Jehoram And Ahaziah Reigns in Judah

II Kings 8:16–29
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

The scene switches to the events occurring in Judah. When Jehoshaphat died, his son Jehoram became king (v. 16). He was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled eight years from Jerusalem (v. 17). At this point in the history of Judah, the foolish alliance Jehoshaphat had made with Ahab began to bear fruit. Part of that treaty included the marriage of Jehoram to Ahab’s and Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah. Jehoram did not walk in the godly ways of his father, but was influenced by his wife to walk in the ways of his in-laws (v. 18). But the Lord refused to destroy Judah, because he promised someone from David’s family would always rule (v. 19). Joram ruled Judah during a time of upheaval (vv. 20-22). Both Edom and the Philistine city of Lebnah revolted and established themselves as independent. Jehoram took his army and tried to put down this rebellion, but he was unsuccessful and barely escaped with his life (v. 22). This situation politically isolated Judah and she became an island surrounded on all sides with trouble.

Joram died of a painful disease of the intestines (2 Chron. 21:18). He had been warned by Elijah earlier in his reign because of his wickedness (2 Chron. 21:12-15), but he did not change his ways and died as Elijah had prophesied. Joram’s successor was his son Ahaziah (v. 24). He was influenced by his evil mother, Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and followed in the wicked ways of his ancestors in the Northern Kingdom (v. 27).  Continuing in the alliance with Israel, he engaged his troops in battle with those of his brother-in-law, Joram of Israel, at Ramoth-gilead (v. 28). Joram was wounded and returned to Jezreel to recover (v. 29). Ahaziah came from Jerusalem to visit him and while there Jehu attacked and killed Joram while Ahaziah fled to Megiddo.

Application

The person that we marry is very important. Jehoram’s marriage to Athaliah may have been politically advantageous but actually it was deadly. That is why dating and marrying an unsaved person is such a wrong thing to do.