Jehoram Reigns in Judah
(2 Kings 8:16–19)
And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place. 1Ki 22:502Ch 12:162Ch 21:202Ch 9:312Ki 8:16-17
Jehoram’s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; these were all sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 1 2Ch 12:62Ch 23:22Ch 24:52Ch 21:42Ch 24:162Ch 28:192Ch 28:232Ch 28:27 Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and precious things, as well as the fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn. 2Ch 11:232Ch 11:5Deu 21:15-17Gen 25:6
When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel. Jdg 9:52Ch 21:172Ch 22:10Gen 4:81Jn 3:122Ch 22:8Jdg 9:56-57 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. 2Ki 8:17-22
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD. 2Ch 18:11Ki 12:28-302Ki 8:181Ki 16:25-332Ch 22:2Neh 13:25-26 Yet the LORD was unwilling to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant He had made with David, and since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever. 1Ki 11:36Psa 132:17-182Sa 7:12-17Luk 1:69Luk 1:791Ki 11:132Ch 22:112Ki 8:19
Edom and Libnah Rebel
(2 Kings 8:20–24)
In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king. 1Ki 22:472Ch 20:22-232Ch 21:102Ki 3:92Ki 8:20-22Gen 27:40 So Jehoram crossed into Edom with his officers and all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attacked 2by night.
So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled against his rule at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers. 1Ki 11:311Ki 11:332Ch 13:102Ch 15:22Ki 19:8Deu 32:21Jer 2:13Jos 21:13
Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah; he had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray. Lev 20:51Ki 11:7Lev 17:71Ki 14:161Ki 14:92Ch 21:132Ch 33:92Ki 21:11
Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram
Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, which stated: 2Ch 14:2-52Ch 17:3-42Ki 2:11Ki 15:111Ki 22:432Ki 2:11Dan 5:25-29Dan 5:5
“This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says:
‘You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah, but you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab prostituted itself. You have also killed your brothers, your father’s family, who were better than you. 2Ch 21:42Ch 21:111Ki 16:30-332Ch 21:61Jn 3:121Ki 16:251Ki 2:31-332Ki 9:22
So behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a serious blow. Lev 26:21Exo 20:5Hos 5:11Mic 6:16 And day after day you yourself will suffer from a severe illness, a disease of your bowels, until it causes your bowels to come out.’” 2Ch 21:18-19Act 1:18Deu 28:27Deu 28:37Deu 28:59Deu 28:61Deu 28:67Num 5:27
Jehoram’s Disease and Death
Then the LORD stirred against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs who lived near the Cushites. 2Ch 17:111Ki 11:141Ki 11:232Ch 22:12Ch 33:111Ki 11:111Sa 26:192Ch 26:7 So they went to war against Judah, invaded it, and carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace, along with his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz, 3 his youngest. 2Ch 22:12Ch 22:62Ch 25:232Ch 24:7Job 5:3-4
After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. 2Ch 21:15Act 12:232Ki 9:29 This continued day after day until two full years had passed. Finally, his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died in severe pain. And his people did not make a fire in his honor as they had done for his fathers. 2Ch 16:14Jer 34:5
Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He died, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. Jer 22:182Ch 24:252Ch 28:27Jer 22:282Ch 23:21Pro 10:7