2 Kings 8 Jehoram Times Two

It’s time for Jehoram times two as Israel and Judah both have kings named Jehoram/Joram. Jehoram of Judah follows in the ways of Ahab. Jehoram of Israel turns from Ahab’s ways.

I wonder if Ahab and Jehoshaphat expected this name issue to happen. They both named one of their sons Joram/Jehoram. And they both put them in line for the throne. But they probably didn’t see it ever happening, as Ahab’s Ahaziah was first in line. The only reason Jehoram took the throne is because Ahaziah didn’t have any children.

We have other kings of Israel and Judah who share the same names, but this is the only time that the kings sharing the same name rule at the same time. This makes things a bit confusing at times. So, in our story, I will be identifying the kingdom each man rules over whenever they do something together.

Information of Jehoram, king of Judah is also found in 2 Chronicles 21. I will be including this information in our story. Something that has me scratching my head is the ‘author’ of the letter that Jehoram, king of Judah receives. The text says it was from Elijah. I don’t see how this could happen, unless Elijah wrote it prophetically to be delivered at a specific time, if Jehoram of Judah co-reigned with his father, Jehoshaphat, for a time, or if someone mixed up the names. The first two explanations combined seems the most likely. The reason for this is the timelines in 2 Kings 1 and 2 Kings 3 regarding who took the throne when.

Ahaziah dies and his brother, Jehoram, takes the throne of Israel in the second year of the reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah according to 2 Kings 1:16-17. Jehoram takes the throne of Israel in the 18^th year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah according to 2 Kings 3:1. Therefore, the only conclusion I can come to is that they reigned together in the end of Jehoshaphat’s life. Not an unheard-of thing, but unknown to me until now. This means that Jehoshaphat began to co-rule with his son, Jehoram, near the time of Ahab’s death. Maybe Ahab’s death shook him, as he was almost killed in that same battle. Let’s step back in our timeline and wee where the Spirit takes us.

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Jehoshaphat returns to Jerusalem after going with Ahab to secure Ramoth-gilead. Jehoshaphat is shaken to the core. He was almost killed when he appeared in royal robes. And Ahab was killed. He stood with him during his last hour on earth. Ahab’s throne is now in the hands of his son; Ahaziah.

“I cannot leave my people unprotected like that. What would happen if I were to die in some battle? None of my sons have had training to step into my place” thinks Jehoshaphat.

Jehoshaphat’s sons have each been given cities to rule over, but that is a small task compared to ruling over the kingdom. He already knows which of his sons will sit on his throne. It is his oldest; Jehoram. “It’s time I started his training” decides Jehoshaphat.

A runner is dispatched to Jehoram. “Bring him to stand before me” commands Jehoshaphat.

Within the hour, Jehoram is bowing before his Abba in the throne room. “Jehoram, I believe it is time to begin training you in the ways of the kings. You will take my place when I am gone the ways of my fathers. You need time to learn how to govern the people of God.”

“I would be most honored to learn from your hand, my king.”

Jehoshaphat motions to one of his servants to bring in a second throne. A few minutes later, two servants enter carrying an ornate throne. This throne was the one King Solomon had placed for his Ima when he ruled Israel.

“You will take this throne beside me. You will learn at my side. When I go into battle, you will remain here to rule over the people in my absence. This way, God’s people will not be without a king, should I die in battle.”

“I would be honored to learn at your hand, my king.”

From that day forward, when people would appear before the king, they would stand before King Jehoshaphat and his son Jehoram. Jehoshaphat was the ultimate authority in all decisions, but he allowed Jehoram input and listened to his counsel.

Jehoram did not share the heart of his Abba. He pretended to while he sat with him. Jehoram’s wife was Ahab’s daughter, and she ‘taught’ her husband well the ways of her father. But her influence was tempered as long as Jehoshaphat lived.

Jehoram saw two of his brothers-in-law rule on the throne of Israel before he ruled the kingdom of Judah on his own. He dutifully stayed home as his Abba went to war alongside Jehoram, king of Israel. And he waited for the day when the kingdom would be his. He did not hurry the process physically, but mentally he cheered as his Abba’s health began to fail.

