Jehoram of Israel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jehoram |
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Jehoram from Guillaume Rouillé's Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum
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| King of Northern Israel | |
| Reign | c. 852 – c. 841 BCE |
| Predecessor | Ahaziah |
| Successor | Jehu |
| Father | Ahab |
| Mother | Jezebel |
Jehoram (also known as Joram) was the ninth king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He was the son of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. He was also the brother of Ahaziah and Athaliah.
According to the ancient book of 2 Kings, Jehoram became king of Israel during the fifth year that another king, also named Jehoram, ruled the southern Kingdom of Judah. The Bible talks about both kings in the same parts of the book.
Contents
Jehoram's Time as King
Jehoram started his rule in Israel during the 18th year of Jehoshaphat, who was king of Judah. Jehoram ruled for 12 years. Historians have different ideas about the exact dates of his reign. Some say it was from 849 to 842 BCE, while others suggest 852 to 841 BCE.
Changes in Worship
Unlike the kings who ruled before him, Jehoram did not worship Ba'al, a false god. He even removed a special pillar that his father, Ahab, had put up near the palace in Jezreel for Ba'al worship. However, the Bible says that Jehoram still followed the bad ways of Jeroboam, an earlier king who led the Israelites to sin against God.
Battles and Alliances
Jehoram joined forces with Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to fight against Mesha, the king of the Moabites. During a war between Israel and Aram-Damascus, a prophet named Elisha became a friend to King Jehoram. Elisha would tell Jehoram the enemy's secret plans, which helped Israel.
Later, the king of Aram, Ben-hadad, surrounded the city of Samaria. This was called a siege. The people inside the city became very hungry. Jehoram was so upset that he wanted to harm Elisha. But Elisha promised that good times and plenty of food would come soon. The siege ended, and the city got its food supplies back. After this, the king and the prophet became friends again.
The End of Jehoram's Rule
As Elisha had predicted, a new king named Hazael took over Aram. Jehoram then made an alliance with his nephew, Ahaziah, who was the king of Judah. Together, they tried to take the city of Ramoth-Gilead from Aram.
The battle did not go well for Israel and Judah. Jehoram was hurt in the fighting and went back to Jezreel to get better. This defeat was a big problem for him. While Jehoram was recovering, his army general, Jehu, started a rebellion. Jehu killed Jehoram with an arrow and had his body thrown into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. This was seen as a punishment for Jehoram's parents, Ahab and Jezebel, who had unfairly taken Naboth's land.
With Jehoram's death and the killing of his other family members, the Omride dynasty (family line of kings) came to an end. Jehu then became the new king of Israel.
Archaeological Finds
An ancient stone carving called the Tel Dan Stele mentions that someone claimed to have killed both King Ahaziah and King Jehoram. Most experts believe that Hazael, the king of the Arameans, was the one who had this stone made.
