² Jehoram’s brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. They were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of ·Judah [^LIsrael; 12:6]. ³ Jehoshaphat gave his sons many gifts of silver, gold, and ·valuable [precious] things, and he gave them ·strong, walled [fortified] cities in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the ·first son [firstborn].

Jehoram King of Judah^(A)

⁴ When Jehoram took control of his father’s kingdom and ·made himself secure [established himself], he killed all his brothers with the sword and also killed some of the ·leaders [officials] of Judah. ⁵ He was thirty-two years old when he began to ·rule [reign], and he ·ruled [reigned] eight years in Jerusalem. ⁶ He ·followed [^Lwalked] in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the ·family [^Lhouse] of Ahab had done, because he married Ahab’s daughter. Jehoram did ·what the Lord said was wrong [^Levil in the Lord’s sight/eyes]. ⁷ But the Lord would not destroy David’s ·family [^Lhouse] because of the ·agreement [covenant; treaty] he had made with David. He had promised ·that one of David’s descendants would always rule [^Lto give a lamp to David and his descendants/sons forever; ^Chere a lamp symbolizes a dynasty].

⁸ In Jehoram’s time, Edom ·broke away from [revolted/rebelled against] Judah’s ·rule [reign] and ·chose [set up] their own king. ⁹ So Jehoram went to Edom with all his ·commanders [officers] and chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot ·commanders [officers], but Jehoram got up and attacked the Edomites at night [^Cthe implication is that Jehoram is victorious, but the next verse suggests otherwise; see 2 Kin. 8:21]. ¹⁰ From then until now the country of Edom has ·fought against [been free from] the ·rule [reign] of Judah. At the same time the people of Libnah also ·broke away from [rebelled/revolted against] Jehoram because Jehoram ·left [abandoned; forsook] the Lord, the God of his ·ancestors [fathers].

Jehoram King of Judah^(A)

¹⁶ While Jehoshaphat was king in Judah, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat became king of Judah. This was during the fifth year Joram son of Ahab was king of Israel. ¹⁷ Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he ·began to rule [became king], and he ·ruled [reigned] eight years in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ He ·followed [^Lwalked in] the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the ·family [^Lhouse] of Ahab had done, because he married Ahab’s daughter. Jehoram did ·what the Lord said was wrong [^Levil in the eyes/sight of the Lord]. ¹⁹ But the Lord ·would not [was unwilling to] destroy Judah ·because [for the sake] of his servant David. The Lord had promised ·that one of David’s descendants would always rule [^Lto give a lamp to him and his descendants forever; ^Ca metaphor for the reign of a king; 2 Sam. 7:12; 1 Kin. 11:36; 2 Chr. 21:7].

²⁰ In Jehoram’s time Edom ·broke away from [revolted against] Judah’s ·rule [^Lhand] and ·chose [set up] their own king. ²¹ So Jehoram and all his chariots ·went [crossed over] to Zair. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot commanders. Jehoram got up and attacked the Edomites at night, but his army ran away to their ·tents [homes]. ²² From then until now Edom has ·fought [been in revolt/rebellion] against the rule of Judah. At the same time Libnah also ·broke away from Judah’s rule [revolted; rebelled].