During the first year of Jehoram of Judah sitting beside his Abba, the prophet Elijah wrote a letter to him. He did not send it, but left it in trust of his replacement, Elisha. “This letter is to be given to Jehoram of Judah when he sits as king on the throne.”

“I will deliver it at the proper time, my father.” Elisha puts the letter in a safe place for the day when it will be delivered.

Jehoram of Judah reigns for seven years at his Abba’s side. The day has finally come. There is no massive passing on of the mantle of leadership. As Jehoram is already in the position of leadership, the only thing left to do for Jehoshaphat is to burry him and mourn his passing. Jehoram of Judah does this without any hint of what is to come.

As soon as the last day of morning passes, Jehoram shows his true colors. He has every last one of his brothers killed. He even has some of their children killed. He wants NO ONE but his children to take the throne.

Athaliah, Jehoram’s wive is his inspiration and guiding force. As soon as is father died, she begins turning his heart to the ways of her father, Ahab. She worshiped the Baals as a child, as well as the Asherah. “These are the gods of my father, and they blessed him as he reigned.”

Jehoram would do anything for her, so he builds temples to Baal and builds Asherah poles throughout Judah. He is leading the people away from the Lord.

The Lord speaks to Elisha. “It is time to deliver Elijah’s letter.”

Elisha has heard of the sins of Jeroboam of Judah. His heart breaks at the thought of the king leading even the people of Judah away from the Lord. Elisha retrieves Elijah’s letter from the place where he kept it safe all these years. He rubs his hand over the writing, remembering his master’s hand. So many good memories, but now is not the time to be sitting and reminiscing over them. There is a task to be completed.

Elisha sets off from Samaria and travels straight to Jerusalem. He is so thrilled to be coming to the house of the Lord. This isn’t something he gets to do at all. Coming here to see Jehoram is a special event. Elisha has to focus on his task though, as the Lord’s words must reach the king.

Elisha stands before the guard at the gate. He is known even in Judah, and when he asks to see the king, he is ushered to the doorway. Jehoram sees him at the threshold and motions him into the room. Elisha does the customary bow and waits for the king to address him.

“Is this Elisha the prophet I see before me? Pray tell, what brings you all the way here?”

“I have come with a letter, penned by my teacher, Elijah, before he was taken into heaven.”

“And you are just now getting it delivered? What took you so long?”

“I was told to hold it until you sat on your father’s throne. He has a warning for you, especially for this season in your life.”

With a voice dripping woth boredom, Jehoram says; “Read it.”

Elisha unties the leather thong on the packet and withdraws the letter. He opens it fully and begins to read. “Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, ‘Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah, but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have enticed Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom, as the house of Ahab led Israel into whoredom, and also you have killed your brothers, of your father’s house, who were better than you, behold, the Lord will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions, and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the disease, day by day’” (2 Chronicles 21:12-15).

“How would Elijah know what I would do? His words hold no interest for me. Take his letter and go!”

Elisha shakes his head. “Whether you believe the Lord’s words or not, will not change your future. The Lord knows you heart. His words WILL come to pass.”

Jehoram motions to two of his guards and has them escort Elisha out of the city. No stopping for a visit in the Temple. No appreciation for the warning he went out of his way to deliver. Simply deposited on the other side of the gates of Jerusalem.

“I tried Lord” remarks Elisha. “I also tried to get a visit into Your Temple, but I was thwarted Lord. Accept my prayers, blessings and praise from the places You called me to inhabit.”

During the same time Jehoram of Judah is building up altars to Baal and Asherah poles, Jehoram of Israel is tearing them down.

Jehoram of Israel knows that Elisha speaks the words of the Lord. He listens and also prays, in his own fashion, to the Lord. He doesn’t bring the people back to God though. He still holds fast to the golden calves that Jeroboam made for the people.

Edom revolts against Jehoram of Judah and sets up its own king. Jehoram of Judah marshals his commanders and chariots to go against them in war.

“This cannot stand! If we allow this, then all the territories of Judah will pull away.”

