Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 8
Jehoram was the murderer of his brothers (2 Chronicles 21:4), and an extremely evil man. When the true nature of his character became clear, after his father’s death, he soon gained many enemies. Those enemies were both inside Judah, and in foreign countries.
2 Chronicles 21:12-20 gives many details about God’s judgment against him, the attacks by his enemies, and his death. Jehoram first received a letter from Elijah the prophet (holy man). That surprises us, because Elijah’s work on earth had ended perhaps 10 years previously. Elijah rose up to heaven about 5 years before Jehoram became king of Judah (2:1-18).
That letter described Jehoram’s evil acts. Of course, God knew about these incidents before they happened (Isaiah 44:6-8). It then described Jehoram’s punishment.
After this, Philistia’s army attacked Judah. They entered Jehoram’s palace and they took away everything valuable from there. They also took away his sons and his wives. They killed those sons (2 Chronicles 22:1). Only Ahaziah, his youngest son, remained with his mother Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab.
Elijah’s letter also described the terrible illness from which Jehoram died, two years after that attack. It was a long and painful illness.
In all these terrible troubles, there is no record that Jehoram ever turned back to God. He continued his evil and cruel behaviour; and he continued in his false religions. The people in Judah hated him. They were glad when, at last, this evil king died. They did not light a great fire in his honour, as was the usual custom after a king’s death. They buried him in the City of David, the oldest part of Jerusalem, but they did not give him a royal grave.
Next part: Ahaziah becomes king of Judah (2 Kings 8:25-27)
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© 2025, Keith Simons.