Jehoram of Judah

This article is about Jehoram of Judah. You may be looking for Jehoram of Israel.

Jehoram
Biographical
Born	c. 886 B.C
Died	c. 841 B.C
Sibling(s)	Azariah Jehiel Zechariah Azariahu Michael Shephatiah
Parents	Jehoshaphat (father)
Spouse(s)	Athaliah Unnamed Mother of Jehosheba
Offspring	Ahaziah (son) Jehosheba (daughter)
Other Names	Jehoram
Social
Social class	Royalty
Occupation	King of Judah
Nationality	Israelite
Ethnicity	Judahite
Spoke	Hebrew
Race	Semite

Jehoram (Hebrew: יְהֹורָם, Yəhōrām, transl. "Yahweh is exalted") or Jehoram (Hebrew: יוֹרָם, Yōrām; Greek: Ἰωράμ, romanized: Ioram), was the fifth king of Judah being the son of the previous king, Jehoshaphat. He reigned from 849-842/1 B.C.

Biography

Early Life

Jehoram was born unto Jehoshaphat in 882 B.C in Judah. He had 6 brothers along with him. He was raised as a Royal heir being the firstborn of the children.

When Jehoshaphat had made allegiance with Ahab, it is likely that he was stunned with the beauty of his daughter, Athaliah and was engaged with her.

Manhood

When he grew up he married Athaliah who bore him a son, Ahaziah when he was 19 years old. (c. 863 B.C) He also had another wife (likely a concubine) who bore him Jehosheba, his daughter who married a certain priest, Jehoiada.

King of Judah

When his father died, he succeeded him as king. He reigned in the fifth year of Jehoram of Israel being 32 years old at the time and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife and gave him evil influence: and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.

He killed all his younger brothers when he was established as king, because of the influence of his wife, along with the princes of Judah.

God's Mercy

But even though he was wicked, God still chose to spare Judah; for he remembered his servant David whom he promised a light would return.

The revolt of Edom and the slow downfall of his reign

In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves; likely due to the fact that he turned from righteousness.

So he went therefore to Zair with his chariots, and smote the Edomites by night, which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots of Edom and the people fled into their tents. Afterwards the revolt continued, and a new rebellion as well in Libnah at the same time.

The Prophecy of Elijah

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

So therefore 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, 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: Behold, with a great plague will the Lord smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day."

Fulfillment and Sickness of Jehoram

Moreover the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians: 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 Ahaziah, the youngest of his sons.

And after all this, God smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease. 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.

Death

He then died on 842/1 B.C, and his son succeeded him. 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.