The great force marches out to subdue Edom. The king rides with the chariots and commanders of the chariots. He feels safe among them. When they make camp though, the men of Edom surround them at Zair.

Jehoram has a plan. “We will sneak out and attack at night. This will scatter their forces from around us and allow us to push them away in defeat.”

Jehoram and his commanders did manage to break through the enemy line, but once the line broke, Judah’s army escaped back to their homes. They would not come out again against Edom.

When Libnah saw Edom’s success at breaking away, they did the same. Judah lost two territories. Libnah rebelled because of the idolatry of Judah.

Jehoram of Judah does not change his ways one bit. The Lord stirs up enemies all around him. The Philistines and the Arabians near Ethiopia. They invade Judah and come against the king himself. They carry away all the treasures that are left of David in the house of the Lord. They also carry away Jehoram’s wives and sons. Only one son survives their attack; Jehoaz/Ahaziah, his youngest son.

Six years after taking the throne, Jehoram of Judah begins feeling ill. His bowel movements become painful and his stools pour through him. He doesn’t even think once about the words of the letter Elijah sent him. Day in and day out, his stomach troubles increase. Nothing he does helps. He seeks out the best physicians, changes his diet, uses herbs, everything he can think of, except the one thing that might help. He does not call out to the Lord. He goes to the Baals and other idols of his wife, but never to the Lord.

Jehoram grows thinner by the month. After a year and a half, he is but a walking skeleton. His stomach protests with every morsel of food he eats, and what he does eat, flows right back out. His pain is excruciating and nothing dulls it.

As he nears the year and three-quarter mark, he notices something alarming! His bowels protrude when he attempts to move them. It is small at first, but each successive visit to the latrine, more would protrude. It stopped retracting as well. The only thing that helps with the pain and continued protrusion is soaking in warm water. But Jehoram will not step down from his throne, no matter how much it hurts.

By the beginning of the second year, Jehoram has no choice. His bowels have protruded so far that his physicians can hold them in both hands. There is no replacing them within him. The portion that protrudes is tangled, swollen and knotted. What remains of his bowels within him are strangled and preventing anything from flowing through. Finally, infection in his bowels takes Jehoram’s life.

Jehoram of Judah was a horrible king. No one mourns his death. He cared nothing for the people he governed. After eight years as king, he is buried. Not with ceremony, or even with the other kings. He was buried in the city of David though.

His son Ahaziah/Jehoaz takes his throne.

Jehoram of Israel has weathered many storms during the time his counterpart in name ruled in Judah. Because of the sins of Jeroboam, which Jehoram of Israel still perpetuates, the Lord is still working on bringing Israel back to Him. There are famines, wars and sieges that Jehoram of Israel has to navigate. His stories are told with those of Elisha, whom he respects as a true man of God. And God works mighty miracles for Israel through the hand of Elisha during the days of Jehoram of Israel.

(to be continued)

When I first started writing this story, I thought that both Jehoram’s were following after the acts of Ahab. I was surprised to learn that Ahab’s own son was moving the people away from the Baals and Asherah. If only he had moved them away from the golden calves too. Was he afraid that he would lose them, like Jeroboam was? Did he think they would turn back to the Lord and become one nation again, under Jehoram of Judah?

What would have happened if he had returned them to the Lord? Would he have been king and Jehoram of Judah deposed? Jehoram of Judah was drawing people away from the Lord. But Ahab’s family future had already been foretold. And so had David’s. Ahab’s line would be wiped out, and for the sake of David, one of his descendants would always sit on the throne. This ended on earth when Judah was carried away, but Jesus in on the throne now as a descendant of David and God.

If only they had listened. Elijah and Elisha spoked what needed to be done to both Jehoram’s, but neither would fully follow the words of the Lord. How much do we really listen? Do we go for ‘close enough’, or do we try and follow all He commands? I KNOW that none of us is perfect and we WILL fall short. But when we do, ask for forgiveness and try again.

Father God, I know I fall short FAR too often! I get distracted or discouraged. I let other things take my focus. Forgive me Father, and help me walk ALL THE WAY to the end of the things that You have called me to. No turning back! No half done! No putting it off until tomorrow. Lead me Father God where You will.