Jehoram King of Judah^(A)

¹⁶ While Jehoshaphat was king in Judah, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. This was during the fifth year Joram son of Ahab was king of Israel. ¹⁷ Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he ·began to rule [became king], and he ·ruled [reigned] eight years in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ He ·followed [^Lwalked in] the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the ·family [^Lhouse] of Ahab had done, because he married Ahab’s daughter. Jehoram did ·what the Lord said was wrong [^Levil in the eyes/sight of the Lord]. ¹⁹ But the Lord ·would not [was unwilling to] destroy Judah ·because [for the sake] of his servant David. The Lord had promised ·that one of David’s descendants would always rule [^Lto give a lamp to him and his descendants forever; ^Ca metaphor for the reign of a king; 2 Sam. 7:12; 1 Kin. 11:36; 2 Chr. 21:7].

²⁰ In Jehoram’s time Edom ·broke away from [revolted against] Judah’s ·rule [^Lhand] and ·chose [set up] their own king. ²¹ So Jehoram and all his chariots ·went [crossed over] to Zair. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders. Jehoram got up and attacked the Edomites at night, but his army ran away to their ·tents [homes]. ²² From then until now Edom has ·fought [been in revolt/rebellion] against the rule of Judah. At the same time Libnah also ·broke away from Judah’s rule [revolted; rebelled].

²³ The other acts of Jehoram and all the things he did ·are [^Lare they not…?] written in the book of the ·history [chronicles; annals; 1:18] of the kings of Judah. ²⁴ Jehoram ·died [^Llay down/^Tslept with his fathers/ancestors] and was buried with his ·ancestors [fathers] in the City of David [^CJerusalem], and Jehoram’s son Ahaziah ·ruled [became king] in his place.

²⁵ Ahaziah son of Jehoram ·became king of [began to reign/rule over] Judah during the twelfth year Joram son of Ahab was king of Israel. ²⁶ Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. ²⁷ Ahaziah ·followed [^Lwalked in] the ways of Ahab’s ·family [^Lhouse]. He did ·what the Lord said was wrong [^Levil in the eyes/sight of the Lord], as Ahab’s ·family [^Lhouse] had done, because he was a son-in-law to the house of Ahab.

²⁸ Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to Ramoth in Gilead, where they fought against Hazael king of Aram. The Arameans wounded Joram. ²⁹ So King Joram returned to Jezreel to ·heal [recover] from the wound he had received from the Arameans at Ramoth when he fought Hazael king of Aram. Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to visit Joram son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he ·had been wounded [was ailing/ill].

² Jehoram’s brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. They were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of ·Judah [^LIsrael; 12:6]. ³ Jehoshaphat gave his sons many gifts of silver, gold, and ·valuable [precious] things, and he gave them ·strong, walled [fortified] cities in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the ·first son [firstborn].

Jehoram King of Judah^(A)

⁴ When Jehoram took control of his father’s kingdom and ·made himself secure [established himself], he killed all his brothers with the sword and also killed some of the ·leaders [officials] of Judah. ⁵ He was thirty-two years old when he began to ·rule [reign], and he ·ruled [reigned] eight years in Jerusalem. ⁶ He ·followed [^Lwalked] in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the ·family [^Lhouse] of Ahab had done, because he married Ahab’s daughter. Jehoram did ·what the Lord said was wrong [^Levil in the Lord’s sight/eyes]. ⁷ But the Lord would not destroy David’s ·family [^Lhouse] because of the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] he had made with David. He had promised ·that one of David’s descendants would always rule [^Lto give a lamp to David and his descendants/sons forever; ^Chere a lamp symbolizes a dynasty].

⁸ In Jehoram’s time, Edom ·broke away from [revolted/rebelled against] Judah’s ·rule [reign] and ·chose [set up] their own king. ⁹ So Jehoram went to Edom with all his ·commanders [officers] and chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot ·commanders [officers], but Jehoram got up and attacked the Edomites at night [^Cthe implication is that Jehoram is victorious, but the next verse suggests otherwise; see 2 Kin. 8:21]. ¹⁰ From then until now the country of Edom has ·fought against [been free from] the ·rule [reign] of Judah. At the same time the people of Libnah also ·broke away from [rebelled/revolted against] Jehoram because Jehoram ·left [abandoned; forsook] the Lord, the God of his ·ancestors [fathers].

Jehoram Dies^(A)

¹⁸ After these things happened, the Lord ·gave Jehoram [struck/afflicted/^Tsmote him with] a disease in his ·intestines [bowels] that could not be cured. ¹⁹ After he was sick for two years, Jehoram’s ·intestines [bowels] ·came out [protruded] because of the disease, and he died in ·terrible pain [agony]. The people did not make a funeral fire to honor Jehoram as they had done for his ·ancestors [fathers].

²⁰ Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] eight years in Jerusalem. No one ·was sad [regretted] when he died. He was buried in the City of David [^CJerusalem], but not in the ·graves for [tombs of] the kings.

Ahaziah King of Judah^(A)

22 The people of Jerusalem ·chose [made] Ahaziah, Jehoram’s youngest son, to be king in his place. The ·robbers [raiders; marauders] who had come with the Arabs to attack Jehoram’s camp had killed all of Jehoram’s older sons. So Ahaziah began to ·rule [reign over] Judah. ² Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he ·ruled [reigned] one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. ³ Ahaziah ·followed [^Lwalked in] the ways of Ahab’s ·family [^Lhouse], because his mother ·encouraged [counseled; advised] him to do ·wrong [evil]. ⁴ Ahaziah did ·what the Lord said was wrong [^Levil in the Lord’s sight/eyes], as Ahab’s ·family [^Lhouse] had done. They ·gave advice to Ahaziah [were his counselors] after his father died, ·and their bad advice led to his death [leading to his destruction]. ⁵ Following their ·advice [counsel], Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to Ramoth in Gilead, where they fought against Hazael king of Aram. The Arameans wounded Joram. ⁶ So Joram returned to Jezreel to heal from the wounds he received at Ramoth when he fought Hazael king of Aram.

Ahaziah son of Jehoram and king of Judah went down to visit Joram son of Ahab at Jezreel because he had been ·wounded [sick].