What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 21:6? And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel • “Walked” points to a settled pattern of life, not a momentary lapse (cf. Psalm 1:1; Galatians 5:16). • The northern kings of Israel had a consistent record of idolatry (1 Kings 16:25, 30; 2 Kings 17:21–22). By choosing their path, Jehoram, king of Judah, abandoned the godly heritage of David (2 Samuel 7:12–16). • 2 Kings 8:18 repeats this verdict almost word for word, emphasizing divine agreement across the historical record. just as the house of Ahab had done • Ahab’s dynasty became the benchmark for covenant rebellion: Baal worship (1 Kings 16:31–33), persecution of prophets (1 Kings 18:4; 19:1–2), and wholesale moral decay (1 Kings 21:25). • Jehoram’s imitation shows how leadership influences a nation. Proverbs 13:20 warns, “the companion of fools will be destroyed”. • The comparison also signals coming judgment; every member of Ahab’s house was eventually cut off (2 Kings 9:7–9). For he married a daughter of Ahab • Political marriages were common, but Scripture repeatedly cautions against alliances that compromise faith (Deuteronomy 7:3–4; 1 Kings 11:1–4). • Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter (2 Chronicles 22:2), imported idolatry into Judah and later attempted to wipe out the Davidic line (2 Chronicles 22:10). • 1 Corinthians 15:33—“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’ ”—illustrates the personal cost of Jehoram’s choice. • 2 Corinthians 6:14 calls believers to remain “unequally yoked,” a timeless principle highlighted by this marriage. and did evil in the sight of the LORD • The phrase signals not merely human opinion but divine evaluation (Judges 2:11; 1 Kings 22:52). • Jehoram’s evil included murdering his own brothers (2 Chronicles 21:4) and leading Judah into idolatry (2 Chronicles 21:11). • God responded with discipline—enemy raids, disease, and the extinction of Jehoram’s lineage (2 Chronicles 21:16–20). • The pattern underscores Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap”. summary 2 Chronicles 21:6 traces a downward spiral: imitation of ungodly models, entangling alliances, and outright rebellion against God. Jehoram’s story stands as a sober reminder that the company we keep and the choices we make shape both personal destiny and collective legacy. Walking in the ways of covenant breakers brings the same verdict and consequences, but faithfulness to God’s revealed path brings life and blessing. |
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