aThen Jehoshaphat slept
with his fathers
and was buried
with his fathers
in the city
of David
, and Jehoram
his son
became
king
in his place
.
He had brothers, the sons
of Jehoshaphat
: Azariah
, Jehiel
, Zechariah
, 1Azaryahu
, Michael
and Shephatiah
. All
these
were the sons
of Jehoshaphat
king
aof Israel
.
Their father gave
them many
gifts
of silver
, gold
and precious
things
, awith fortified
cities
in Judah
, but he gave
the kingdom
to Jehoram
because
he was the firstborn
.
Now when Jehoram had 1taken
over
the kingdom
of his father
and made
himself 2secure
, he akilled
all
his brothers
with the sword
, and some
of the rulers
of Israel
also
.
aJehoram was thirty-two
years
old
when he became
king
, and he reigned
eight
years
in Jerusalem
.
aHe walked in the way
of the kings
of Israel
, just
as the house
of Ahab
did
( bfor Ahab's
daughter
was his wife
), and he did
evil
in the sight
of the LORD
.
Yet the LORD was not willing
to destroy
the house
of David
because
of the covenant
which
He had made
with David
, aand since
He had promised
to give
a lamp
to him and his sons
forever
.
In his days aEdom
revolted
1against
the rule
of Judah
and set
up a king
over
themselves.
Then Jehoram crossed
over
with his commanders
and all
his chariots
with him. And he arose
by night
and struck
down
the Edomites
who were surrounding
him and the commanders
of the chariots
.
So Edom revolted
1against
Judah
to this
day
. Then
Libnah
revolted
at the same
time
2against
his rule
, because
he had forsaken
the LORD
God
of his fathers
.
Moreover, ahe made
high
places
in the mountains
of Judah
, and caused the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
bto play
the harlot
and led
Judah
astray
.
Then a letter came
to him from Elijah
the prophet
saying
, "Thus
says
the LORD
God
of your father
David
, `Because
ayou have not walked
in the ways
of Jehoshaphat
your father
band the ways
of Asa
king
of Judah
,
but ahave walked in the way
of the kings
of Israel
, and have caused Judah
and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
to play
the harlot
bas the house
of Ahab
played
the harlot
, and you chave also
killed
your brothers
, 1your own family
, who were better
than
you,
behold, the LORD
is going to strike
your people
, your sons
, your wives
and all
your possessions
with a great
1calamity
;
and ayou will suffer 1severe sickness
, a disease
of your bowels
, until
your bowels
come
out because
of the sickness
, day
by day
.' "
Then athe LORD stirred
up against
Jehoram
the spirit
of the Philistines
and bthe Arabs
who
1bordered
the Ethiopians
;
and they came against Judah
and invaded
it, and carried
away all
the possessions
found
in the king's
house
together
with his sons
and his wives
, so that no
son
was left
to him except
1 aJehoahaz
, the youngest
of his sons
.
So after all
this
the LORD
smote
him ain his bowels
with an incurable
sickness
.
Now it came about in the course
of time
, at the end
of two
years
, that his bowels
came
out because
of his sickness
and he died
in great
pain
. And his people
made
no
fire
for him like athe fire
for his fathers
.
He was thirty-two years old
when he became
king
, and he reigned
in Jerusalem
eight
years
; and he departed
1 awith no
one's regret
, and they buried
him in the city
of David
, bbut not in the tombs
of the kings
.