2
He had brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
3
Their father had given them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable things, along with fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.
4
When Jehoram had established himself over his father's kingdom, he strengthened his position by killing with the sword all his brothers as well as some of the princes of Israel.
Judah's King Jehoram
5 Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
6
He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for Ahab's daughter was his wife. He did what was evil in the Lord's sight,
7
but because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, He was unwilling to destroy the house of David since the Lord had promised to give a lamp to David and to his sons forever.
8
During Jehoram's reign, Edom rebelled against Judah's domination and appointed their own king.
9
So Jehoram crossed [into Edom] with his commanders and all his chariots. Then at night he set out to attack the Edomites who had surrounded him and the chariot commanders.
10
So Edom is still in rebellion against Judah's domination today. Libnah also rebelled at that time against his domination because he had abandoned the Lord God of his ancestors.
11
Jehoram also built high places in the hills of Judah, and he caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, and he led Judah astray.
Elijah's Letter to Jehoram
12 Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, saying: This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: "Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or in the ways of Asa king of Judah