Reading The Bible In Historical Sequence Part 6Sample

892 BC Godless Jehoram murders his brothers, then reigns for eight years and sets up idol worship in Judah. Elijah’s delayed letter predicts calamity for Judah. Because Edom rejoices at the Philistine-Arab attack, Obadiah denounces Edom. In 884 BC Judah’s new king, Ahaziah, joins the Northern Kingdom in attacking Aram/Syria.

Note 1 (2 Chronicles 21:4): In 889 BC both Judah and Israel were ruled by kings with the same name: Jehoram (2 Kings 8:16). This was often shortened to Joram. See Appendix F: Royal Relationships in the Divided Kingdom.

Note 2 (2 Chronicles 21:8; Obadiah 11–14): When Jehoshaphat died in 889 BC the Edomites rebelled and finally shook off Judah’s yoke of domination which started under Solomon. Isaac predicted this independence from Israel (Genesis 27:40). Obadiah then denounced Edom for actively supporting the Philistine-Arab sacking of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 21:16–17), for rejoicing over the people’s captivity and for helping set up road blocks to prevent them escaping. Edom, founded by Esau, should have had a brotherly relationship with the people of Israel. Because Edom did not, this brought early judgment. Edom is idiomatic of all peoples antagonistic to Israel.