Lives of Scripture

Joram, son of Ahab, became king of Israel after his brother Ahaziah died childless. He removed the sacred pillar of Baal his father had made, "nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam... he did not depart from them" (2 Kings 3:2-3). His reign was entwined with Elisha's ministry: Elisha provided water for Joram's coalition army against rebelling Moab (3:1-20), directed the healing of the Aramean commander Naaman (5:5-8), and repeatedly exposed Aramean raiding plans, sparing captured raiders at Elisha's word rather than killing them (6:9-23). When Ben-hadad of Aram besieged Samaria and famine drove some to cannibalism, Joram tore his clothes in despair and swore to kill Elisha, blaming the prophet -- and by extension the LORD -- for the disaster (6:24-31). Elisha nonetheless promised deliverance, fulfilled the next day (7:1-16). Wounded fighting Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, Joram withdrew to Jezreel to recover. There Jehu, newly anointed king by Elisha's messenger, confronted him; Joram fled crying "Treachery, Jehu!" and was shot through the heart, his body thrown onto Naboth's plot -- fulfilling Elijah's earlier judgment against Ahab's house (9:21-26). His death ended Ahab's dynasty in Israel.