1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with
his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.
2 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.
3 And
their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious
things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram;
because he was the
firstborn.
4 Now
when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened
himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also
of the princes of Israel.
5 Jehoram was thirty
and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in
Jerusalem.
6 And
he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for
he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil
in the eyes of the LORD.
7 Howbeit
the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he
had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons
for ever.
8 In
his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made
themselves a king.
9 Then
Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose
up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of
the chariots.
10 So
the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did
Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his
fathers.
11 Moreover
he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of
Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
12 And
there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, 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.
16 Moreover
the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the
Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:
17 And
they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance
that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that
there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.
18 And
after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.
19 And
it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his
bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so 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 departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the
city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
