What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 21:14? So behold • The prophet Elijah grabs Jehoram’s attention with an urgent call to look and listen. • Similar wake-up phrases appear in passages such as Isaiah 7:14 and Revelation 3:20, reminding us that when God says “behold,” He is revealing something undeniable and imminent. • It underscores that what follows is not a vague warning but a specific, divinely certified announcement. the LORD is about to strike • The action originates with “the LORD,” the covenant name Yahweh. Judgment is therefore personal, deliberate, and righteous (Psalm 7:11; Nahum 1:2). • “Is about to” highlights immediacy—God’s patience with Jehoram’s idolatry and fratricide (2 Chronicles 21:4, 11) has reached its limit, echoing the pattern seen with Pharaoh in Exodus 12:12 and with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:5–10. • “Strike” points to direct intervention, as in Deuteronomy 28:22 where disobedience brings a “plague” from the Lord, confirming the covenant principle that sin brings tangible consequences. your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions • Judgment is comprehensive. Jehoram’s rebellion affects: – His subjects (“your people”), mirroring how David’s census sin led to national plague (2 Samuel 24:15). – His family (“your sons, your wives”), recalling Eli’s household curse in 1 Samuel 2:31–33. – His wealth (“all your possessions”), aligning with the stripping of Job’s holdings—though Job’s loss was a test, Jehoram’s is a penalty (Job 1:12–17). • The list exposes the breadth of stewardship God had entrusted to Jehoram—each sphere now faces discipline because he misused his authority (Luke 12:48). with a serious blow. • “Serious” (or “great”) conveys severity; this is not a light tap but a devastating plague later described as a fatal intestinal disease (2 Chronicles 21:18–19). • The motif of a “blow” links to Proverbs 26:3, where blows correct a fool—here the king himself is chastened. • Such drastic action serves at least three purposes: – Vindicating God’s holiness (Leviticus 10:3). – Warning Judah of the cost of Baal worship (1 Kings 18:18). – Preserving the Davidic promise by purging corruption, so Messiah’s line remains secure (2 Samuel 7:13–15). summary 2 Chronicles 21:14 is a direct, solemn declaration that the covenant-keeping Lord will personally and swiftly punish King Jehoram’s rebellion. The warning’s structure—attention call, divine source, extensive targets, and severe outcome—shows that sin’s reach extends beyond the individual, impacting family, nation, and resources. God’s judgment is both just and purposeful, safeguarding His holiness and His redemptive plan while urging every generation to heed His word. |
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