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.

Jehoshaphat died was buried with his fore fathers in the City of David, and his son Jehoram took over as king.

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,

His brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All were sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.

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 valuable items, as well as the fortified towns 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.

But once Jehoram had secured the kingdom, he made sure of his position by killing all his brothers, along with some of the princes of Judah.

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

Jehoram was thirty-two when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 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.

He followed the evil ways of the kings of Israel, and was as bad as Ahab, for he had married one of Ahab's daughters. He did evil in the Lord's sight.

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.

However, Yet the Lord did not want to destroy David's line because of the agreement he had made with David, and he had promised that David's descendants would rule forever like an ever-burning lamp.

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

During Jehoram's reign, Edom rebelled against Judah's rule and chose 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 chariot army. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders, but he broke through during the 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.

From this time on Edom was in rebellion against Judah's rule, and remains so to this day. At the same time Libnah also rebelled against his rule, because he had abandoned the Lord, the God of his forefathers.

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

He also built high places on the mountains of Judah; he made the people of Jerusalem unfaithful to God and led Judah away from him.

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;

Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet that said, “This is what the Lord, the God of David your forefather says, ‘You have not followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat, or 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 instead you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel, and have made the people of Jerusalem unfaithful, and the people of Jerusalem as unfaithful as the family of Ahab. You have even 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;

Watch out, for the Lord is going to hit your people hard—your sons, your wives, and all that you own.

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.

You yourself will be struck with a terrible illness—a disease of the bowels which will get worse day by day until they 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;

The Lord stirred up the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabians (who live near the Ethiopians) against Jehoram.

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.

They came and invaded Judah, and took away everything they found in the king's palace, along with his sons and his wives, so that only the youngest son Jehoahaz was left.

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

After all this, the Lord struck Jehoram with a disease of the bowels for which there was no cure.

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.

Day after day it grew worse, until after two full years passed his bowels came out because of his disease, and he died in agony. His people did not make a fire to honor him as they had done for his forefathers.

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 when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for eight years. When he died, no one mourned him. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal tombs.