2 Chronicles 21:3

3 Jehoshaphat gave his sons many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, and he gave them strong, walled cities in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the first son.

2 Chronicles 21:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 21:3

And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold,
and of precious things
As jewels and precious stones; or precious garments, as the Targum, in like manner as Abraham gave to his sons, when he sent them from Isaac: with fenced cities in Judah;
not as their own property, but he appointed them governors in them, to defend them against an enemy, and as a mark of honour to them: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram,
because he was the firstborn; strictly observing the law in ( Deuteronomy 21:16 Deuteronomy 21:17 ) , which was not always done; though it was reckoned by the Heathens contrary to the law of nations to give the kingdom to the younger ^F25.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Justin. e Trogo, l. 16. c. 2.

2 Chronicles 21:3 In-Context

1 Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem, the city of David. Then his son Jehoram became king in his place.

2 Jehoram's brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. They were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.

3 Jehoshaphat gave his sons many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, and he gave them strong, walled cities in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the first son.

4 When Jehoram took control of his father's kingdom, he killed all his brothers with a sword and also killed some of the leaders of Judah.

5 He was thirty-two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eight years in Jerusalem.