Who is King Jehoram of Judah?

Disambiguation

King Joram of Israel / King Jehoram of Israel.
King Joram of Judah / King Jehoram of Judah.

Quick Facts

Father: King Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 21:1
Predecessor: King Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 21:1
Succession: 5th king
Length of reign: 8 years, 2Ki 8:17
Successor: Ahaziah of Judah, 2Ki 8:24
Age when made a king: 32 years, 2Ki 8:17
Kingdom: Kingdom of Judah
Reign:  849 BC – 842 BC
Age when he died: 40, 
Morality: evil king, 2 Kings 8:18
Other name: Joram, 2Ki 8:21; 2Ki 8:23; 2Ki 8:24; 2Ki 11:2; 1Ch 3:11; Mt 1:8.  
Biblical history: 2Ch 21:1-20, 2Ki 8:16-24

Jehoram becomes king of Judah

King Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram, built a strong alliance with the house of Ahab. Even after the death of King Ahab, the alliance between the house of David and the house of Ahab continued through the reign of the two sons of King Ahab, Ahaziah and Joram. On account of this cordial relationship, King Jehoshaphat made his son Jehoram get married to Athaliah the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.

Apart from Jehoram, King Jehoshaphat had many other sons who were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these boys were competent enough to succeed their father. However, King Jehoshaphat gave these other sons many gifts of silver and gold and articles of value, as well as fortified cities in Judah, but he gave his throne to Jehoram because he was his firstborn son. Jehoram was the fifth in the succession of the kings who ruled the Kingdom of Judah. Jehoram was 32 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 8 years in Jerusalem.

Athaliah negatively influenced Jehoram

Now after the death of Jehoshaphat, this evil woman Athaliah proved herself to be a wicked queen just like her mother Queen Jezebel. Queen Athaliah became a bad influence in the life of Jehoram to a high degree and contributed immensely to the tragic life of her husband. Since she came from an evil family and was raised in idolatry, she influenced her husband Jehoram to turn his heart away from serving God. Rather, she made him perpetuate idol worship like the house of Ahab. It is written:

And he [Jehoram] walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter [Athalia] of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. 2 Kings 8:18:

Additionally, the deluded Jehoram made high places on the mountains of Judah where people could offer sacrifices to idols, and he caused the inhabitants of the kingdom to commit spiritual fornication against the Lord by worshipping idols.

Jehoram goes on a killing rampage

Moreover, Jehoram committed atrocities to his own undoing. Probably, out of paranoia, he went on a killing rampage; he killed all his brothers – Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah – the sons of his father, King Jehoshaphat. In addition, he killed several officials in his kingdom. Had it been today, we would have said that Jehoram did purging similar to what the likes of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin did in their time. (2 Chronicles 21:4)

Prophecy against Jehoram/Joram

The sins of Jehoram did not go unnoticed and unpunished. God responded to his wickedness through His prophet: there came a letter to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying, “12 … Thus saith the LORD 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 go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself: 14 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: 15 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.” (2 Chronicles 21:12-15)

God’s vengeance on Jehoram/Joram

God brought troubles upon Jehoram from every side. The reign of Jehoram enjoyed no rest, peace, or prosperity. For God stirred up the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians against Jehoram. They invaded the Kingdom of Judah, broke into Jerusalem, carried away all valuables in the king’s palace, and carried away the king’s wives and his sons, leaving only his youngest son, Jehoahaz.  (2 Chronicles 21:16-17)

All along, Edom, descendants of Esau, was vassal to the Kingdom of Judah during the reign of the kings who preceded Jehoram. However, during the reign of Jehoram, the Edomites revolted against him and made a king to rule over them. Then Jehoram declared war on Edom. Jehoram’s entire army attacked and fought the Edomites by night. The Edomites were defeated and they fled.

Though defeated, the Edomites continued to revolt against the authority of Judah throughout the days of Jehoram. Around the same time, Libnah, a great city that was a vassal of Judah, also revolted against the authority of Jehoram. Things were falling apart all around Jehoram. (2 Chronicles 21:8-10)

The disease and death of Jehoram

As part of Jehoram’s punishment, the Lord struck him with bowel disease – a disease that might be similar to bowel cancer – a lethal cancer that affects the large intestines, the small intestines, and or the organs associated with the intestines. Jehoram could not get cured of the bowel disease, rather, after two years of agony, he died of it, for the disease was incurable. The people of the kingdom did not mourn for Jehoram as they mourned for his father, King Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 21:18–20). When Jehoram died, his son Ahaziah was made a king in his stead.

Achievements of Jehoram/Joram

Jehoram won a battle against the Edomites who rebelled against him. Though he won the battle, the Edomites did not still succumb to his authority.

Contemporaries of Jehoram

  • Joram of Israel had reigned for five years when Jehoram of Judah became king. They were in a good relationship. The reasons are:
  1. King Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram built a good relationship between the family of David and the house of Ahab.
  2. Queen Athaliah, the wife of Jehoram, was the sister of King Joram of Israel; in fact, King Joram of Israel was the brother-in-law of Jehoram of Judah.
  • Prophet Elijah was there. He sent the letter of judgment to Jehoram.

Major events during Jehoram’s reign

  • The Kingdom of Judah was invaded by the Philistines and the Arabians.
  • Edom revolted against Judah.
  • Libnah also revolted against Judah.
  • Jehoram went to war with the Edomites and defeated them.

Categories; Jehoram belongs to:

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