Jehoram of Judah (1 Kings 22:50; 2 Kings 8:16–19; 2 Kings 8:20–22; 2 Kings 8:23–24; 2 Kings 11:2; 2 Kings 12:18; 1 Chronicles 3:11; 2 Chronicles 21:2–4; 2 Chronicles 21:6–7; 2 Chronicles 21:8–10; 2 Chronicles 21:11–15; 2 Chronicles 21:16–17; 2 Chronicles 21:18–20; 2 Chronicles 22:1; 2 Chronicles 22:11; Matthew 1:8)

Son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah (also called Joram)

The first-born son of Jehoshaphat, who reigned eight years in Jerusalem, slew all his brethren, walked in the way of the house of Ahab, lost Edom and Libnah, received a writing from Elijah the prophet, and died of a disease of the bowels.

Kings and Chronicles both say of Jehoshaphat that he “slept with his fathers” (2 Chronicles 21:1) and that “Jehoram his son reigned in his stead” (2 Chronicles 21:1). The books also call him Joram (2 Kings 8:21). He was “thirty and two years old” (2 Kings 8:17) when he began to reign, and “he reigned eight years in Jerusalem” (2 Kings 8:17). His father gave gifts and fortified cities to his other sons, “but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the first-born” (2 Chronicles 21:3). Then, “when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel” (2 Chronicles 21:4).

Both books judge him in the same words: “he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah” (2 Kings 8:18). Yet “Jehovah would not destroy Judah, for David his servant’s sake, as he promised him to give unto him a lamp for his children alway” (2 Kings 8:19). In his days Edom revolted, and Libnah revolted at the same time “because he had forsaken Jehovah, the God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 21:10). Chronicles alone records that he made high places, and that a writing came to him from Elijah the prophet announcing a great plague on his people, his children, his wives and his substance, and a disease of his bowels (2 Chronicles 21:11-15).

The Philistines and Arabians, stirred up by the LORD, carried away his sons and wives, “save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons” (2 Chronicles 21:17). The LORD smote him with an incurable disease; after two years he died, and “he departed without being desired” (2 Chronicles 21:20). Kings says only that he was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and that Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead (2 Kings 8:24). Matthew’s genealogy names him as Joram: “Jehoshaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Uzziah” (Matthew 1:8). No word of his own is recorded anywhere in Scripture.

Weaknesses

• Slew his brethren
• Walked in the way of the kings of Israel
• Led Judah astray
• Forsook the God of his fathers

Themes

• Fratricide
• House of Ahab
• The lamp of David
• Revolt of Edom
• Prophetic writing
• Death unlamented

Succeeds Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:50; 2 Kings 8:16–17; 2 Chronicles 21:1)

Jehoshaphat is buried with his fathers and Jehoram his son reigns in his stead, thirty-two years old, for eight years in Jerusalem.

Slays his brethren (2 Chronicles 21:2–4)

The kingdom is given to Jehoram as first-born, and once he is strengthened he slays all his brethren with the sword and some of the princes of Israel.

Slays his brethren

Jehoshaphat’s other sons are named: “Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah” (2 Chronicles 21:2). “Their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the first-born” (2 Chronicles 21:3).

“Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel” (2 Chronicles 21:4).

Walks in the way of Ahab’s house (2 Kings 8:18–19; 2 Chronicles 21:6–7)

He walks in the way of the kings of Israel as the house of Ahab did, having Ahab’s daughter to wife, and does evil in the sight of the LORD; yet the LORD will not destroy Judah, for David’s sake.

Edom and Libnah revolt (2 Kings 8:20–22; 2 Chronicles 21:8–10)

Edom revolts from under the hand of Judah and makes its own king; Jehoram goes over by night and smites the Edomites, but Edom stays in revolt, and Libnah revolts at the same time.

Edom and Libnah revolt

“In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves” (2 Kings 8:20). “Then Joram passed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents” (2 Kings 8:21).

“So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then did Libnah revolt at the same time” (2 Kings 8:22). Chronicles continues the verse: “then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Jehovah, the God of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 21:10).

High places and Elijah’s writing (2 Chronicles 21:11–15)

Jehoram makes high places and leads Judah astray; a writing comes to him from Elijah the prophet, charging him with the way of Israel’s kings and the slaying of his brethren, and announcing a plague and a disease of his bowels.

High places and Elijah’s writing

“Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, and led Judah astray” (2 Chronicles 21:11).

“And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the 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, but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, like as the house of Ahab did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, who were better than thyself” (2 Chronicles 21:12-13).

“Behold, Jehovah will smite with a great plague thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance; and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day” (2 Chronicles 21:14-15). The text does not say how the writing reached him or what he did with it.

Philistines and Arabians take his household (2 Chronicles 21:16–17)

The LORD stirs up the Philistines and Arabians against Jehoram; they break into Judah and carry away the king’s substance, sons and wives, leaving only Jehoahaz, the youngest son.

Disease, death and burial (2 Chronicles 21:18–20; 2 Kings 8:23–24; 2 Chronicles 22:1)

The LORD smites him in his bowels with an incurable disease; after two years he dies, his people make no burning for him, and Ahaziah his son reigns in his stead.

Disease, death and burial

“And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. And it came to pass, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers” (2 Chronicles 21:18-19).

“He departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings” (2 Chronicles 21:20). Kings words it differently: “And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 8:24).

Chronicles says that “the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead; for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest” (2 Chronicles 22:1).

Remembered in later reigns (2 Kings 11:2; 2 Kings 12:18; 2 Chronicles 22:11)

Jehoash takes the hallowed things that Jehoram and his fathers had dedicated, and Jehoram’s daughter Jehoshabeath hides Joash from Athaliah.

Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:50; 2 Chronicles 21:3; 2 Chronicles 21:12)

His father, whose death left Jehoram to reign; Elijah’s writing says he had not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat his father.

His brethren (2 Chronicles 21:2–4; 2 Chronicles 21:13)

The sons of Jehoshaphat, given gifts and fortified cities, whom Jehoram slew with the sword.

Ahab (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Chronicles 21:6)

Jehoram had the daughter of Ahab to wife and walked as the house of Ahab did.

Elijah (2 Chronicles 21:12–15)

A writing came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, charging him and announcing the LORD’s judgment.

Ahaziah king of Judah (2 Kings 8:24; 2 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Chronicles 22:1)

His youngest son, who reigned in his stead; the text also names Jehoahaz as the youngest son left to him.

Athaliah (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 8:26; 2 Chronicles 22:2–3)

Named as the mother of Ahaziah his son and the daughter of Omri; of Jehoram it is written that he had the daughter of Ahab to wife, a verse that does not give her name.

Joash (1 Chronicles 3:11; 2 Kings 11:2; 2 Chronicles 22:11)

The son of Ahaziah his son, hidden from Athaliah by Jehoram’s daughter Jehoshabeath.

The LORD (2 Kings 8:19; 2 Chronicles 21:16; 2 Chronicles 21:18)

Would not destroy Judah for David’s sake, stirred up the Philistines and Arabians, and smote him with an incurable disease.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 8:16–24
• 2 Chronicles 21

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