Jehoram of Israel (2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 3:1–3; 2 Kings 3:4–7; 2 Kings 3:8–14; 2 Kings 3:15–27; 2 Kings 8:28–29; 2 Kings 9:14–21; 2 Kings 9:22–26; 2 Chronicles 22:5–7)

Son of Ahab, king of Israel; also called Joram

Jehoram the son of Ahab, who began to reign over Israel in Samaria after Ahaziah died without a son, put away the pillar of Baal yet clave to the sins of Jeroboam, went out against Moab with Jehoshaphat, was wounded by the Syrians at Ramoth-gilead, and was shot by Jehu in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.

Second Kings introduces him at the death of Ahaziah: “So he died according to the word of Jehovah which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram began to reign in his stead … because he had no son” (2 Kings 1:17). He is “Jehoram the son of Ahab” (2 Kings 3:1), who “reigned twelve years” (2 Kings 3:1) over Israel in Samaria (2 Kings 3:1). The text's verdict is mixed: “he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom” (2 Kings 3:2-3). The same king is called Joram in 2 Kings 8-9.

When Mesha king of Moab rebelled, “king Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel” (2 Kings 3:6), and asked Jehoshaphat of Judah to go with him. After this the narrative calls him the king of Israel. On the march, with no water for the host, he said, “Alas! for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:10). Elisha answered him, “What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother” (2 Kings 3:13), and spoke only for the sake of Jehoshaphat. The LORD then promised water, and it came (2 Kings 3:16-20).

Later “the Syrians wounded Joram” (2 Kings 8:28) at Ramoth-gilead, and he “returned to be healed in Jezreel” (2 Kings 8:29). There “Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram” (2 Kings 9:14). Joram rode out to meet him and asked, “Is it peace, Jehu?” (2 Kings 9:22) Jehu answered, “What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” (2 Kings 9:22). Joram fled, and “Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and smote Joram between his arms” (2 Kings 9:24). Jehu ordered the body cast into the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite, “according to the word of Jehovah” (2 Kings 9:26). Scripture gives no closing notice of his reign and does not say where he was buried.

Strengths

• Not like his father: put away the pillar of Baal

Weaknesses

• Evil in the sight of the LORD
• Cleaved to the sins of Jeroboam

Themes

• House of Ahab
• Half-reform
• Rebellion of Moab
• The prophet's rebuke
• Naboth's portion
• Jehu's judgment

Succeeds Ahaziah in Samaria (2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 3:1–3)

Jehoram begins to reign in Ahaziah's stead because he had no son, reigns twelve years, puts away the pillar of Baal, yet cleaves to the sins of Jeroboam.

Succeeds Ahaziah in Samaria

Ahaziah “died according to the word of Jehovah which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram began to reign in his stead … because he had no son” (2 Kings 1:17). “Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria … and reigned twelve years” (2 Kings 3:1).

“And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made” (2 Kings 3:2).

“Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom” (2 Kings 3:3).

Moab rebels and Jehoram calls Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 3:4–7)

Mesha king of Moab rebels after Ahab's death; Jehoram musters all Israel and asks Jehoshaphat of Judah to go with him to battle, and Jehoshaphat agrees.

Seven days without water; Elisha rebukes the king (2 Kings 3:8–14)

The kings of Israel, Judah and Edom run out of water in the wilderness of Edom; the king of Israel despairs, and Elisha, sought at Jehoshaphat's word, tells him to go to his parents' prophets and speaks only for Jehoshaphat's sake.

Seven days without water; Elisha rebukes the king

“So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, nor for the beasts that followed them. And the king of Israel said, Alas! for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:9-10). After 3:6 the narrative names Jehoram no more in this account and calls him the king of Israel.

Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of the LORD, and one of the servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah” (2 Kings 3:11). “And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay; for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:13).

“As Jehovah of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee” (2 Kings 3:14).

Water fills the valley and Moab is struck (2 Kings 3:15–27)

At Elisha's word the valley is filled with water, the Moabites take it for blood, and Israel smites them; the king of Moab offers his eldest son on the wall, and Israel departs.

Water fills the valley and Moab is struck

Elisha called for a minstrel, and “the hand of Jehovah came upon him” (2 Kings 3:15). “Thus saith Jehovah, Make this valley full of trenches … Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and ye shall drink, both ye and your cattle and your beasts” (2 Kings 3:16-17). The account names no king in this part.

“And it came to pass in the morning … that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water” (2 Kings 3:20). The Moabites saw the water “as red as blood” (2 Kings 3:22) and said, “This is blood; the kings are surely destroyed” (2 Kings 3:23). “The Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them” (2 Kings 3:24).

When the battle was too sore for him, the king of Moab “took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there was great wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land” (2 Kings 3:27).

Wounded at Ramoth-gilead (2 Kings 8:28–29; 2 Chronicles 22:5–6)

Joram goes to war with Ahaziah of Judah against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead, is wounded by the Syrians, and returns to Jezreel to be healed, where Ahaziah comes to see him.

Jehu conspires and Joram rides out (2 Kings 9:14–21; 2 Chronicles 22:7)

Jehu conspires against Joram; Joram sends horsemen to ask whether it is peace, and when they do not return he and Ahaziah of Judah go out in their chariots and meet Jehu in the portion of Naboth.

Shot in the portion of Naboth (2 Kings 9:22–26)

Joram asks Jehu if it is peace, flees at his answer, and is shot through the heart; Jehu orders his body cast into the plat of Naboth according to the word of the LORD.

Shot in the portion of Naboth

“And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” (2 Kings 9:22).

“And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah. And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and smote Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot” (2 Kings 9:23-24).

Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, Jehovah laid this burden upon him: Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith Jehovah; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith Jehovah” (2 Kings 9:25-26). The text does not report the order being carried out.

Ahab (2 Kings 3:1–2; 2 Kings 9:25)

His father; Jehoram put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made, and Jehu recalls the burden the LORD laid on Ahab.

Jezebel (2 Kings 3:2; 2 Kings 9:22)

His mother; he did evil, but not like his mother, and Jehu names her whoredoms and witchcrafts when Joram asks if it is peace.

Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:17; 2 Kings 3:1)

Each is called a son of Ahab; Jehoram began to reign in Ahaziah's stead, because he had no son.

Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 3:7; 2 Kings 3:14)

King of Judah, who answered Jehoram, “I am as thou art, my people as thy people” (2 Kings 3:7), and for whose sake Elisha spoke.

Elisha (2 Kings 3:11–14; 2 Kings 3:16–19)

Rebuked the king of Israel and, at the LORD's hand, promised water in the valley.

Jehu (2 Kings 9:14; 2 Kings 9:22–24)

Conspired against Joram and shot him between the arms at Jezreel.

Ahaziah king of Judah (2 Kings 8:28–29; 2 Kings 9:16–23; 2 Chronicles 22:5–7)

Went with Joram to war against Hazael, came down to see him in Jezreel, and went out with him to meet Jehu; 2 Chronicles says his destruction was of God, in that he went unto Joram.

Hazael (2 Kings 8:28–29; 2 Chronicles 22:5–6)

King of Syria, against whom Joram fought at Ramoth-gilead, where the Syrians wounded him.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 1:17–3:27
• 2 Kings 8:28–9:26
• 2 Chronicles 22:5–7

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