2 Chronicles 21:12

Authorized King James Version

And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיָּבֹ֤א
H935
And there came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#2
אֵלָיו֙
H413
near, with or among; often in general, to
#3
מִכְתָּ֔ב
H4385
a writing
a thing written, the characters, or a document (letter, copy, edict, poem)
#4
מֵאֵֽלִיָּ֥הוּ
H452
to him from Elijah
elijah, the name of the famous prophet and of two other israelites
#5
הַנָּבִ֖יא
H5030
the prophet
a prophet or (generally) inspired man
#6
אָמַ֣ר
H559
Thus saith
to say (used with great latitude)
#7
כֹּ֣ה׀
H3541
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
#8
אָמַ֣ר
H559
Thus saith
to say (used with great latitude)
#9
יְהוָ֗ה
H3068
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#10
אֱלֹהֵי֙
H430
God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#11
דָּוִ֣יד
H1732
of David
david, the youngest son of jesse
#12
אָבִ֔יךָ
H1
thy father
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#13
תַּ֗חַת
H8478
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
#14
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#15
לֹֽא
H3808
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#16
הָלַ֙כְתָּ֙
H1980
Because thou hast not walked
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#17
וּבְדַרְכֵ֖י
H1870
in the ways
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
#18
יְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֣ט
H3092
of Jehoshaphat
jehoshaphat, the name of six israelites; also of a valley near jerusalem
#19
אָבִ֔יךָ
H1
thy father
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#20
וּבְדַרְכֵ֖י
H1870
in the ways
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
#21
אָסָ֥א
H609
of Asa
asa, the name of a king and of a levite
#22
מֶֽלֶךְ
H4428
king
a king
#23
יְהוּדָֽה׃
H3063
of Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of 2 Chronicles Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection