2 Chronicles 21 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His son Jehoram became king in his place.

He had brothers — sons of Jehoshaphat — named Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were sons of King Jehoshaphat of Israel.

Their father had given them generous gifts of silver, gold, and valuables, along with fortified cities in Judah. But the kingship he gave to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.

When Jehoram had established himself over his father's kingdom and felt secure, he killed all of his brothers with the sword, along with some of the leaders of Israel.

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

He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, because he had married Ahab's daughter. He did what was wrong in Yahweh's eyes.

But Yahweh was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant he had made with David — and because he had promised to always maintain a lamp for him and his descendants.

During Jehoram's time, Edom broke away from Judah's control and set up their own king.

Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots. He got up at night and attacked the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders.

So Edom has been in rebellion against Judah's control to this day. At that same time, Libnah also revolted against his rule, because Jehoram had abandoned Yahweh, the God of his ancestors.

He also built high places on the hills of Judah and led the people of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, dragging Judah away from Yahweh.

A letter came to Jehoram from the prophet Elijah that said: "This is what Yahweh, the God of your ancestor David, says: 'You have not followed the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or the ways of King Asa of Judah.

Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel and have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, just like the house of Ahab did. And you have murdered your own brothers — your father's family — men who were better than you.

So watch — Yahweh is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and everything you own with a devastating blow.

You yourself will suffer a severe disease in your intestines — so severe that eventually your intestines will come out, day after day, because of the illness.'"

Yahweh stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs who lived near the Cushites against Jehoram.

They attacked Judah, broke through its defenses, and carried off everything they found in the royal palace, along with the king's sons and wives. No son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest.

After all this, Yahweh struck Jehoram with an incurable disease in his intestines.

Day after day it got worse, and after about two years, his intestines came out because of the disease, and he died in terrible agony. His people did not make a fire in his honor, as they had for his ancestors.

He was thirty-two when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem for eight years. He passed away with no one sorry to see him go. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal tombs.