21:6 Jehoram, the new king of Judah, married Athaliah, one of the daughters of King Ahab of Israel. She became the mother of Judah’s next king, Ahaziah (22:2). Athaliah’s mother was Jezebel, the most wicked woman Israel had ever known. Jehoram’s marriage to Athaliah was Judah’s downfall, for Athaliah brought her mother’s wicked influence into Judah, causing the nation to forget God and turn to Baal worship (22:3).
21:7 God promised that a descendant of David would always sit on the throne (2 Samuel 7:8-16). What happened to this promise when the nation was destroyed and carried away? There were two parts to God’s promise. (1) In the physical sense, as long as there was an actual throne in Judah, a descendant of David would sit upon it. But this part of the promise depended on the obedience of these kings. When they disobeyed, God was not bound to continue David’s temporal line. (2) In the spiritual sense, this promise was completely fulfilled in the coming of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David, who would sit on the throne of David forever.
21:8-11 Jehoram’s reign was marked by sin and cruelty. He married a woman who worshiped idols; he killed his six brothers; he allowed and even promoted idol worship. Yet he was not killed in battle or by treachery—he died by a lingering and painful disease (21:18, 19). Punishment for sin is not always immediate or dramatic. But if we ignore God’s laws, we will eventually suffer the consequences of our sin.
21:12 Chronicles mentions Elijah only here. Much more about this great prophet can be found in 1 Kings 17:1—2 Kings 2:11. Elijah’s profile is found in 1 Kings 17, p. 725.