2 Chronicles 21:18 describes the end of King Jehoram's reign. The verse says, "After all this, the Lord struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease."
Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"After all this": This refers to the preceding events detailed in 2 Chronicles 21, primarily King Jehoram's wickedness. He had murdered his brothers to consolidate power and led Judah into idolatry, forsaking the God of Israel. He also faced military setbacks due to his unrighteousness.
"The Lord struck him": This indicates that the disease was divinely sent. In the Old Testament, disease is sometimes portrayed as a form of divine judgment or punishment for sin. It's important to understand this in the context of the time period and cultural understanding.
"in his bowels": This specifically identifies the location of the disease as being in his intestines or abdomen.
"with an incurable disease": This signifies that the disease was severe and untreatable. It was a fatal condition from which he would not recover. The incurable nature emphasizes the finality and divine origin. The incurable bowel disease is very specific, and some scholars believe it could be a form of colon cancer or a severe intestinal obstruction, although the exact nature of the disease is not specified.
In essence, this verse depicts King Jehoram's demise as a direct consequence of his wickedness. God inflicted him with a painful and fatal illness in his bowels as a judgment for his actions. It serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God and pursuing evil.
It's important to note:
This is a religious text: Interpretations can vary depending on one's religious beliefs and theological perspective.
Historical context: The verse reflects the ancient worldview that saw a direct connection between morality and physical well-being.
Symbolic interpretation: Some might interpret the bowel disease symbolically, representing the corruption and decay within Jehoram's reign and character.
2 Chronicles 21:18 describes the end of King Jehoram's reign. The verse says, "After all this, the Lord struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease."
Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"After all this": This refers to the preceding events detailed in 2 Chronicles 21, primarily King Jehoram's wickedness. He had murdered his brothers to consolidate power and led Judah into idolatry, forsaking the God of Israel. He also faced military setbacks due to his unrighteousness.
"The Lord struck him": This indicates that the disease was divinely sent. In the Old Testament, disease is sometimes portrayed as a form of divine judgment or punishment for sin. It's important to understand this in the context of the time period and cultural understanding.
"in his bowels": This specifically identifies the location of the disease as being in his intestines or abdomen.
"with an incurable disease": This signifies that the disease was severe and untreatable. It was a fatal condition from which he would not recover. The incurable nature emphasizes the finality and divine origin. The incurable bowel disease is very specific, and some scholars believe it could be a form of colon cancer or a severe intestinal obstruction, although the exact nature of the disease is not specified.
In essence, this verse depicts King Jehoram's demise as a direct consequence of his wickedness. God inflicted him with a painful and fatal illness in his bowels as a judgment for his actions. It serves as a warning about the consequences of turning away from God and pursuing evil.
It's important to note:
This is a religious text: Interpretations can vary depending on one's religious beliefs and theological perspective.
Historical context: The verse reflects the ancient worldview that saw a direct connection between morality and physical well-being.
Symbolic interpretation: Some might interpret the bowel disease symbolically, representing the corruption and decay within Jehoram's reign and character.