Jehoram, also known as Joram, was a king of Judah whose reign is chronicled in the Old Testament. He was the son of Jehoshaphat and the husband of Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, which linked the royal house of Judah with the northern kingdom of Israel. His reign is noted for its departure from the ways of his father, Jehoshaphat, who was known for his piety and reforms.

Reign and Actions

Jehoram's reign is recorded in 2 Kings 8:16-24 and 2 Chronicles 21. He ascended to the throne of Judah around 848 BC and reigned for eight years. One of his first acts as king was to secure his position by killing all his brothers and some of the princes of Israel (2 Chronicles 21:4). This act of fratricide was a stark departure from the godly example set by his father and was indicative of the influence of his wife Athaliah and her idolatrous heritage.

Jehoram's reign was marked by a significant spiritual decline in Judah. He led the people into idolatry, following the ways of the kings of Israel, particularly the house of Ahab. The Bible states, "He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD" (2 Kings 8:18).

Divine Judgment and Consequences

Jehoram's apostasy brought divine judgment upon Judah. The LORD stirred up the Philistines and the Arabians against him, and they invaded Judah, carrying away all the possessions found in the king's house, as well as his sons and wives, leaving only his youngest son, Jehoahaz (also known as Ahaziah) (2 Chronicles 21:16-17).

Moreover, Jehoram received a letter from the prophet Elijah, a rare instance of a written prophetic message, which warned him of severe consequences for leading Judah into idolatry and for the murder of his brothers. The letter declared, "Behold, the LORD is going to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your possessions with a great calamity. And you yourself will suffer with a severe illness, a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out day by day because of the disease" (2 Chronicles 21:14-15).

As prophesied, Jehoram was afflicted with a painful and incurable disease of the bowels, which eventually led to his death. His demise was so ignominious that the people did not honor him with a fire, as they had done for his ancestors, and he was not buried in the tombs of the kings (2 Chronicles 21:19-20).

Impact on Judah

Jehoram's legacy was one of spiritual and moral decline. His marriage alliance with the house of Ahab introduced the worship of Baal into Judah, leading the nation away from the worship of Yahweh. His reign set a precedent for future kings who would also struggle with idolatry and apostasy.

Despite his wickedness, the LORD did not destroy the house of David because of the covenant He had made with David, promising to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever (2 Chronicles 21:7). This covenantal promise underscored God's faithfulness and the hope of redemption through the Davidic line, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Jehoram's reign serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of godly leadership. His legacy is a reminder of the enduring impact of a ruler's faithfulness or unfaithfulness on a nation.