2 Chronicles 21

1And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

1Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jehoram became the next king.

2And 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.

2Jehoram’s brothers, the other sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were the sons of Jehoshaphat, the king of Israel.

3And their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the first-born.

3Their father had given them many gifts of silver, gold, and valuable items, along with fortified cities in Judah. However, he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn son.

4Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.

4Once Jehoram had firmly established his control over his father’s kingdom, he used a sword to kill all his brothers and some of the leaders of Israel.

5Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.

5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eight years.

6And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.

6He followed the example of the kings of Israel and lived like the family of Ahab, because he had married Ahab’s daughter. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.

7Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children alway.

7Even so, the Lord was not willing to destroy the family of David because of the alliance He had made with him. He had promised to keep a lamp burning for David and his descendants forever.

8In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.

8During Jehoram’s rule, the people of Edom rebelled against Judah’s control and appointed their own king.

9Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots.

9So Jehoram went out with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him, but he attacked them at night and broke through their lines and their chariot commanders.

10So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day: then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Jehovah, the God of his fathers.

10Edom has remained in rebellion against Judah to this very day. At that same time, the city of Libnah also rebelled against Jehoram’s rule because he had abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors.

11Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, and led Judah astray.

11He also built shrines to false gods on the hills of Judah. He led the people of Jerusalem into spiritual unfaithfulness and led Judah astray.

12And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

12Then Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said: 'This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: You have not followed the good examples of your father Jehoshaphat or your grandfather Asa, the kings of Judah.'

13but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, like as the house of Ahab did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, who were better than thyself:

13'Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel. You have led the people of Judah and Jerusalem to be unfaithful to God, just as Ahab’s family did. You have even murdered your own brothers, men who were better than you.'

14behold, Jehovah will smite with a great plague thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance;

14'So now, the Lord is about to strike your people, your children, your wives, and everything you own with a terrible plague.'

15and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.

15'You yourself will suffer from a painful intestinal disease that will get worse every day until your intestines come out.'

16And Jehovah stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians that are beside the Ethiopians:

16Then the Lord stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the Ethiopians to act against Jehoram.

17and they came up against Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king’s house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

17They attacked Judah, broke into the land, and carried off all the wealth found in the king’s palace. They also took away his wives and his sons, until the only one left was Jehoahaz, his youngest son.

18And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

18After all this happened, the Lord struck Jehoram with an incurable intestinal disease.

19And it came to pass, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.

19As time went on, at the end of two years, his intestines came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His people did not light a funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors.

20Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

20Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. No one was sad when he died. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal tombs.