2
He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of
1Israel.
3
Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with
2fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.
4
When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of
3Israel.
5
4Jehoram was
5thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.
6
6And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for
7the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.
7
Yet the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give
8a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
8
In his days Edom revolted from the
9rule of Judah and set up a king of their own.
9
Then Jehoram passed over with his commanders and all his chariots, and he rose by night and struck the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders.
10
So Edom revolted from
10the rule of Judah to this day. At that time Libnah also revolted from his rule, because he had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers.
11
Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah and led the inhabitants of Jerusalem
11into whoredom and made Judah go astray.
12
And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father,
12‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or
13in the ways of Asa king of Judah,