Jehoram II Chronicles 21

II Chronicles 21:1 "Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead."

Jehoram is the ultimate example of a son who rebelled against the teachings of his father. He set out to do wrong from day one. He was made king by virtue of being the firstborn. He had brothers but apparently no love for them.

v4 "Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and slew all his brethren with the sword and divers also of the princes of Israel."

He killed his brothers, probably to prevent an rivals to the throne. He also killed many princes of the land.

Next, he rebelled against God by following the false gods of Israel. He was heavily influenced by his wife who was the daughter of Ahab.

v6 "And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife; and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.

We will hear more from his wife later.

God had made a promise that he would carry on David's line in the kingdom. That is the only reason the entire house of Jehoram was not destroyed.

v7 "Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever." This is the coming light Jesus Christ of the seed of David after the flesh.

So war broke out all around: the Edomites, the Libnah,Arabians, Philistines.

Jehoram's action prompted a letter from Elijah who was in Israel dealing with Ahab and his crew. Elijah told Jehoram that he would become very sick and that his people would die of a plague, and so they did.

Jehoram reigned for 8 years from the time he was 32. Such is the price of rebellion. His burial reflected his disfavor with the people.

v20 "Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings."

Psalm 37:16 "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked."

Jehoram a really bad king who died a really bad death.