2 Chronicles 21

Jehoram Becomes King Over Judah

21Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His son Jehoram ^jbecame king in his place. ^k2He had brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. ^l3Their father had given them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, along with fortified cities ^min Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn. ⁴When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened his position by killing with the sword all his brothers as well as some of the princes of Israel.

Judah’s King Jehoram

⁵Jehoram ⁿwas 32 years old when he became king and reigned eight years in Jerusalem. ⁶He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, ^ofor Ahab’s daughter was his wife. ^pHe did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, ⁷but because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, He was unwilling to destroy the house of David since the Lord had promised ^qto give a lamp ^rto David and to his sons forever.

⁸During Jehoram’s reign, Edom rebelled against Judah’s domination and appointed their own king. ⁹So Jehoram crossed into Edom with his commanders and all his chariots. Then at night he set out to attack the Edomites who had surrounded him and the chariot commanders. ¹⁰And now Edom is still in rebellion against Judah’s domination today. Libnah also rebelled at that time against his domination because he had abandoned Yahweh, the God of his ancestors. ¹¹Jehoram also built high places ^sin the hills ^tof Judah, and he caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, ^uand he led Judah astray.

Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram

¹²Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying:

This is what Yahweh, the God of your ancestor David says: “Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat ^vor in the ways of Asa king of Judah ^w13but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, ^xhave caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves like the house of Ahab ^yprostituted itself, and also have killed your brothers, ^zyour father’s family, who were better than you, ¹⁴Yahweh is now about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a horrible affliction. ¹⁵You yourself will be struck with many illnesses, including a disease of the intestines, until your intestines come out day after day because of the disease.” ^a

Jehoram’s Last Days

¹⁶The Lord put it into the mind of the Philistines and the Arabs ^bwho live near the Cushites to attack Jehoram. ^c17So they went to war against Judah and invaded it. They carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace and also his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz, ^dehis youngest son.

¹⁸After all these things, the Lord afflicted him in his intestines with an incurable disease. ¹⁹This continued day after day until two full years passed. Then his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died from severe ^fillnesses. But his people did not hold a fire in his honor like the fire in honor of his fathers. ^g

²⁰Jehoram ^hwas 32 years old when he became king; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He died to no one’s regret ^ijand was buried in the city of David but not in the tombs of the kings. ^k