3. Their father gave them many gifts: silver, gold, and other expensive things, along with fortified cities in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram, who was the firstborn.
4. After Jehoram had taken over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened his position and then executed all his brothers and some of the officials of Israel.
5. Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king, and he ruled for 8 years in Jerusalem.
6. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as Ahab’s family had done, because his wife was Ahab’s daughter. So he did what the Lord considered evil.
7. But the Lord, recalling the promise he had made to David, didn’t want to destroy David’s family. The Lord had told David that he would always give him and his descendants a ⌊shining⌋ lamp.
8. During Jehoram’s time Edom rebelled against Judah and chose its own king.