And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
2 CHRONICLES 21:3KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 21:3 mean?
2 Chronicles 21:3 describes how Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, gave generous gifts of silver, gold, and valuable items, as well as fortified cities, to his sons. However, he gave the actual kingdom to Jehoram, his firstborn son, because Jehoram had the right of inheritance as the eldest.
Jehoshaphat is dividing his wealth and authority among his sons near the end of his reign. The verse highlights a common ancient practice: while younger sons received material wealth and positions of influence (like control over cities), the eldest son, Jehoram, received the throne itself. This sets the stage for the events that follow in the chapter, where Jehoram becomes king.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 21:3
- "gave" (נָתַן, natan): This word appears twice, emphasizing both the giving of gifts to the sons and the giving of the kingdom to Jehoram. The repetition highlights the deliberate and formal nature of Jehoshaphat’s actions.
- "gifts" (מַתָּנָה, mattanah): This word refers to presents or offerings, showing that Jehoshaphat’s gifts were substantial and intended to provide for his other sons without giving them the throne.
- "fenced" (בָּצוּר, batsur): This word means fortified or walled, indicating that the cities given to the sons were protected and valuable, not just ordinary towns.
- "firstborn" (בְּכוֹר, bekhor): This term is important because it explains why Jehoram received the kingdom. In ancient Israel, the firstborn son had special rights and responsibilities, including succession to the throne.
Why 2 Chronicles 21:3 matters
- The verse clarifies that Jehoshaphat’s other sons were not left empty-handed; they received wealth and authority, but not the ultimate power of kingship.
- The emphasis on Jehoram as the firstborn explains the succession and avoids confusion about why he became king, even if others received significant gifts.
- This division of wealth and power helps explain later tensions and events in Judah’s royal family, as the distribution of authority sometimes led to rivalry or conflict.