Biblical Prophets - Bible Study Online

If you have been following along, you will know that the Jehoram we have been writing about up to this point, is the youngest son of king Ahab.

He took the throne after his father and older brother Ahaziah had passed away.

Now remember that this family ruled the Northern Kingdom (Israel), which consisted of the "ten tribes" that God took away from the house of David (Southern Kingdom - Judah).

In the fifth year of Jehoram's reign (Northern Kingdom - Israel), we find that within the Southern Kingdom (Judah) king Jehoshaphat had died. His older son, has now taken the throne and he also goes by the name of Jehoram as well. So stay with me and please understand, that there are now two Jehoram's, one who rules in the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and at the same time, the other one is reigning in the Southern Kingdom (Judah).

This page is dealing with the one that's in the Southern Kingdom (Judah), which is the oldest son of Jehoshaphat. But wait... it gets more interesting?

This Jehoram who ruled the Southern Kingdom (Judah,) decided to marry Athaliah who was the daughter of Ahab & Jezebel, the family that ruled the Northern Kingdom. Did you catch that? Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab & Jezebel, which means that she belonged to the family dynasty that ruled the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and served under the false god of Baal and the practice the Golden Calf Religion.

But now she has married into the Southern Kingdom (Judah); and this caused the two family dynasties, which held very different views when it came to their beliefs, are now united through marriage.

There are some very important details that I'm going to try to point out to you. For you must understand, that the Northern Kingdom (Israel) was into worshiping Baal and the Golden Calf Religion. But the Southern Kingdom (Judah) was staying loyal to the one true God; and did not participate in Idol worship.

But here we find, that Jehoram had fallen under his wife's influence and started following in the steps of the house of Ahab. And because of this, the king of Judah went against everything that the house of David stood for; and did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

By Jehoram going against his family traditional beliefs, in order for him to please his wife, would bring forth disaster to the kingdom of Judah? We would also find that after Jehoram became king, he had all six of his younger brothers killed. Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah were all put down by the sword.

The reason why Jehoram would do such a barbaric deed, is not revealed in the Sacred Writings. But seeing that he was going against everything that his royal family had stood for, killing off anything that would pose a threat to his crown, would seem wise to a corrupted soul like Jehoram.

Keep in mind, that these events sent shock waves throughout the kingdom of Judah. We find that the kingdom of Edom would break away from the alliance that they had with Judah. Because of this, the Edomites were now in rebellion against the house of David.

Jehoram would go and try to suppress and put an end to the rebellion, by taking his officers and all the chariots he could gather into war against the Edomites. But the Edomites would hold strong and they surrounded the wicked king and his army, but somehow Jehoram would escape.

Libnah was one of the royal cities, that use to belong to the Canaanites. It was attacked and taken by Joshua. Eventually itbecame a strongly fortified city, that belonged to the Levites. This city was located inside the Southern Kingdom (Judah); and because of the direction that Jehoram was taken the kingdom, they too, had revolted. They refused to follow under Jehoram and the false gods, he now served. So they declared themselves a free state and set up their own king.

But Jehoram continued to ignore the signs that his kingdom was falling apart; and he continued to lead Judah astray. He set up high places and caused Jerusalem to commit fornication and whoredom. He also had the people eating foods that were being sacrificed unto his idol gods, as well.

Now we find that Elijah the prophet, had reached out from eternity to deliver a message to Jehoram. Reached out from eternity? Okay, I'll try to explain?

Remember that Jehoram was Jehoshaphat's oldest son. Now when Jehoshaphat had taken the throne, Elijah was the master prophet at the time. We can only assume that Jehoram was already born being that he was Jehoshaphat's oldest. After all, he was thirty-two when he inherited the throne. God probably revealed to Elijah the type of king that Jehoram would turn out to be while he was giving the prophet the "three phase judgment plan" that he had planned for Israel.

"Go back the way you came, and go to the desert Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu." (1 Kings 19:15-17)

So we can only assume that God had revealed to Elijah that he would not be alive when Jehoram took the throne; and had him to write a letter of warning that would be delivered to the wicked king at a particular time. I know we have a lot of assumptions. But when you're dealing with God, His reasons for His actions, far surpass the understanding that any man could possibly have.

"This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: 'You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah. But you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and you have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did.

"You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your father's house, men who were better than you. So now the Lord is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow. You yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out." (2 Chronicles 21: 12-15)

So God created intense tension between Judah and the Philistines, along with the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. The Philistines and the Arabs attacked Judah and carried off all the goods, that were in the king's palace. They stripped Jehoram of all his comforts, they also took his wives and killed all his sons, except one in the invasion. The one son that they left him, was his youngest one Ahaziah.

But God was not done. He also afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease that affected his bowels. Over the course of time, we learned that the disease had eaten away at his bowels, so much so, that they eventually fell out and the wicked king died while suffering in great pain.

There were no regrets and no honor given to him. He was buried in the city of David, but he was kept out of the tombs of the kings. He reigned for eight years.

Elijah the Fire Prophet

Elisha the Prophet Apprentice

Elisha the Master Prophet

**YOUR CURRENT SERIES WOULD BE HERE**

13) Elijah and the Chariot of Fire

14) Elisha the Master Prophet

15) Elisha - She Bears Attacking

16) King Mesha's Rebellion

17) The Blood Water

18) The Widow's Oil Treasure

19) Shunammite's Son Raised From The Dead

20) Elisha and the Pot of Death

21) The Leprosy of Naaman

22) The Floating Iron Axhead

23) The Fire Horse Army

24) The Siege of the Dark Famine

25) The Four Starving Lepers

26) The Shunammite's Divine Provision

27) Hazael Anointed Syrian King

28) <-CURRENT PAGE->

29) Jehu Is Anointed King of Israel

30) The Demise of Jehoram & Ahaziah

31) The Demise of Jezebel