Jehoram, also known as Joram, was the ninth king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He was the son of Ahab and Jezebel and reigned from approximately 852 to 841 BC. His reign is chronicled in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, where his actions and the events of his rule are detailed.

Family and Ascension to the Throne

Jehoram was the brother of Ahaziah, who preceded him as king. After Ahaziah's death, Jehoram ascended to the throne. The Bible notes that Jehoram "did evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother, for he removed the pillar of Baal that his father had made" (2 Kings 3:2). Despite this action, he continued in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who led Israel into idolatry.

Military Campaigns and Alliances

During Jehoram's reign, he formed an alliance with Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom to fight against Mesha, the king of Moab. The Moabite king had rebelled against Israel following the death of Ahab. The campaign is notable for the miraculous provision of water for the allied armies, as prophesied by Elisha, the prophet of God (2 Kings 3:16-20). Despite initial success, the campaign ended in a stalemate after the king of Moab sacrificed his own son, causing great wrath against Israel (2 Kings 3:27).

Relations with Prophets and the House of Ahab

Jehoram's reign was marked by interactions with the prophet Elisha. Elisha performed several miracles during this time, including the healing of Naaman, the Syrian commander, and the raising of the Shunammite woman's son. Jehoram's relationship with Elisha was complex; while he sought the prophet's counsel during the Moabite campaign, he also displayed skepticism and frustration, particularly during the siege of Samaria by the Arameans (2 Kings 6:31-33).

Jehoram's rule was also influenced by the legacy of his parents, Ahab and Jezebel. The house of Ahab was notorious for its idolatry and opposition to the prophets of Yahweh. Jehoram's partial departure from Baal worship did not fully restore the nation to the worship of the LORD, and the influence of his mother Jezebel lingered.

Downfall and Death

Jehoram's reign came to an abrupt end through the actions of Jehu, an army commander anointed by Elisha to destroy the house of Ahab. Jehu's revolt was swift and decisive; he killed Jehoram at Jezreel, where Jehoram had gone to recover from wounds sustained in battle against the Arameans (2 Kings 9:14-24). Jehu's coup fulfilled the prophecy against Ahab's house, as Jehoram's body was cast into the field of Naboth, whom Ahab and Jezebel had wronged (2 Kings 9:25-26).

Legacy

Jehoram's reign is often viewed as a continuation of the spiritual decline initiated by his father, Ahab. Although he made some attempts to distance himself from the most egregious sins of his parents, his failure to fully turn Israel back to the LORD ultimately led to his downfall. His death marked the end of Ahab's dynasty and the beginning of Jehu's rule, which sought to eradicate Baal worship from Israel.