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2 Chronicles 21 · a question people ask

When did Elijah write the letter to Jehoram?

In the text

The chapter says only, "A letter came to him from Elijah the prophet" (21:12), and gives what it said (21:12-15). It doesn't say when Elijah wrote it, or how it came to the king, and these notes don't say. 2 Kings has two verses that are read beside it. Of Elijah and Elisha: "As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11). And when Jehoshaphat king of Judah went with the king of Israel against Moab (2 Kings 3:7), Jehoshaphat asked, "Isn’t there a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?" (2 Kings 3:11), and one of the king of Israel's servants answered, "Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here" (2 Kings 3:11). Neither 2 Kings nor 2 Chronicles says how these verses and 21:12 fit together, and these notes don't try to. The three are set here as they stand.

The verses

“As they continued on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
2 Kings 2:11 · World English Bible
“He went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle?” He said, “I will go up. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.””
2 Kings 3:7 · World English Bible
“But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here.””
2 Kings 3:11 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 21

2 Chronicles 21: A lamp for David's house

Where 2 Kings says the LORD spared Judah "for David his servant’s sake" (2 Kings 8:19), 2 Chronicles says he would not destroy David's house "because of the covenant that he had made with David" (21:7). And only 2 Chronicles tells of the letter from Elijah that named what Jehoram had done (21:12-15).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions