Who was Jehiel in the Bible?

Jehiel was one of the sons of King Jehoshaphat, a ruler of the southern kingdom of Judah. He is mentioned in the historical books of the Old Testament as a member of the royal family (2 Chronicles 21:2).

What happened to Jehiel, son of Jehoshaphat?

After King Jehoshaphat died, his firstborn son Jehoram became king. Jehoram killed all his brothers, including Jehiel, to secure his throne and remove potential rivals (2 Chronicles 21:2-4).

Why is Jehiel's story significant?

Jehiel's tragic fate illustrates the brutal political intrigue and violence that often occurred in royal successions. His story serves as a sobering example of the consequences of power struggles within the biblical narrative of Judah's kings.

Jehiel

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleKingSon

Jehiel was one of the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.

Jehiel

Biography

Jehiel was one of the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 21:2 among the royal princes who received generous gifts of silver, gold, and fortified cities from their father. Jehoshaphat had six sons, of whom Jehoram, the eldest, inherited the throne. According to 2 Chronicles 21:4, after Jehoram consolidated his power he killed all his brothers with the sword, along with some of the princes of Israel. Jehiel thus perished as a victim of fratricidal dynastic politics, a tragically common pattern in the ancient Near East where succession disputes could turn lethal. His brief appearance in the narrative serves as both a record of Jehoshaphat's generosity toward his children and a testament to the brutal consolidation of power by his brother Jehoram.

Significance

The fate of Jehiel and his brothers at the hands of Jehoram (2 Chronicles 21:4) illustrates the tragic consequences of spiritual compromise within royal families. Jehoshaphat's otherwise commendable reign was marred by his alliance with the house of Ahab, a union that introduced Baalistic influence into Judah's royal family. The murder of Jehiel and his brothers by Jehoram reflects a pattern the Chronicler uses to demonstrate how covenant unfaithfulness generates violence and instability. The story calls readers to consider how the choices of one generation shape the environment, often fatally, in which the next generation must live, underscoring the communal dimensions of fidelity to God.

Authority Records

Wikidata

FatherJehoshaphatSiblingJehoram

Verse Appearances (6)

1Chr

1Chr 6:20 1Chr 6:43 1Chr 23:8 1Chr 26:21 1Chr 26:22 1Chr 29:8

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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