2 Chronicles — Chapter 21

OCCIDIT OMNES FRATRES SUOS GLADIO — Joram killed all his brothers, perhaps because they opposed his new religion and idolatry. Lapide: \"If that is so, they truly died as martyrs.\"

ALLATAE SUNT EI LITTERAE AB ELIA PROPHETA — Elijah's letter from paradise (or from the place where he lives after his rapture with Enoch). Lapide discusses whether Elijah could have written before his rapture, concludes most probably the letter was sent from paradise through an angel or through Eliseus, as Elijah appeared to Peter, James, and John in the Transfiguration. Lapide cites Bellarmine, Salianus, and the Hebrew Seder Olam.

NON FECIT EI POPULUS SECUNDUM MOREM COMBUSTIONIS EXSEQUIAS — no great burning of spices was made for Joram, as had been done for King Asa (2Chr 16:14). Lapide explains it was customary to burn costly aromatics and garments near the royal bier as an honour; this was withheld from Joram as a mark of infamy. He cites Paulinus and Prudentius on the custom of offering aromatics at martyrs' tombs.