2 Kings 8:17-27

17 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to rule, and he ruled eight years in Jerusalem.
18 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the family of Ahab had done, because he married Ahab's daughter. Jehoram did what the Lord said was wrong.
19 But the Lord would not destroy Judah because of his servant David. The Lord had promised that one of David's descendants would always rule.
20 In Jehoram's time Edom broke away from Judah's rule and chose their own king.
21 So Jehoram and all his chariots went to Zair. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders. Jehoram got up and attacked the Edomites at night, but his army ran away to their tents.
22 From then until now the country of Edom has fought against the rule of Judah. At the same time Libnah also broke away from Judah's rule.
23 The other acts of Jehoram and all the things he did are written in the book of the history of the kings of Judah.
24 Jehoram died and was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem, and Jehoram's son Ahaziah ruled in his place.
25 Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah during the twelfth year Joram son of Ahab was king of Israel.
26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.
27 Ahaziah followed the ways of Ahab's family. He did what the Lord said was wrong, as Ahab's family had done, because he was a son-in-law to Ahab.

2 Kings 8:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 8

This chapter gives an account of some advice Elisha had formerly given to the Shunammite woman, and of the success of it, 2Ki 8:1-6 and of the sickness of the king of Syria, who sent to Elisha, then being at Damascus, by Hazael, to know whether he should recover; by whom a message was returned, and Hazael was told by the prophet he should be king of Syria, and exercise great cruelty in Israel, 2Ki 8:7-15 and of the bad reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, over Judah, 2Ki 8:16-24 and of the reign of his son Ahaziah, 2Ki 8:25-29.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.