2 Chronicles 21:13

11 Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah; he had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.

12 Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, which stated: “This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah,

but you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab prostituted itself. You have also killed your brothers, your father’s family, who were better than you.

14 So behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a serious blow.

15 And day after day you yourself will suffer from a severe illness, a disease of your bowels, until it causes your bowels to come out.’”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
but you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab prostituted itself. You have also killed your brothers, your father’s family, who were better than you.
KJV
But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself:
WEB
but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the prostitute like Ahab’s house did, and also have slain your brothers of your father’s house, who were better than yourself,
ASV
but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, like as the house of Ahab did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father`s house, who were better than thyself:
DARBY
but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, like the fornications of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren, thy father's house who were better than thyself:
BLB
and you have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem to prostitute themselves like the prostitution of the house of Ahab—and also your brothers, the house of your father, who are better than you, you have killed—
ÅB
men har vandret på Israels kongers vei og lokket Juda og Jerusalems innbyggere til utukt, slik som Akabs hus lokket til utukt, og endog har drept dine brødre, din egen fars sønner, som var bedre enn du,
OTB
men har fulgt praksisene til kongene i Israel, og har fått Juda og innbyggerne i Jerusalem til å drive hor som Akabs hus gjorde, og du har også drept dine brødre, din egen familie, som var bedre enn deg,
B1930
men har vandret på Israels kongers vei og lokket Juda og Jerusalems innbyggere til utukt, likesom Akabs hus lokket til utukt, og endog har drept dine brødre, din egen fars sønner, som var bedre enn du,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Chronicles 21:4

    When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel.

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  • 2 Chronicles 21:11

    Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah; he had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 16:30–33

    However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.

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  • 2 Chronicles 21:6

    And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

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  • Isaiah 26:21

    For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.

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  • Judges 9:56–57

    In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.

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  • 2 Kings 9:22

    When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” he replied, “as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”

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  • Genesis 42:21–22

    Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

    Read in context