2 Chronicles 21 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Then Jehoshaphat died and was buried with his ancestors. {\cf2\super [240]} He was buried in David’s City. Jehoram was the new king in Jehoshaphat’s place. Jehoram was Jehoshaphat’s son.

² Jehoram’s brothers were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah. Those men were Jehoshaphat’s sons. Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah. {\cf2\super [241]}

³ Jehoshaphat gave his sons many gifts of silver, gold, and precious things. He also gave them strong fortresses {\cf2\super [242]} in Judah. But Jehoshaphat gave the kingdom to Jehoram because Jehoram was his oldest son.

⁴ Jehoram took over his father’s kingdom and made himself strong. Then he used a sword to kill all his brothers. He also killed some of the leaders of Israel.

⁵ Jehoram was 32 years old when he began to rule. He ruled eight years in Jerusalem.

⁶ He lived the same way the kings of Israel lived. He lived the same way Ahab’s family lived. This was because Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter. And Jehoram did evil in the Lord’s sight.

⁷ But the Lord would not destroy David’s family because of the agreement the Lord made with David. The Lord had promised to keep a lamp burning for David and his children forever. {\cf2\super [243]}

⁸ In Jehoram’s time, Edom broke away from under Judah’s authority. The people of Edom chose their own king.

⁹ So Jehoram went to Edom with all his commanders and chariots. {\cf2\super [244]} The Edomite army surrounded Jehoram and his chariot {\cf2\super [245]} commanders. But Jehoram fought his way out at night.

¹⁰ Since that time and until now the country of Edom has been rebellious against Judah. The people from the town of Libnah also turned against Jehoram. This happened because Jehoram left the Lord God. He is the God Jehoram’s ancestors {\cf2\super [246]} followed.

¹¹ Jehoram also built high places {\cf2\super [247]} on the hills in Judah. Jehoram caused the people of Jerusalem to stop doing what God wanted. He led the people of Judah away from the Lord.

¹² Jehoram got a message from Elijah the prophet. This is what the message said: “This is what the Lord God says. He is the God your father David followed. The Lord says, ‘Jehoram, you have not lived the way your father Jehoshaphat lived. You have not lived the way Asa king of Judah lived.

¹³ But you have lived the way the kings of Israel lived. You have caused the people of Judah and Jerusalem to stop doing what God wants. That is what Ahab and his family did. They were unfaithful to God. You have killed your brothers. Your brothers were better than you.

¹⁴ So now, the Lord will soon punish your people with much punishment. The Lord will punish your children, wives, and all your property.

¹⁵ You will have a terrible sickness in your bowels. It will become worse every day. Then your bowels will come out because of your terrible sickness.’”

¹⁶ The Lord caused the Philistine people and the Arab people living near the Ethiopian people to be angry at Jehoram.

¹⁷ Those people attacked the country of Judah. They took away all the wealth that belonged to the king’s house and took away Jehoram’s sons and wives. Only Jehoram’s youngest son was left. Jehoram’s youngest son was named Jehoahaz. {\cf2\super [248]}

¹⁸ After those things happened, the Lord made Jehoram sick in his bowels with a sickness that could not be cured.

¹⁹ Then Jehoram’s bowels fell out two years later because of his sickness. He died in very bad pain. The people did not make a large fire to honor Jehoram like they did for his father.

²⁰ Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king. He ruled eight years in Jerusalem. No person was sad when Jehoram died. The people buried Jehoram in David’s city, but not in the graves where the kings are buried.