1-4 Jehoram, succeeding Jehoshaphat, slays his brethren 5-7 His wicked reign 8-11 Edom and Libnah revolt 12-15 The prophecy of Elijah against him in writing 16,17 Philistines and Arabians oppress him 18-20 His incurable disease, infamous death, and burial

A.M. 3115 B.C. 889
Jehoshaphat 1Ki 22:50

was buried 2Ch 21:20 9:31 12:16

Jehoram 2Ki 8:16,17

reigned. `Alone.'

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.

Israel. Jehoshaphat was certainly not king of Israel, but of Judah; Israel must therefore be a mistake for Yehoodah; which is the reading of {thirty-eight} of Dr. Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., and of the Syriac, Arabic, Septuagint, and Vulgate.

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.

gave them 2Ch 11:23 Ge 25:6 De 21:15-17

the kingdom
He associated him with himself in the kingdom about three years before his death, and in the fifth year of Joram king of Israel; so that Jehoram reigned three years with his father, and five years alone, in all eight years.

Jehoram `Jehoram made partner of the kingdom with his father, 1ki 8:16.'

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.

slew all 2Ch 21:17 22:8,10 Ge 4:8 Jud 9:5,56,57 1Jo 3:12

5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

A.m. 3112-3119 B.C. 892-885
Jehoram. `In consort, 2ki 8:17.'

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.

in the way 1Ki 16:25-33

he had 2Ch 18:1 22:2 2Ki 8:18 Ne 13:25,26

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.

Howbeit 2Ch 22:11 Isa 7:6,7

because 2Sa 23:5 Ps 89:28-34,39 Jer 33:20-26

as he promised 2Sa 7:12-17 1Ki 11:13,36 2Ki 8:19 Ps 132:11,17,18 Lu 1:69,79

light [heb] lamp, or candle

8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.

A.M. 3115 B.C. 889
the Edomites Ge 27:40 2Ki 8:20-22

dominion [heb] hand
and made 1Ki 22:47 2Ki 3:9

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.

Libnah Jos 21:13 2Ki 19:8

because 2Ch 13:10 15:2 De 32:21 1Ki 11:31,33 Jer 2:13

11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.

Moreover De 12:2-4 1Ki 11:7 Ps 78:58 Eze 20:28

caused 1Ki 14:9,16 2Ki 21:11 Hab 2:15 Re 2:20

fornication 2Ch 21:13 Le 17:7 20:5 2Ki 9:22 Ps 106:39 Eze 16:15 Re 2:20-22 17:1-5

compelled 2Ch 33:9 Da 3:5,6,15 Re 13:15-17 17:5,6

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,

A.M. 3116 B.C. 888
a writing `Which was writ before his assumption.' 2Ki 2:1 Jer 36:2,23,28-32 Eze 2:9,10 Da 5:5,25-29

Elijah the prophet If the account of the translation of Elijah be given in the order in which it happened, then it occurred in the reign of Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram. Hence, it is probable that he wrote it before his assumption, and left it to be delivered by Elisha or one of the prophets. 2Ki 2:11

in the ways of Jehoshaphat 2Ch 17:3,4 1Ki 22:43

in the ways of Asa 2Ch 14:2-5 1Ki 15:11

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:

in the way 1Ki 16:25,30-33

a whoring 2Ch 21:11 Ex 34:15 De 31:16 2Ki 9:22 Jer 3:8,9

hast slain 2Ch 21:4 Ge 4:10-12 42:21,22 Jud 9:56,57 1Ki 2:31-33 Isa 26:21 Hab 2:12 1Jo 3:12

14 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:

plague [heb] stroke Le 26:21

thy people Many of the people had concurred in Jehoram's idolatry, and some of them must have been instruments in his base, unnatural murders; they were therefore joined in his punishment, and he suffered by the loss of his subjects. Ho 5:11 Mic 6:16

thy children Ex 20:5

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.

by disease This is supposed to have been a violent dysentery, a disease which is often attended with symptoms similar to those described in the text; by the same death perished Antiochus Ephiphenes, and Herod Agrippa. 2Ch 21:18,19 Nu 5:27 De 28:61 Ac 12:23

thy bowels fall Ps 109:18 Ac 1:18

the sickness 2Ch 21:18 De 28:27,37,59,67

16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:

A.M. 3117 B.C. 887
the Lord 2Ch 33:11 1Sa 26:19 2Sa 24:1 1Ki 11:11,14,23 Ezr 1:1,5 Isa 10:5,6 45:5-7 Am 3:6

Philistines 2Ch 17:11

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.

carried away [heb] carried captive Job 5:3,4

his sons also 2Ch 22:1 24:7

Jehoahaz 2Ch 22:1

Ahaziah 2Ch 22:6

Azariah

18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

A.M. 3117-3119 B.c. 887-885
And after all. `His son Ahaziah Prorex, soon after.' an incurable disease. 2Ch 21:15 2Ki 9:29 Ac 12:23

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.

made no 2Ch 16:14 Jer 34:5

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.

A.M. 3119 B.C. 885
Thirty and two 2Ch 21:5

without being desired [heb] without desire. That is, without being regretted: no one wished him to live any longer. He was hated while he lived, and neglected when he died. 2Ch 23:21 Pr 10:7 Jer 22:18,28