EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)
(16-24) The reign of Jehoram, king of Judah. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 21)
(16)In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab.—See Note on2Kings 1:17.
The name Joram is an easy contraction of Jehoram. In this verse and in2Kings 8:29 the king of Israel is called Joram, and the king of Judah Jehoram; in2Kings 8:21;2Kings 8:23-24 Joram is the name of the king of Judah. In2Kings 1:17 and2Chronicles 22:6, both kings are called Jehoram.
Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah.—Literally,and Jehoshaphat king of Judah; so that the meaning is, “In the fifth year of Joram . . . and of Jehoshaphat.” Were the reading correct, it would be implied that Jehoram was for some reason or other made king or co-regent in the lifetime of his father, just as Esarhaddon united his heir Assurbanipal with himself in the government of Assyria. But the clause should be omitted as a spurious anticipation of the same words in the next line. So some Hebrew MSS., the Complut., LXX., the Syriac, and Arabic, and many MSS. of the Vulg. The clause as it stands is an unparalleled insertion in a common formula of the compiler, and there is no trace elsewhere of a co-regency of Jehoram with his father. Ewald, after Kimchi, would turn the clause into a sentence, by adding the wordmêth, “had died:” “Now Jehoshaphat the king of Judah had died,” an utterly superfluous remark.
2 Kings 8:16.
Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat began to reign— Jehoram was first made king or viceroy by his father, divers years before this time, at his expedition to Ramoth-gilead, which dominion of his ended at his father’s return. But now Jehoshaphat, being not far from his death, and having divers sons, and fearing some competition among them, makes Jehoram king the second time, as David did Solomon upon the like occasion. See note on chap.
2 Kings 1:17.
8:16-24 A general idea is given of Jehoram's badness. His father, no doubt, had him taught the true knowledge of the Lord, but did ill to marry him to the daughter of Ahab; no good could come of union with an idolatrous family.
The passage is parenthetic, resuming the history of the kingdom of Judah from
1 Kings 22:50.
2 Kings 8:16
The opening words are - "In the fifth year of Joram, son of Ahab, king of Israel, and of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah;" but they contradict all the other chronological notices of Jehoshaphat1 Kings 22:42,1 Kings 22:51;2 Kings 3:1;2 Chronicles 20:31, which give him a reign of at least twenty-three years. Hence, some have supposed that the words "Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah," are accidentally repeated. Those, however, who regard them and2 Kings 1:17 as sound, suppose that Jehoshaphat gave his son the royal title in his 16th year, while he advanced him to a real association in the empire seven years later, in his 23rd year. Two years afterward, Jehoshatphat died, and Jehoram became sole king.
2Ki 8:16-23. Jehoram's Wicked Reign.
16. Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat … began to reign—(See on [333]2Ki 3:1). His father resigned the throne to him two years before his death.
Jehoram was first made king or viceroy by his father divers years before this time, to wit, at his expedition to Ramoth-gilead, as was noted before; which dominion of his ended at his father’s return. But now Jehoshaphat, being not far from his death, and having divers sons, and fearing some competition and dissension among them, makes Jehoram king the second time, as David did Solomon upon the like occasion,
1 Chronicles 29:22, which is the thing here related. But of this
See Poole "2 Kings 1:17";
See Poole "2 Kings 3:1".
And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel,.... Who began his reign in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat,
2 Kings 3:1.
Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah; as he continued to be two years more; for this must be in the twenty third year of his reign, and he reigned twenty five years,1 Kings 22:42.
Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign; according to Dr. Lightfoot (h), there were three beginnings of his reign; "first", when his father went with Ahab to Ramothgilead, when be was left viceroy, and afterwards his father reassumed the kingdom; the "second" time was, when Jehoshaphat went with the kings of Israel and Edom against Moab; and this is the time here respected, which was in the fifth of Joram king of Israel; and the "third" time was, at the death of his father; but knew his father was living.
(h) Works, vol. 1. p. 84.
And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphatbeing then king of Judah,{i} Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.(i) Read 2Ki 1:17.