The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 259

Jchoram was not born good was no oxcuse, since Jehova.h's grace was ready to assist him in overcoming bis natural corruption (Deut. xxx, 6; 1 Kings viii. 58; Ps. ex. 3). (2) A bad wife. Atbaliab, though a king's daughter (ver. 6), was a wicked woman. Exalted in station, beautiful in person, gifted with high mental endowments, she may havo been; novertheless, she was inwardly, essentially, and radically of depraved instincts. Like her mother Jezebel, she was superstitious, profligate, bloodthirsty, imperious, and resolute. She belonged to the type of woman of which Herodias and perhaps Drusilla and Bernice were New 'l'esto.ment examples, and to which should be assigned the Shake- spearean creations of Lady Macbeth and Cleopatra. In the hands of such women even strong men fiad it difficult to resist the fatal influence of their superior natures, while feeble creatures like Ahab and Jehoram are dragged like captives at their cha.riot-wheels. The most dreadful calamity that can befall a. weakling is to wed such a spouse. A woman leagued with the devil will dro.g her husband to perdition with a certainty and celerity that hardly even the grace of God can prevent. In such plight was Jehora.m. (3) A bad environment. Though not everything, a man's surroundings are something. They help to make or mar him. If good, they will at least hinder bis deterioration; if bad, they will hasten it. Perhaps nothing could have been worse for Jehoram than to have Ahab's daughter for a. wife; it was no a.melioration of his hard fate to have Ahab for a father-in-law, Jezebel for a. mother-in-law, Aha.zia.b and Jehora.m for brothers-in-law, and the house of Omri generally as relatives and friends. It was hardly surprising that in after-years Jehoram, the King of Judah, had no moral resemblance to Jehoshaphat's son. II. AN UNNATURAL BROTHER. 1. The names of JehOTam's brothers. Six in number; they had excellent names. (1) Azariah, "whom Jehovah helps." "Happy is the man that hath the God of Jacob for his Help" (Ps. cxlvi. 5). '£his name may have been given by Jehoshaphat to his second and his fifth sons-distinguished slightly by the spelling, Azarjah and Aza.rja.hu-to emphasize that all hopejfor stability in his house and prosperity in his kingdom depended on and proceeded from the assistance of Heaven. (2) Jehiel, "God liveth." Perhaps this truth was impressed upon Jehosha- pbat's heart by the birth of his third son (Ps. cxxvii. 3), as it was upon David's, by his continued preservation from the hand of Saul (2 Sam. xxii. 47; Ps. xviii. 46). (3) Zecharia.b, "whom Jehovah remembers." Probably given by Jehoshaphat to his son after Zechariab, the father of Jahaziel, who predicted the overthrow of the Moa.bites (eh. xx. 14). Or, Jehoshaphat may have counted his fourth son a happy proof that Jehovah had not forgotten him, but was still mindful of his covenant. (4) Aza.riah (see above). (5) Michael," who is like unto God?" A great thought for a yonng man to carry about with him on life's journey, and one that might stir him to noble deeds as well as lead him into pleasant ways. This thought was familiar to Moses (Exod. viii. 10), to David (Ps. lxxxvi. 8), to Ethan the Ezrahite (Ps. 1=.xi.x. 6), and to Isaiah (xl. 18). (6) Shephatiah, "whom Jehovah defends." The name of one of David's sons (2 Sam. iii. 4), and probably for this reason bestowed upon Jeboshapba.t's. 2. The ranks of Jehoram's brothers. Princes of the blood royal, they were well pro- vided for and well placed by their father, whose crown fell to Jehora.m as heir-apparent. Great gifts of silver, gold, and other precious things were bestowed upon them, while they were appointed, as Rehoboam's sons had been (eh. xi. 23), co=andants of fortresses in the different fenced cities of Judah. Thus they had no need to be discontented with their lot, and most likely were not. 3. The characters of Jehoram's brethren. They were better than he (ver. 13). Presumably in every way-physically, mentally, morally, religiously. '£his last, perhaps, specially intended. Jehosbaphat's piety bad exorcised upon them more influence than upon him; they disapproved of the idolatrous behaviour awl wicked policy generally of him and his wife. 4. The murder of Jelwram's brethren. Whatever the motive-cupidity or a desire to appropriate their wealt~, fear or a dread or being insecure upon his throne while they Jived, or hatred o_f theu persons because they shunned his evil ways-it was a hideous deed of b_lood, wh1c~ has seldom been paralleled amongst Oriental kings. "U pou the death of Selim us II. (1;>82), Amurah III., succeeding to tho 'furkish empire, caused _his five brot~ers-:Mustapha., Solymon, Abdalla, Osman, and Sinagar - without pity ,?r co1?m1serat,1on, to be stro.ngled in his presence and burned with his dead father (Wh1tecross, Anecdotes on the Old 'l'estament,' p. 190). Along with his brethren, he put to death a number  !!GO THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [orr. xxr. 1-20.