Joram

Joram (or Jehoram), the son of Ahab, was king of Northern Israel for twelve years.

Joram, also known as Jehoram, was the king of Northern Israel and the son of King Ahab. He became king after the death of his brother Ahaziah who had no son (2 Kings 1:17). He began his reign in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and ruled for twelve years from Samaria (2 Kings 3:1). Joram was not as wicked as his parents, for he removed the pillar of Baal, but he still continued in the sinful ways of Jeroboam by allowing the worship of golden calves. During his reign, Joram formed alliances with the kings of Judah, Jehoshaphat and later Ahaziah, who were also his relatives by marriage (2 Kings 8:16, 25). These alliances led to joint military campaigns, including a war against Moab and, most notably, a battle against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead (2 Kings 3:6; 8:28). ¶ In the battle at Ramoth Gilead, Joram was wounded and returned to Jezreel to recover (2 Kings 8:29; 2 Chronicles 22:6). While he was recovering, Jehu, who had been anointed by a prophet to destroy the house of Ahab, led a revolt against him (2 Kings 9:14, 16). Joram went out to meet Jehu, but Jehu killed him with an arrow and threw his body on the field of Naboth, fulfilling the prophecy of judgment against Ahab’s family (2 Kings 9:21-26). Joram’s death marked the end of the Omride dynasty and the beginning of Jehu’s rule over Israel (2 Kings 9:29; 2 Chronicles 22:7). His life is a story of political alliances, battles, and the fulfillment of God’s judgment on a royal house that had turned away from the Lord.

The son of Ahab and Jezebel, and successor to his brother Ahaziah on the throne of Israel. He reigned twelve years, B.C. 896-884 (2 Kings 1:17; 3:1). His first work was to reduce to subjection the Moabites, who had asserted their independence in the reign of his brother. Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, assisted Jehoram in this effort. He was further helped by his ally the king of Edom. Elisha went forth with the confederated army (2 Kings 3:1-19), and at the solicitation of Jehoshaphat encouraged the army with the assurance from the Lord of a speedy victory. The Moabites under Mesha their king were utterly routed and their cities destroyed. At Kir-haraseth Mesha made a final stand. The Israelites refrained from pressing their victory further, and returned to their own land.

Elisha afterwards again befriended Jehoram when a war broke out between the Syrians and Israel, and in a remarkable way brought that war to a bloodless close (2 Kings 6:23). But Jehoram, becoming confident in his own power, sank into idolatry, and brought upon himself and his land another Syrian invasion, which led to great suffering and distress in Samaria (2 Kings 6:24-33). By a remarkable providential interposition the city was saved from utter destruction, and the Syrians were put to flight (2 Kings 7:6-15).

Jehoram was wounded in a battle with the Syrians at Ramah, and obliged to return to Jezreel (2 Kings 8:29; 9:14, 15), and soon after the army proclaimed their leader Jehu king of Israel, and revolted from their allegiance to Jehoram (2 Kings 9). Jehoram was pierced by an arrow from Jehu’s bow on the piece of ground at Jezreel which Ahab had taken from Naboth, and there he died (2 Kings 9:21-29).