2 Chronicles 21

¹ Then Jehoshaphat fel asleep with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David; his sonJehoram succeeded him.

² Jehoram's brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael andShephatiah -- al of them sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

³ Their father had lavishly given them presents of silver, gold and other valuables as wel as fortifiedtowns in Judah; but the throne he bequeathed to Jehoram since he was the first-born.

⁴ Jehoram, having taken control of his father's kingdom and secured his own position, put al hisbrothers to the sword and some officials of Israel too.

⁵ Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he came to the throne, and he reigned for eight years inJerusalem.

⁶ He followed the example of the kings of Israel as the House of Ahab were doing, he having marriedone of Ahab's daughters; and he did what is displeasing to Yahweh.

⁷ But Yahweh would not destroy the House of David, because of the covenant which he had made withDavid, promising to provide him and his sons with a lamp for ever.

⁸ In his time Edom threw off the domination of Judah and set up a king for itself.

⁹ Jehoram crossed the frontier, and with him his commanders and al his chariots. Under cover of dark,he and his chariot commanders broke through the Edomites surrounding him.

¹⁰ Thus Edom threw off the domination of Judah and has remained free to the present day. Libnahrevolted against him at the same time, because he had abandoned Yahweh, God of his ancestors.

¹¹ What is more, he set up high places in the highlands of Judah, leading the citizens of Jerusalem andthe people of Judah into apostasy.

¹² Something written by the prophet Elijah then came into his hands. It said, 'Yahweh, God of yourancestor David, says this, "Since you have not fol owed the example of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa kingof Judah,

¹³ but have fol owed the example of the kings of Israel and have led Judah and the citizens ofJerusalem into apostasy, just as the House of Ahab has led Israel into apostasy, and have even murdered yourbrothers, your own family, who were better men than you,

¹⁴ Yahweh is going to afflict your people, your sons, your wives and al your property with a greatcalamity,

¹⁵ and you yourself with a severe disease affecting your bowels, as a result of which disease,continuing day after day, you wil suffer protrusion of your bowels." '

¹⁶ Yahweh then roused the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabs living near the Cushites againstJehoram.

¹⁷ They invaded Judah, forcing their way into it and carrying off all the property to be found in the king'spalace, as wel as his sons and his wives, so that he was left no sons at al except his youngest son Jehoahaz.

¹⁸ And after al this, Yahweh afflicted him with an incurable disease of the bowels;

¹⁹ in due time, after about two years, his bowels protruded as a result of his disease and he died inacute pain. His people did not make a funeral pyre for him, as they had for his ancestors.

²⁰ He was thirty-two years old when he came to the throne and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.He passed away unlamented and was buried in the City of David, though not in the tombs of the kings.