Lives of Scripture

Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, began his reign over Judah the way he meant to continue it: by killing all his brothers and some of Judah's officials as soon as he had secured the throne (2 Chronicles 21:1-4). He married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and under her influence "walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done... and did evil in the sight of the LORD" (21:6). During his reign Edom revolted from Judah's control and set up its own king, and Libnah revolted as well (21:8-10). The prophet Elijah sent him a written message pronouncing God's judgment: because he had led Judah and Jerusalem into idolatry and murdered brothers better than himself, the LORD would strike his people, his wives, his children, and his own body with serious disease (21:12-15). Philistine and Arab raiders soon carried off his wives and sons, sparing only the youngest, Ahaziah (21:16-17; 22:1). Then the LORD struck him with an incurable intestinal disease; he suffered for two full years until his intestines came out because of the illness, and he died in great pain (21:18-19). Judah did not honor him at his death -- no funeral fire was made for him as for his fathers, and he was buried apart from the tombs of the kings (21:19-20).