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The Reign of Jehoram

21 And Jehoshaphat slept with his ancestors[a] and was buried with his ancestors[b] in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place. Now he had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel. And their father gave to them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuables, with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, for he was the firstborn. When Jehoram ascended to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and murdered all his brothers with the sword, and even some of the princes of Israel.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did evil in the sight of Yahweh. But Yahweh was not willing to destroy the house of David on account of the covenant that he had made[c] with David and since he had promised[d] to give a lamp to him and to his descendants[e] forever.[f]

In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and they set up a king of their own. Then Jehoram passed over with his commanders and all the chariots with him, and when night came he struck Edom who was all around him and the commanders of his chariots. 10 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah until this day. Then Libnah also revolted at that time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his ancestors.[g]

11 Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah, and he enticed the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful, and he led Judah astray. 12 And a letter from Elijah the prophet came to him, saying, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father: ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father or in the ways of Asa, the king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have enticed Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unfaithful like the unfaithfulness of the house of Ahab, and have also murdered your brothers of the house of your father who were better than you, 14 behold, Yahweh is inflicting a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions, 15 and you yourself will be afflicted with great illness, with sickness in your bowels, until your bowels come out on account of the illness, day by day.’”

16 And Yahweh stirred up the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs who were near[h] the Cushites against Jehoram. 17 And they came up against Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions found in the house of the king, and also his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz his youngest son.

18 And after all this Yahweh afflicted him in his bowels with an illness for which there was no cure. 19 And it happened that after many days, at the end of two years,[i] his bowels came out because of his illness, and he died in terrible agony. And his people did not make a fire for him like the fire for his ancestors.[j] 20 He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he departed[k] with no one’s regret. And they buried him in the city of David, but not in the burial sites of the kings.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 21:1 Or “fathers”
  2. 2 Chronicles 21:1 Or “fathers”
  3. 2 Chronicles 21:7 Literally “cut”
  4. 2 Chronicles 21:7 Or “said”
  5. 2 Chronicles 21:7 Or “sons”
  6. 2 Chronicles 21:7 Literally “all the days”
  7. 2 Chronicles 21:10 Or “fathers”
  8. 2 Chronicles 21:16 Literally “at the hand of”
  9. 2 Chronicles 21:19 Literally “for days from days and as the time went out to the end for two days”
  10. 2 Chronicles 21:19 Or “fathers”
  11. 2 Chronicles 21:20 Or “went”

21 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 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. And 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. 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. Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And 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. Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children alway.

In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, 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. 10 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day: then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Jehovah, the God of his fathers.

11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, and [a]led Judah astray. 12 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, 13 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 [b]did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, who were better than thyself: 14 behold, Jehovah will smite with a great [c]plague thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance; 15 and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, [d]day by day.

16 And Jehovah stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians that are beside the Ethiopians: 17 and they came up against Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found [e]in the king’s house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save [f]Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

18 And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 19 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. 20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 21:11 Or, compelled Judah thereto
  2. 2 Chronicles 21:13 Hebrew made to play the harlot.
  3. 2 Chronicles 21:14 Hebrew stroke.
  4. 2 Chronicles 21:15 Or, year after year
  5. 2 Chronicles 21:17 Or, belonging to
  6. 2 Chronicles 21:17 In 22:1, Ahaziah.