2 Chronicles 21

1 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers, in the city of David, —and Jehoram his son reigned in his steed.

And Jehoshaphat rested with his fathers and was buried with them in the City of David. And his son Jehoram reigned in his place.

2 Now, he, had brethren, sons of Jehoshaphat—Azariah and Jehiel and Zechariah and Azariah, and Michael and Shephatiah, —all these, were sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel,

Jehoram’s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; these were all sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

3 and their father gave them large presents—of silver and of gold and of precious things, with cities of defence, in Judah, —but, the kingdom, gave he unto Jehoram, for, he, was the firstborn.

Their father had given them many gifts of silver and gold and precious things, as well as the fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

4 But, when Jehoram had arisen over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren, with the sword, —moreover also some of the rulers of Israel.

When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel.

5 Thirty-two years old, was Jehoram when he began to reign, —and, eight years, reigned he in Jerusalem.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.

6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab, for, the daughter of Ahab, had he, to wife, —so he wrought wickedness, in the eyes of Yahweh.

And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.

7 Howbeit Yahweh was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant which he had solemnised, unto David, —and as he had promised to give unto him a lamp, and unto his sons, all the days.

Yet the LORD was unwilling to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant He had made with David, and since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.

8 In his days, revolted the Edomites, from under the hand of Judah, —and set over themselves a king.

In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king.

9 So Jehoram passed over, with his captains, and all his chariot, with him, -and it came to pass that he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that were round about unto him, and the chariot-captains.

So Jehoram crossed into Edom with his officers and all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, he rose up and attacked by night.

10 So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah—unto this day. Then, must Libnah needs revolt at the same time, from under his hand, —because he had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his fathers.

So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled against his rule at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers.

11 He too, made high places among the mountains of Judah, —and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unchaste, and seduced Judah.

Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah; he had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.

12 Then came there unto him, a writing, from Elijah the prophet, saying, —Thus, saith Yahweh, God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa, king of Judah;

Then a letter came to Jehoram from Elijah the prophet, which stated: “This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah,

13 but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be unchaste, after the unchastities of the house of Ahab, —moreover also, thine own brethren of the house of thy father who were better than thou, hast thou slain,

but you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and have caused Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab prostituted itself. You have also killed your brothers, your father’s family, who were better than you.

14 lo! Yahweh, is about to plague, with a great plague, thy people, -and thy children and thy wives, and all thy possessions;

So behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a serious blow.

15 also, thyself, with sore diseases, with disease of thy bowels, -until thy bowels shall fall out, by reason of the disease, in a year added to a year.

And day after day you yourself will suffer from a severe illness, a disease of your bowels, until it causes your bowels to come out.’”

16 And Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and the Arabians, who were under the direction of the Ethiopians;

Then the LORD stirred against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs who lived near the Cushites.

17 and they came up against Judah, and forced their way into it, and carried off all the possessions that were found belonging to the house of the king, moreover also his sons and his wives, —so that there was left him never a son, save only Jehoahaz the youngest of his sons.

So they went to war against Judah, invaded it, and carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace, along with his sons and wives; not a son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest.

18 And, after all this, Yahweh plagued him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.

19 And it came to pass, in a year beyond a year, even when the end of the days of two years had passed, that his bowels fell out by reason of his disease, so that he died, of, malignant disease, —and his people made him no burning, like the burning of his fathers.

This continued day after day until two full years had passed. Finally, his intestines came out because of his disease, and he died in severe pain. And his people did not make a fire in his honor as they had done for his fathers.

20 Thirty-two years old, was he when he began to reign, and, eight years, reigned he in Jerusalem, —and went his way—unregretted, and, though they buried him in the city of David, yet, not in the sepulchres of the kings.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He died, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.