Jehoram Reigns in Judah (2 Kings 8:16–19)
1 UEB Jehoshaphat slept with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David; Jehoram, his son, became king in his place. BSB BSB: 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 UEB Jehoram had brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel. BSB BSB: 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 UEB Their father had given them large gifts of silver, gold, and other precious things, and also fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram. BSB BSB: 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 UEB Now when Jehoram had risen up over his father's kingdom and had firmly established himself as king, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also various other leaders of Israel. BSB BSB: 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 UEB Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem. BSB BSB: Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.
6 UEB He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab was doing, for he had Ahab's daughter as his wife, and he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. BSB BSB: 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 UEB However, Yahweh did not wish to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David; he had promised that he would always give life to him and his descendants. BSB BSB: 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.
Edom and Libnah Rebel (2 Kings 8:20–24)
8 UEB In Jehoram's days, Edom revolted from the control of Judah, and they set a king over themselves. BSB BSB: In the days of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah and appointed their own king.
9 UEB Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots. It was night when he rose up and fought against the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders. BSB BSB: 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 UEB So Edom has been in rebellion from the control of Judah to this present day. Libnah also revolted at the same time from his control, because Jehoram had forsaken Yahweh, the God of his ancestors. BSB BSB: So to this day Edom has been in rebellion against the hand of Judah. Likewise, Libnah rebelled against his hand at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers.
11 UEB In addition, Jehoram had also built high places in the mountains of Judah and he made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to live like prostitutes, and he led Judah astray. BSB BSB: 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.
Elijah’s Letter to Jehoram 12 UEB A letter from the prophet Elijah came to Jehoram. It said, "This is what Yahweh, the God of David, your ancestor, says: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat, your father, nor in the ways of Asa, king of Judah, BSB BSB: 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 UEB but have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to act like a prostitute, as the house of Ahab did—and because you have also killed your brothers in your father's family, men who were better than yourself— BSB BSB: 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 UEB see, Yahweh will strike with a great plague your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions. BSB BSB: So behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a serious blow.
15 UEB You yourself will have much sickness because of a disease in your intestines, until your intestines fall out because of the sickness, day after day." BSB BSB: 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.’”
Jehoram’s Disease and Death 16 UEB Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians who were near the Cushites. BSB BSB: Then the LORD stirred against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs who lived near the Cushites.
17 UEB They attacked Judah, invaded it, and carried away all the wealth that was found in the king's house. They also carried away his sons and his wives. No son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son. BSB BSB: 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 UEB After all this, Yahweh struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease. BSB BSB: After all this, the LORD afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels.
19 UEB It came about in due time, at the end of two years, that his intestines fell out because of his sickness, and that he died of severe disease. His people made no fire in his honor as they had done for his ancestors. BSB BSB: 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.
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