Monday, September 9, 2013

Jehoram of Judah

II Kings 8:16-22

“And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.  And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD. 

Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.”  (II Kings 8:16-19)

Jehoshaphat was one of the best kings Judah had, doing his best to please God and turn the nation to God, getting rid of the homosexuals, the idolatry, and the perverted worship of God.  Unfortunately, he chose to affiliate himself with the kings of Israel because they were family.  As a result, his son Jehoram married one of Ahab’s daughters, a sister to Jehoram, the king of Israel, making it somewhat confusing because for several years, the kings of both Israel and Judah were named Jehoram, and were brother-in-laws.

To further complicate matters, Jehoram, king of Israel is called Joram here,  Strong’s Concordance describes Joram as an alternative spelling of Jehoram, and we find both spelling used for Jehoram of Judah as well.

It is very difficult to maintain one’s moral standards when married to some one with different standards, because they are in constant conflict.  As II Corinthians 6:14-15 warns, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”  As usually happens, having chosen to live with the evil standard, Jehoram adopted it as his own.

“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.  And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.  And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.

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.” (II Chronicles 21:1-4)

Before his death, Jehoshaphat divided up his property among his sons, giving each one their own.  He then made Jehoram king of Judah.  One of Jehoram’s first actions after his father’s death was to murder all his brothers, as well as other leaders of Judah and seize their property.

"Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.  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.  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.” (II Chronicles 21:5-7)

By aligning himself with Ahab, Ahaziah, and Jehoram, Jehoshaphat implied what they did was okay.  Jehoram developed a similar attitude that was further encouraged when he married Ahab’s daughter.  People seldom stop to think that the people we choose as friends affect both our attitudes and those of our children.  With a wife who had the same attitude to encourage him, Jehoram really went into sin.

Because of his wickedness, Jehoram would only be allowed to reign eight years, but because of his promise to David, God would not destroy the whole line and start over like he had with several of the kings of Israel.  Under his administration, Judah lost much of it’s former power.  Both II Kings 8:20-21 and II Chronicles 21:8-10 Edom’sand Libnah’s successful secession from Judah.

“In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves. 

So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents. 

 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.  Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.” (II Chronicles 21:8-9)

The Edomites set up their own king, and when Jehoram brought his army to stop them, surrounded him.  Though he was able to defeat their army and drive them away, he was not able reclaim their land.

 “Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.”  (II Kings 8:22)

“…The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.” (II Chronicles 21:10b) 

Because of Jehoram’s turning away from God, Judah would never again have control of the area south of the Dead Sea extending down to the Gulf of Aqaba.  About eight hundred years after Isaac made the prophecy to Esau, Genesis 27:39-40 was fulfilled.  “And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.”  God had never forgotten.







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