronicles 21:16 - "¶ Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:"
The verse 2 Chronicles 21:16, from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, reads: "Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians." This verse comes from the second book of Chronicles, which is a historical account of the kings of Judah. In this particular chapter, the focus is on the reign of Jehoram, the son of King Jehoshaphat.
To understand the meaning and commentary of this verse, it is important to consider the larger context of the passage and the historical background of the time. Jehoram was one of the kings of Judah, and his reign was marked by many difficulties and challenges. He was a king who did evil in the sight of the Lord, and he led the people of Judah into idolatry and disobedience. As a result, the Lord's judgment fell upon him and his kingdom.
The verse begins with "Moreover," indicating that this was an additional consequence of Jehoram's disobedience. The Lord stirred up the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabians against Jehoram. This stirring up suggests that the Lord allowed these neighboring nations to rise up in hostility against Judah. In the Bible, the stirring up of nations or peoples against a disobedient ruler is often seen as a form of divine judgment or discipline. It serves as a reminder that God is sovereign over all nations and that He can use them to accomplish His purposes.
The Philistines and the Arabians were traditional enemies of the Israelites, and their attacks would have been a significant threat to the stability and security of Judah. The fact that they were "near the Ethiopians" indicates that the threat came from multiple fronts, making it even more dangerous and difficult for Jehoram and his kingdom to defend against.
From a thematic perspective, this verse illustrates the consequences of disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. Throughout the Bible, there is a consistent theme of cause and effect, particularly when it comes to the relationship between the people of God and their obedience to His commands. In this case, Jehoram's disobedience led to the Lord allowing external enemies to rise up against him.
Additionally, this verse highlights the sovereignty of God over the nations. The stirring up of the Philistines and the Arabians was not merely a result of geopolitical factors, but it was ultimately under the control and direction of the Lord. This serves as a reminder that God is ultimately in control of the affairs of the world, and He can use even hostile nations to accomplish His purposes.
There is also a symbolic aspect to this verse. The Philistines and the Arabians can be seen as representing the spiritual forces of darkness and opposition. Throughout the Bible, various nations and peoples are used symbolically to represent spiritual realities. In this case, the attacks of these nations can be seen as symbolic of the spiritual warfare that is often faced by God's people when they turn away from Him.
In conclusion, the verse 2 Chronicles 21:16 serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and unfaithfulness to God. It also highlights the sovereignty of God over the nations and the symbolic nature of the challenges faced by His people. This verse provides a valuable lesson for believers about the importance of obedience and the reality of spiritual warfare. It encourages us to remain faithful to God and to seek His strength and protection in the face of external opposition.
2 Chronicles 21:16 Artwork
2 Chronicles 21:16 - "¶ Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:"
1 Chronicles 16:21 - "He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,"
2 Chronicles 4:21 - "And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;"
2 Chronicles 21:18 - "¶ And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease."
2 Chronicles 13:16 - "And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand."
2 Chronicles 23:21 - "And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword."
2 Chronicles 21:8 - "¶ In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king."
2 Chronicles 16:13 - "¶ And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign."
2 Chronicles 28:16 - "¶ At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him."
2 Chronicles 24:21 - "And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD."
2 Kings 15:21 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
2 Kings 21:25 - "Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Chronicles 16:11 - "¶ And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel."
1 Chronicles 2:16 - "Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three."
2 Chronicles 13:21 - "¶ But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters."
2 Chronicles 21:2 - "And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel."
2 Chronicles 21:5 - "¶ Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 23:16 - "¶ And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people."
2 Chronicles 33:21 - "¶ Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem."
2 Chronicles 32:16 - "And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah."
2 Kings 16:19 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Chronicles 12:16 - "And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead."
2 Chronicles 21:14 - "Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:"
2 Chronicles 21:11 - "Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto."
2 Chronicles 3:16 - "And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains."
2 Chronicles 16:5 - "And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease."
1 Chronicles 1:21 - "Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,"
2 Chronicles 16:2 - "Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,"
2 Kings 21:17 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
2 Chronicles 1:16 - "And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price."