Jehoram's Choices and Their Consequences

After Jehoshaphat died, his son Jehoram became king in Jerusalem. He was thirty-two years old and reigned for eight years. Jehoshaphat had given Jehoram's brothers valuable gifts and fortified cities, but the kingdom went to Jehoram as the firstborn. After he had secured his rule, Jehoram killed all his brothers and also some of the princes.

Jehoram did what was evil in Yahweh's sight. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and was joined to Ahab's house by marriage. He made high places in the mountains of Judah and led the people of Jerusalem and Judah away from faithfulness to the God of their fathers.

Even so, Yahweh would not destroy Judah, or David's house, because of his covenant with David and his promise to keep a lamp for his descendants. During Jehoram's reign, Edom revolted and set up its own king. Jehoram attacked by night and struck the Edomites around him, but Edom remained in revolt. Libnah also revolted at that time.

Then a letter came from Elijah the prophet. It said Jehoram had not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat and Asa, had led Judah astray like Ahab's house, and had killed his brothers, who were better than he was. Because of this, judgement would come on his people, his family, his possessions, and on Jehoram himself through a severe disease.

After that, Yahweh stirred up enemies against Jehoram: the Philistines and the Arabs near the Ethiopians. They invaded Judah and carried away the possessions in the king's house, as well as his sons and wives, so that only his youngest son was left. Then Jehoram was struck with an incurable disease. After a long sickness, he died.

The people did not honour him as they had honoured earlier kings, and though he was buried in David's city, he was not buried in the tombs of the kings. What kind of path does a leader set for others?