The King Who Was Better Than His Parents, But Still Wicked

The life and reign of King Jehoram.

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Jehoram (or Joram) became king of Israel after his brother Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord (2 Kings 1:16).

Since Ahaziah had no son to take the throne, the crown passed to his brother (2 Kings 1:17).

Timeline of the Kings.

The Overview of Jehoram’s Reign.

Jehoram became king over the northern kingdom of Israel in Jehoshaphat’s eighteenth year. He reigned for twelve years (2 Kings 3:1).

While Jehoram still “did evil in the sight of the Lord,” he wasn’t as wicked as his brother or parents. Jehoram actually put away the idols of Baal (2 Kings 3:2). However, he continued in the golden calf worship started by King Jeroboam (2 Kings 3:3).

So he was still an idol worshipper - just instead of going after the idol gods of the nations around them, he continued practicing a perverted version of the law.

The War Against Moab.

The king of Moab - Mesha - paid regular tribute to Israel in sheep: 100,000 lambs and the wool from 100,000 rams. But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against Israel (2 Kings 1:1).

Moab was the nation descended from one of Lot’s sons by his firstborn daughter (Genesis 19:36-37). Ruth - King David’s great-grandmother - was from Moab (Ruth 1:4; 4:21-22). When we studied King Jehoshaphat, we learned that Moab was involved in an attack on the southern kingdom of Judah.

Generally speaking, relations between the Israelites and Moab were unfriendly.

King Jehoram gathers his army to fight against Moab and sends word to Jehoshaphat to see if he will come out to help him in the fight against Moab. Just as he had done with Jehoram’s father (1 Kings 22:4), Jehoshaphat says, “I will go up; I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses” (2 Kings 3:6-7).

They also united together with the Edomites and traveled through Edom to attack Moab from the south (2 Kings 3:8-9).

But then they ran into a problem - there was no water on this route for the armies or animals. King Jehoram lamented, “Alas! For the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:9-10).

Jehoshaphat, rather than bemoan their situation, said, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” One of the servants said Elisha was nearby, and Jehoshaphat responded, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the three kings went to see Elisha (2 Kings 3:11-12).

Elisha sarcastically addressed Jehoram and said, “What are you doing here? Why don’t you go ask your Momma and Daddy’s prophets?” Jehoram answered, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab” (2 Kings 3:13).

Elisha basically says, “If it wasn’t for Jehoshaphat being with you, I wouldn’t even look at you - much less inquire of the Lord for you.” He asked for a musician, and when the music played, the Lord’s hand came upon Elisha, and he prophesied (2 Kings 3:14-15).

"Thus says the LORD: 'Make this valley full of ditches.' For thus says the LORD: 'You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.' And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones." (2 Kings 3:16-19)

While there would be no rain, there would be a flood that would provide water for their armies and would be the undoing of Moab’s army. God’s orders to these three kings was that they were to utterly destroy the fortifications and resources of Moab.

As the grain offering was sacrificed the next morning, water suddenly came by the way of Edom and provided all their armies and animals water (2 Kings 3:20). While the Moabites stood ready for battle at the border (2 Kings 3:21), the saw the water on the other side from them, and it appeared to be red with blood (2 Kings 3:22). They assumed the armies of Israel, Judah, and Edom had turned on each other - so they decided to descend upon the spoils (2 Kings 3:23).

However, they were very much mistaken. When the Moabites arrived at the camp of Israel, the Israelite army was very much alive and well, and the Moabites were routed (2 Kings 3:24). The Israelite armies did exactly what God told them to do to the fortified cities and the land - except for Kir Haraseth, which they attacked with slingers (2 Kings 3:25).

The king of Moab tried to break through the enemy lines to the king of Edom, but he failed (2 Kings 3:26). As a last desperate measure, he offered his eldest son as a burnt offering on the wall (2 Kings 3:27). Great wrath came upon Israel and they returned to their own land.

Depending on the translation, the wrath upon Israel may be coming from Moab or “divine anger” (NET) from the Lord.

Jehoram’s Death.

Later, Jehoram (or Joram) went to war against Syria with his brother-in-law, Ahaziah the king of Judah - Jehoshaphat’s grandson (2 Kings 8:28). In this battle, Joram is wounded. Apparently the injury is serious enough to warrant a visit from his brother-in-law, the king of Judah (2 Kings 8:29).

While Joram is attempting to recover from his battle wounds, Jehu conspires to take his life (2 Kings 9:14). Jehu is careful to make sure Joram is not warned before he can reach the king (2 Kings 9:15).

As Jehu and his men are approaching Jezreel, Joram sends a horsemen to ask, “Is everything alright?” Jehu responds to the horseman, “None of your business. Follow me” (2 Kings 9:17-18). This happens a second time as well (2 Kings 9:19).

The watchman tells the king, “We’re sending out messengers, but they aren’t returning. And the driving is like Jehu’s driving - reckless and furious!” (2 Kings 9:20).

Joram decides to take his own chariot out to Jehu - who was a commander in his army (2 Kings 9:5). Joram and Ahaziah meet Jehu on Naboth’s property (2 Kings 9:21). If that’s not foreshadowing what’s about to happen - I don’t know what is.

Joram asks, “Is everything alright, Jehu?” Jehu responds, “What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?” (2 Kings 9:22). Joram was smart enough to recognize fighting words when he heard it, and warned Ahaziah of Jehu’s treachery (2 Kings 9:23).

Jehu shot Jehoram as hard as he could with his bow, and shot an arrow clean through the king - entering and exiting through his heart (2 Kings 9:24). Jehu immediately gave orders about what to do with the body of Jehoram.

"Pick him up, and throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that the LORD laid this burden upon him: 'Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,' says the LORD, 'and I will repay you in this plot,' says the LORD. Now therefore, take and throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the LORD." (2 Kings 9:25-26)

What God told Ahab about his descendants was coming true (1 Kings 21:21-24).

Crowning Principles.

“Less evil” doesn’t always mean good.

Jehoram didn’t serve the Baals like his father, mother, and brother. While we could argue this makes him “less evil,” he still wasn’t good. God’s promise of judgment on Ahab’s house wasn’t delayed in any way because Jehoram put away the idols of Baal.

A step away from evil is not necessarily a step in the right direction.

God will avenge the shedding of innocent blood.

It is no coincidence that Jehoram was killed and his body thrown into the field of Naboth. We are reminded of something the Lord said all the way back in Genesis to the Cain.

What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:10)

God’s justice demands “a life for a life” for those who murder.

Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man. (Genesis 9:5-6)

And so, what will happen to those who trample the blood of Jesus underfoot, and consider His death, “No big deal?”

Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:28-31)