Jehoram of Judah

Name means "Yahweh is exalted". The 5th king of Judah, frequently called Joram. Biblical chronological data (1 Ki 22:42 2 Ki 1:17 3:1) indicate that Jehoram was associated with his father Jehoshaphat on the throne for about 5 or 6 years (c. 854—c. 848 b.c.), before he became sole ruler. He ruled for less than 8 years (2 Chr 21:5), c. 848—841 b.c.. He was married to Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab, and followed his wife in Baal worship, as his father—in—law had followed Jezebel (2 Ki 8:18, 26 2 Chr 21:6, 11). After his father's death, Jehoram murdered all his brothers and other princes of Judah (2 Chr 21:1—4).

His wickedness did not go unpunished, for one calamity after another befell him, as Elijah in a letter to him had predicted (vs 12—15). First the Edomites revolted, and though Jehoram was able to defeat them, they remained independent (2 Ki 8:20—22 2 Chr 21:8—10). Thus Judah lost the copper mines of Edom and the city of Eziongeber with the city's port facilities.

Then Libnah revolted (2 Ki 8:22 2 Chr 21:10) and during an invasion of the Philistines and tribesmen from northwestern Arabia Jerusalem was looted, the palace ransacked, and the king's harem and all his sons, except the youngest, were taken captive (2 Chr 21:16, 17 2 Chr 22:1). Finally an incurable intestinal disease tormented the king during the last two years of his life (ch 21:18, 19). He died unmourned and was buried in Jerusalem but not in the royal tombs (v 20).