Lives of Scripture

Michael was one of the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, named among his brothers Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, and Shephatiah (2 Chronicles 21:2). Jehoshaphat, a king remembered for seeking the LORD, had given each of his sons 'many gifts, of silver, gold, and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah,' while giving the kingdom itself to his firstborn, Jehoram, as was customary (21:3). But 'when Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of Israel' (21:4). Michael's death is recorded as part of this consolidation of power, one of Scripture's grim illustrations of how quickly a kingdom can turn violent even after a reign marked by faithfulness to God. The Chronicler goes on to describe Jehoram's own reign as wicked -- he 'walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he had married the daughter of Ahab' (21:6) -- and records that he died of a horrific intestinal disease, unmourned and denied burial among the kings (21:18-20), a judgment the text connects directly to his bloodshed and apostasy.