Jehoram Reigns in Judah(A)

21 And (B)Jehoshaphat [a]rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David. Then Jehoram his son reigned in his place. He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azaryahu, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. Their father gave them great gifts of silver and gold and precious things, with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.

Now when Jehoram [b]was established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also others of the princes of Israel.

(C)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, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he had the daughter of (D)Ahab as a wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. Yet the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the (E)covenant that He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and to his (F)sons forever.

(G)In his days Edom revolted against Judah’s authority, and made a king over themselves. So Jehoram went out with his officers, and all his chariots with him. And he rose by night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and the captains of the chariots. 10 Thus Edom has been in revolt against Judah’s authority to this day. At that time Libnah revolted against his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers. 11 Moreover he made [c]high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to (H)commit harlotry, and led Judah astray.

12 And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying,

Thus says the Lord God of your father David:

Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have (I)made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to (J)play the harlot like the (K)harlotry of the house of Ahab, and also have (L)killed your brothers, those of your father’s household, who were better than yourself, 14 behold, the Lord will strike your people with a serious affliction—your children, your wives, and all your possessions; 15 and you will become very sick with a (M)disease of your intestines, until your intestines come out by reason of the sickness, day by day.

16 Moreover the (N)Lord (O)stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and the (P)Arabians who were near the Ethiopians. 17 And they came up into Judah and invaded it, and carried away all the possessions that were found in the king’s house, and also (Q)his sons and his wives, so that there was not a son left to him except [d]Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

18 After all this the Lord struck him (R)in his intestines with an incurable disease. 19 Then it happened in the course of time, after the end of two years, that his intestines came out because of his sickness; so he died in severe pain. And his people made no [e]burning for him, like (S)the burning for his fathers.

20 He was thirty-two years old when he became king. He reigned in Jerusalem eight years and, to no one’s sorrow, departed. However they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 21:1 Died and joined his ancestors
  2. 2 Chronicles 21:4 Lit. arose
  3. 2 Chronicles 21:11 Places for pagan worship
  4. 2 Chronicles 21:17 Ahaziah or Azariah, 2 Chr. 22:1
  5. 2 Chronicles 21:19 Burning of spices

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.

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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.