2 Chronicles, 21

1. Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. His son Jehoram succeeded him.

2. Jehoram had six brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael and Shepatiah; these were all the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

3. Their father had made them many gifts of silver, gold and jewels, and of fortified towns in Judah, but he made Jehoram his successor since he was the firstborn.

4. When Jehoram was in firm control of the kingdom, he had all his brothers killed, as well as some Israelite officials.

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

6. He followed the wicked example of the kings of Israel and did as the family of Ahab had done, for he had married one of Ahab's daughters; and he did what was evil in the eyes of Yahweh.

7. Yahweh however did not intend to destroy the descendants of David, because of the covenant he had made with David, when he promised to leave a lamp for him and his sons forever.

8. In his time Edom revolted against Judah and set up a king for itself.

9. Jehoram invaded Edom with his commanders and all his chariots. He rose during the night and broke through and escaped from the Edomites encircling him and his chariot commanders.

10. Thus Edom became independent of Judah, and has remained free to the present day. Libnah also revolted against Jehoram at the same time for he had deserted Yahweh, the God of his ancestors.

11. He also set up High places in the highlands of Judah and caused the people living in Jerusalem and Judah to sin against Yahweh.

12. Then something written by the prophet Elijah came into his hand. It ran, "This is the word of Yahweh, the God of David your ancestor. You have not followed the example of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah,

13. but the wicked example of the kings of Israel, and have caused Judah and the people living in Jerusalem to sin against Yahweh, just as Ahab and his successors did. You have also murdered your brothers, your own family, better men than yourself.

14. Because of this Yahweh will strike you with a great calamity, which will come upon your people, your descendants, your wives and all your property.

15. You yourself will suffer a painful intestinal disease that will grow worse day by day.

16. Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the Philistines and the Arabs bordering on the Cushites.

17. They attacked Judah and invaded it, carrying off all they found in the king's palace, including his sons and his wives; the only son left him was Ahaziah, the youngest of them.

18. And after all this, Yahweh brought on him a painful disease of the intestines.

19. It lasted for more than one year, and when the two years were over and his last hour had come, he died in great pain. The people did not light a bonfire in mourning for him as they had for his father.

20. He was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. He passed away with no one to regret him, and they buried him in the City of David, though not in the tombs of the kings.