Jehoram Murders His Brothers
Study note
When Jehoshaphat died, his oldest son Jehoram became king. Jehoram immediately killed all six of his brothers and some of the leaders of Israel. He married a daughter of Ahab, the wicked king of the north, which influenced him to follow the evil ways of Ahab's family. Despite Jehoram's wickedness, God did not destroy the house of David because of his covenant promise to keep a 'lamp' burning for David's line forever.
1 Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jehoram became the next king. Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
2 Jehoram had brothers who were also sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
3 Their father had given all of them generous gifts of silver, gold, and valuables, along with walled cities in Judah. But he gave the throne to Jehoram because he was the oldest son. And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.
4 Once Jehoram had firmly taken control as king, he killed all his brothers with the sword. He also killed some of the leaders of Israel. Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.
5 Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
6 He followed the sinful ways of the kings of Israel, just like the family of Ahab had done, because he had married one of Ahab's daughters. He did what the Lord considered evil. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
7 But the Lord did not want to destroy the family of David because of the promise he had made to David. He had promised that a descendant of David would always rule, like a lamp that never goes out. Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
Rebellion and Elijah's Letter
Study note
During Jehoram's reign, Edom and the city of Libnah revolted against Judah — both because Jehoram had abandoned God. He set up hilltop shrines and led Jerusalem and Judah into idol worship. Then a letter arrived from the prophet Elijah with a devastating message: because Jehoram had followed the ways of Ahab's family and murdered his own brothers, God would strike his people, his sons, his wives, and his possessions. Jehoram himself would suffer a terrible disease of the bowels.
8 While Jehoram was king, the people of Edom broke away from Judah's control and chose their own king. In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.
9 Jehoram marched out with his officers and all his chariots. He attacked at night and defeated the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders. Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.
10 But Edom has stayed independent from Judah ever since. Around the same time, the city of Libnah also rebelled, because Jehoram had turned away from the Lord, the God of his ancestors. So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.
11 He had built hilltop shrines in Judah's mountains. He led the people of Jerusalem to worship idols. They were untrue to God. Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
12 Then a letter arrived from the prophet Elijah. It said: "This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: 'You have not followed the good ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of King Asa of Judah.'" And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
13 "'Instead, you have copied the ways of the kings of Israel. You have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to worship idols, just as Ahab's family did. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your father's family, who were better men than you.'" But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:
14 "'So the Lord is about to bring a terrible disaster on your people, your sons, your wives, and everything you own.'" Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:
15 "'And you yourself will get a horrible disease in your insides. It will get worse every day until your insides fall out.'" And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.
Jehoram's Terrible End
Study note
God stirred up the Philistines and Arabians to attack Judah. They invaded, carried off everything in the palace, and took all of Jehoram's sons and wives except his youngest son Jehoahaz (also called Ahaziah). After this, the Lord struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease. After two years of suffering, he died in great agony. No one mourned for him, and he was not buried in the royal tombs — a sign of ultimate disgrace.
16 Then the Lord stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs near Ethiopia. They attacked Jehoram. Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
17 They invaded Judah, broke through its defenses, and carried off everything they found in the royal palace, including his sons and his wives. Only Jehoahaz, his youngest son, was left behind. And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
18 After all this, the Lord struck Jehoram with a disease in his intestines that could not be cured. And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
19 Over the next two years, his insides came out because of the disease, and he died in terrible pain. His people did not build a bonfire in his honor the way they had done for his ancestors. And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
20 He was 32 years old when he became king and ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. Nobody was sad when he died. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal tombs. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.