Who was Zechariah, the son of Jehoshaphat?

Zechariah was one of the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, mentioned in 2 Chronicles 21:2. He was a prince of Judah, but the Bible provides no further details about his life or actions.

Why is Zechariah, son of Jehoshaphat, significant in the Bible?

His significance is primarily genealogical, as his mention helps establish the royal lineage of Judah. His brief mention in 2 Chronicles 21:2 sets the stage for the tragic events where his brothers were killed by their eldest brother, Jehoram, after their father's death.

What happened to Zechariah and his brothers?

According to 2 Chronicles 21:4, after Jehoshaphat died, his firstborn son Jehoram became king and killed all his brothers, including Zechariah, along with some officials of Israel, to secure his throne.

Zechariah

Old TestamentDivided MonarchyMaleKingSon

Zechariah, one of the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah (2Ch.21.2).

Zechariah

Biography

Zechariah was one of the six sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, listed in 2 Chronicles 21:2. King Jehoshaphat, a generally faithful ruler, gave his sons great gifts of silver, gold, and fortified cities, but designated his firstborn Jehoram as his successor. The remaining brothers, including Zechariah, received prominent positions in Judah's regional administration. Their fate took a tragic turn when Jehoram assumed the throne. Consolidating power by eliminating rivals, Jehoram murdered all his brothers with the sword (2 Chr. 21:4). Zechariah thus perished as a victim of his own brother's ruthless political violence, a sharp illustration of the dynasty's moral collapse under a king whose reign was marked by apostasy and cruelty.

Significance

The story of Zechariah and his brothers underscores the catastrophic consequences when covenant leadership is abandoned for raw political ambition. Their deaths fulfilled no prophetic purpose but stood as testimony against Jehoram, whose wickedness 2 Chronicles 21 relentlessly documents. The prophet Elijah sent Jehoram a letter of divine condemnation, and the king died from a grievous intestinal disease. Zechariah's fate illustrates the biblical pattern that faithless leaders not only destroy themselves but harm the innocent around them. His story serves as a sobering counterpoint to his father Jehoshaphat's relative faithfulness, demonstrating how quickly the fruit of godly parenting can be corrupted by a successor who rejects the covenant.

Verse Appearances (1)

2Chr

2Chr 21:2

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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