II CHRONICLES 21:12-15

Q: This passage details a letter arriving from Elijah. Chronologically speaking, this is after Elijah had been taken from this earth. The heading refers to it as a “mysterious letter,” but the passage itself doesn’t seem to note it being odd or unusual. What do Bible scholars make of this?

There is nothing particularly mysterious about the contents of the letter. The three unusual factors are: (a) this is practically the only time in the OT when a prophet chose to deliver his message in writing rather than confronting his audience directly (but see Jeremiah 29), (b) this is the only time in Chronicles when Elijah is even mentioned, and, most oddly, (c) Elijah had left this earth at least six years before the letter was delivered. A number of proposals have been made by Bible scholars to try to account for this last problem especially.

The most obvious solution is that some time before Elijah's translation into heaven, he knew prophetically what would happen in Jehoram's reign and prepared a letter to be delivered to him at the appropriate time. (H. L. Ellison, New Bible Commentary, p. 389) Perhaps he used the “sons (or guild) of prophets” mentioned in II Kings 2 to preserve and deliver the message.

F. W. Krummacher suggests that Elijah reappeared on earth from heaven (as he did at the Transfiguration) in order to write the message right before it was delivered. (Elijah the Tishbite, p. 294-296) Krummacher mentions other solutions that have suggested such as (a) a scribal error attributed the letter to Elijah instead of Elisha, or (b) Elisha composed the letter but attributed it to Elijah since the former came in the power and spirit of Elijah.

Other possibilities mentioned by J. K. Howard (International Bible Commentary, p. 473-4) are: (a) Elijah's name may have been attached to the letter written by the guild of prophets who followed him, or (b) the letter may have been written at the time when Jehoram was possibly co-regent with Jehoshaphat and Elijah was still active on earth. Regarding the latter possibility, William Day Crockett notes that “it was not the last time the commands of God, laid upon Elijah, were carried out subsequently to his death (sic).” He references I Kings 19:15-17 and II Kings 8:7-15; 9:1-10. (A Harmony of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles, p. 258)

Samuel J. De Vries (1 and 2 Chronicles, p. 333) suggests that the biblical account in Kings is faulty and that Elijah just disappeared from the prophetic scene for a while and then reappeared during Jehoram's reign, only to die some time later.

Finally, H. G. M. Williamson confidently states, “It is generally agreed now that this letter is the Chronicler's own composition.” (1 and 2 Chronicles, p. 306) This opinion is at least shared by the Jewish commentator Jacob M. Myers (II Chronicles, p. 121-2), but is by no means universally held, as the above comments demonstrate.

It seems fitting to close this reply with a quote from Krummacher: “How many never-to-be-forgotten pilgrims of God, whose names still live in our hearts or memories, still preach to us, encourage and comfort us, by their still remembered words and examples!”