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Jehoshaphat joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in the family tomb in the City of David. Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram became the next king after him. 2 Jehoram's brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All of them were sons of Jehoshaphat, the king of Israel. 3 Their father had given them many gifts. He had given them silver, gold and other things of value. He had also given them cities in Judah that had high walls around them. But he had made Jehoram king. That's because Jehoram was his eldest son. 17:1–21:3 Jehoshaphat followed David's example as king during his entire rule. He worshipped only God and followed the Mount Sinai covenant. He made sure that everyone he ruled over was taught the Law of Moses. He appointed judges all throughout the southern kingdom. The judges helped people understand how to apply the law. They decided between hard cases fairly and with wisdom. Jehoshaphat got rid of everything that had to do with worshipping false gods. These were things that every king was supposed to do. These things helped God's people live as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Jehoshaphat acted wisely when the Moabites, Ammonites and people from Edom were about to attack. He led the people of the southern kingdom to ask God for help. All together they went without eating food. This is called fasting. It showed how serious they were about praying to God for help. This was very different from how people made decisions before kings ruled in Israel. During the time of the 12 judges, the people did anything they thought was right (Judges 21:25). Jehoshaphat was the kind of king that the book of Judges showed was needed. Jehoshaphat's prayer showed that he was humble. He trusted God to bring judgement against those who attacked them. God answered his prayer by sending a message through a Levite from Asaph's family line. The message encouraged the people to have hope because God was with them. The people worshipped and praised God when they heard the message. That is how they marched into battle. People singing praises to God went in front of the soldiers. They didn't have to fight because God caused the other armies to destroy one another. The people groups around the southern kingdom noticed the way Jehoshaphat's people lived. They noticed the ways God protected the southern kingdom. What they noticed made the other nations become afraid of the Lord. This meant that they respected God and wouldn't attack his people. So the southern kingdom enjoyed the covenant blessings of peace and rest. When Jehoshaphat did foolish things, prophets spoke against him. He listened to them and didn't punish them. This happened when Jehoshaphat married a daughter of Ahab and joined Ahab in a battle. It also happened when Jehoshaphat made an agreement about trade with the northern kingdom.
4 Jehoram made his position secure over his father's kingdom. Then he killed all his brothers with his sword. He also killed some of the officials of Israel. 5 Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. 6 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the royal family of Ahab had done. In fact, he married a daughter of Ahab. Jehoram did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord. 7 But the Lord didn't want to destroy the royal family of David. That's because the Lord had made a covenant with him. The Lord had promised to keep the lamp of David's kingdom burning brightly. The Lord had promised that for David and his children after him for ever.
8 When Jehoram was king over Judah, Edom refused to remain under Judah's control. They set up their own king. 9 So Jehoram went to Edom. He took his officers and all his chariots with him. The men of Edom surrounded him and his chariot commanders. But he got up at night and fought his way out. 10 To this day Edom has refused to remain under Judah's control.
At that same time, Libnah also refused to remain under the control of Judah. That's because Jehoram had deserted the Lord, the God of his people. 11 Jehoram had also built high places on the hills of Judah. He had caused the people of Jerusalem to worship other gods. They weren't faithful to the Lord. Jehoram had led Judah down the wrong path.
12 Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet. In it, Elijah said,
‘The Lord is the God of your father David. The Lord says, “You have not followed the ways of your own father Jehoshaphat or of Asa, the king of Judah. 13 Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel. You have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to worship other gods, just as the royal family of Ahab did. Also, you have murdered your own brothers. They were members of your own family. They were better men than you are. 14 So now the Lord is about to strike down your people with a heavy blow. He will strike down your sons, your wives and everything that belongs to you. 15 And you yourself will be very ill for a long time. The disease will finally cause your insides to come out.” ’
16 The Lord stirred up the anger of the Philistines against Jehoram. He also stirred up the anger of the Arabs. They lived near the people of Cush. 17 The Philistines and Arabs attacked Judah. They went in and carried off all the goods they found in the king's palace. They also took his sons and wives. The only son he had left was Ahaziah. He was the youngest son.
18 After all of that, the Lord made Jehoram very ill. He couldn't be healed. 19 After he had been ill for two years, the disease caused his insides to come out. He died in great pain. His people didn't make a funeral fire to honour him. They had made funeral fires to honour the kings who ruled before him.
20 Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. No one was sorry when he passed away. He was buried in the City of David. But he wasn't placed in the tombs of the kings.