2 Chronicles 21:12 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

From Elijah the prophet— It being plain from Exodus 2:11 that Elijah was taken up into heaven in the time of Jehoshaphat, the question is, how could Elijah send his son a letter. Josephus and others imagine, that this writing was indited by Elijah in heaven, and sent to Jehoram by the ministry of angels: but there is no reason to suppose that so singular a miracle was wrought in favour of an idolatrous prince, who had Moses and the prophets, which, in our Saviour's opinion, were sufficient to instruct him in all points necessary to salvation; and needed not any additional writing to be sent to him from the other world. Others are of opinion, therefore, that this letter was written before Elijah's ascension into heaven; that, foreseeing by the spirit of prophesy, the great wickedness that Jehoram would fall into, he dictated the contents thereof to one of the prophets, charging him to put them down in writing, to send them in a letter to Jehoram when he grew as impious as is here related, and to let him know that Elijah commanded this writing to be delivered to him, upon the presumption that it would affect him the more, as it came from a person translated into heaven. Lastly, others have supposed, that the Elijah by whom this letter was sent was not the prophet who was taken up into heaven, but another of that name who lived in the subsequent age, and was cotemporary with Jehoram. Which of these conjectures seems most probable, must be left to the judgment of the reader. See Le Clerc and Houbigant.