1Then Jehoshaphatsleptwith his fathersand was buriedwith his fathersin the cityof David,and Jehoramhis sonbecamekingin his place.2He had brothers,the sonsof Jehoshaphat:Azariah,Jehiel,Zechariah,Azaryahu,Michaeland Shephatiah.Allthese[were] the sonsof Jehoshaphatkingof Israel.3Their fathergavethem manygiftsof silver,goldand preciousthings,with fortifiedcitiesin Judah,but he gavethe kingdomto Jehorambecausehe was the firstborn.
4Now when Jehoramhad takenoverthe kingdomof his fatherand madehimself secure,he killedallhis brotherswith the sword,and someof the rulersof Israelalso.5Jehoram[was] thirty-twoyearsoldwhen he becameking,and he reignedeightyearsin Jerusalem.6He walkedin the wayof the kingsof Israel,justas the houseof Ahabdid(for Ahab'sdaughterwas his wife),and he didevilin the sightof the LORD.7Yet the LORDwas not willingto destroythe houseof Davidbecauseof the covenantwhichHe had madewith David,and sinceHe had promisedto givea lampto him and his sonsforever.
8In his daysEdomrevoltedagainstthe ruleof Judahand setup a kingoverthemselves.9Then Jehoramcrossedoverwith his commandersand allhis chariotswith him. And he aroseby nightand struckdownthe Edomiteswho were surroundinghim and the commandersof the chariots.10So EdomrevoltedagainstJudahto thisday.ThenLibnahrevoltedat the sametimeagainsthis rule,becausehe had forsakenthe LORDGodof his fathers.11Moreover,he madehighplacesin the mountainsof Judah,and caused the inhabitantsof Jerusalemto playthe harlotand ledJudahastray.
12Then a lettercameto him from Elijahthe prophetsaying,"Thussaysthe LORDGodof your fatherDavid,'Becauseyou have not walkedin the waysof Jehoshaphatyour fatherand the waysof Asakingof Judah,13but have walkedin the wayof the kingsof Israel,and have caused Judahand the inhabitantsof Jerusalemto playthe harlotas the houseof Ahabplayedthe harlot,and you have alsokilledyour brothers,your own family,who were betterthanyou,14behold,the LORDis going to strikeyour people,your sons,your wivesand allyour possessionswith a greatcalamity;15and you will suffer severesickness,a diseaseof your bowels,untilyour bowelscomeout becauseof the sickness,dayby day.'"
16Then the LORDstirredup againstJehoramthe spiritof the Philistinesand the Arabswhoborderedthe Ethiopians;17and they cameagainst Judahand invadedit, and carriedaway allthe possessionsfoundin the king'shousetogetherwith his sonsand his wives,so that nosonwas leftto him exceptJehoahaz,the youngestof his sons.
18So afterallthisthe LORDsmotehim in his bowelswith an incurablesickness.19Now it cameabout in the courseof time,at the endof twoyears,that his bowelscameout becauseof his sicknessand he diedin greatpain.And his peoplemadenofirefor him like the firefor his fathers.20He was thirty-twoyears oldwhen he becameking,and he reignedin Jerusalemeightyears;and he departedwith noone's regret,and they buriedhim in the cityof David,but not in the tombsof the kings.
