2 Chronicles 21

Jehoram Becomes King over Judah

1 Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jehoram  * 21:1 = Joram became king in his place.  * 21:1 1Kg 22:502 He had brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah.  * 21:2 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg, Arabic; other Hb mss read Israel3 Their father had given them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, along with fortified cities  * 21:3 2Ch 11:5 in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn. 4 When 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

5 Jehoram  * 21:5–10 2Kg 8:17–22 was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done,  * 21:6 1Kg 12:28–30 for Ahab’s daughter was his wife.  * 21:6 2Ch 18:1 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, 7 but for the sake of the covenant the Lord had made with David, he was unwilling to destroy the house of David since the Lord had promised  * 21:7 2Sm 7:12–17; 1Kg 11:13 to give a lamp  * 21:7 Or dominion,* 21:7 1Kg 11:36; 15:4 to David and to his sons forever.

8 During Jehoram’s reign, Edom rebelled against Judah’s control and appointed their own king. 9 So 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. 10 And now Edom is still in rebellion against Judah’s control today. Libnah also rebelled at that time against his control because he had abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors. 11 Jehoram also built high places  * 21:11 1Kg 11:7 in the hills  * 21:11 Some Hb mss, LXX, Vg read cities of Judah, and he caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves,  * 21:11 Lv 20:5 and he led Judah astray.

Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram

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

This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David says: "Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat  * 21:12 2Ch 17:3–4 or in the ways of King Asa of Judah  * 21:12 2Ch 14:2–513 but have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel,  * 21:13 2Ch 21:6 have caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves like the house of Ahab  * 21:13 1Kg 16:31–33 prostituted itself, and also have killed your brothers,  * 21:13 2Ch 21:4 your father’s family, who were better than you, 14 the Lord is now about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a horrible affliction. 15 You 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."  * 21:15 2Ch 21:18–19

Jehoram’s Last Days

16 The Lord roused the spirit of the Philistines and the Arabs  * 21:16 2Ch 17:11; 22:1 who lived near the Cushites to attack Jehoram.  * 21:16 2Ch 33:1117 So 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,  * 21:17 LXX, Syr, Tg read Ahaziah,* 21:17 2Ch 25:23 his youngest son.

18 After all these things, the Lord afflicted him in his intestines with an incurable disease. 19 This continued day after day until two full years passed. Then his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died from severe  * 21:19 Lit evil illnesses. But his people did not hold a fire in his honor like the fire in honor of his predecessors.  * 21:19 2Ch 16:14

20 Jehoram  * 21:20 2Kg 8:17,24 was thirty-two years old when he became king; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He died to no one’s regret  * 21:20 Lit He walked in no desirability,* 21:20 Jr 22:18,28; Pr 11:10 and was buried in the city of David but not in the tombs of the kings.  * 21:20 2Ch 24:25