Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

In the fifth year of Joram - This verse, as it stands in the present Hebrew text, may be thus read: "And in the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab king of Israel, [and of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah], reigned Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah." The three Hebrew words, יהודה מלך ויהושפט , and of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, greatly disturb the chronology in this place. It is certain that Jehoshaphat reigned twenty-five years, and that Jehoram his son reigned but eight; 1 Kings 22:42; 2 Kings 8:17; 2 Chronicles 20:31; 2 Chronicles 21:5. So that he could not have reigned during his father's life without being king twenty years, and eight years! These words are wanting in three of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. in the Complutensian and Aldine editions of the Septuagint, in the Peshito Syriac, in the Parisian Heptapler Syriac, the Arabic, and in many copies of the Vulgate, collated by Dr. Kennicott and De Rossi, both printed and manuscript; to which may be added two MSS. in my own library, one of the fourteenth, the other of the eleventh century, and in what I judge to be the Editio Princeps of the Vulgate. And it is worthy of remark that in this latter work, after the fifteenth verse, ending with Quo mortuo regnavit Azahel pro eo, the following words are in a smaller character, Anno quinto Joram filii Achab regis Israhel, regnavit Joram filius Josaphat rex Juda. Triginta, etc. We have already seen that it is supposed that Jehoshaphat associated his son with him in the kingdom; and that the fifth year in this place only regards Joram king of Israel, and not Jehoshaphat king of Judah. See the notes on 2 Kings 1:17.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

TWO DIFFERENT JEHORAM'S REIGNING IN BOTH JUDAH AND ISRAEL

"And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign. Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah. Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy Judah, for David his servant's sake, as he promised to give unto him a lamp for his children alway."

"It was the religious solidarity of the Judean kings with the apostasy of Northern Israel"[23] that led to the inclusion of the record of their reigns just here. The lamp of truth burned very dimly in Israel at this time, in both kingdoms. Only by God's direct intervention was it kept burning. That intervention was planned in this chapter and executed in 2 Kings 9.

"Joram ... Jehoram" (2 Kings 8:16). "These names are the same, Joram being merely an abbreviation of the other."[24] The Jehoram of Israel was generally referred to as Joram. Only a very brief record of the reign of Jehoram in Judah is given here, but there is a much fuller account of all his wickedness in 2 Chronicles 21.

"It is confusing that these two Jehorams reigned simultaneously in Israel and Judah for about three years."[25]

"For he had the daughter of Ahab to wife" (2 Kings 8:18). This evil woman, of course, was the daughter of Jezebel. "That disastrous political marriage which Jehoshaphat unwisely allowed,"[26] was the instrument by which Satan almost removed faith in Jehovah from the chosen people. Athaliah, here called the daughter of Ahab (and Jezebel) is also called "the granddaughter of Omri" (2 Kings 8:26 RSV), and "the daughter of Omri" (2 Kings 8:26 KJV). The words "son" and "daughter" are used nine different ways in the Bible, and one of the meanings is "descendant of" (Matthew 1:1). Snaith mentioned these variations, referring to "daughter of Omri" as incorrect;[27] but, of course, in the light of Biblical usage throughout the Holy Scriptures, all of these designations are absolutely correct!

"He did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah" (2 Kings 8:18). Of course, when we discuss 2 Chronicles 21, we shall understand more fully the implications of this. "One of the worst of Jehoram's terrible sins was his ruthless murder of his six brothers merely for the purpose of seizing their wealth (2 Chronicles 21:4)."[28]

To be sure, the gross wickedness of Jehoram would have resulted in the total destruction of him and his dynasty, "If the Lord had not promised to preserve a shoot to the royal family for David's sake."[29] The nature of this promise to David is revealed in 2 Samuel 7:13-16, in which the Lord said, "If thy children forsake my Law, and walk not in my statutes, I will visit their offenses with the rod, and their sin with scourges, but I will not utterly take away, nor suffer my truth to fail. My covenant I will not break." In this very chapter, we shall see evidences of the rod, and of the scourges. Also, see 2 Chronicles 21:12-19.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel,.... Who began his reign in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, 2 Kings 3:1.

Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah; as he continued to be two years more; for this must be in the twenty third year of his reign, and he reigned twenty five years, 1 Kings 22:42.

Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign; according to Dr. Lightfoot^F8Works, vol. 1. p. 84. , there were three beginnings of his reign; "first", when his father went with Ahab to Ramothgilead, when be was left viceroy, and afterwards his father reassumed the kingdom; the "second" time was, when Jehoshaphat went with the kings of Israel and Edom against Moab; and this is the time here respected, which was in the fifth of Joram king of Israel; and the "third" time was, at the death of his father; but knew his father was living.

Geneva Study Bible

(i) Read (2 Kings 1:17).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

2 Kings 8:16-23. Jehoram‘s wicked reign.

Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat  …  began to reign — (See on 2 Kings 3:1). His father resigned the throne to him two years before his death.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

Jehoram — Jehoram was first made king or vice-roy, by his father divers years before this time, at his expedition to Ramoth-Gilead, which dominion of his, ended at his father's return. But now Jehoshaphat, being not far from his death, and having divers sons and fearing some competition among them, makes Jehoram king the second time, as David did Solomon upon the like occasion.

Scofield's Reference Notes

Jehoram Called Joram, 2 Kings 8:21; 2 Kings 8:23; 2 Kings 8:24.

began Heb. reigned, i.e. began to reign in consort with his father.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 8:16 And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat [being] then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

Ver. 16. Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.] Whilst his father was yet living, for preventing of mischief after his death, which yet could not be.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Jehoram was first made king or viceroy by his father divers years before this time, to wit, at his expedition to Ramoth-gilead, as was noted before; which dominion of his ended at his father’s return. But now Jehoshaphat, being not far from his death, and having divers sons, and fearing some competition and dissension among them, makes Jehoram king the second time, as David did Solomon upon the like occasion, 1 Chronicles 29:22, which is the thing here related. But of this See Poole "2 Kings 1:17"; See Poole "2 Kings 3:1".

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

REIGN OF JEHORAM, SON OF JEHOSHAPHAT, 2 Kings 8:16-24.

16.Joram’ Jehoram — These names are used interchangeably, the one being merely a contraction of the other. Ahab and Jehoshaphat had each a son Jehoram, and these sons became brothers-in-law by the marriage of Jehoshaphat’s son with Ahab’s daughter. 2 Kings 8:18. See the note on 1 Kings 22:42; and on the chronology of this reign the note on 2 Kings 1:17.

Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah — This confirms the supposition made in note on 2 Kings 1:17, that Jehoram began to reign during his father’s lifetime. Some MSS. and versions omit these words; but the weight of evidence is in favour of retaining them. This Jehoram’s reign is more fully described in 2 Chronicles 21.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

2 Kings 8:16. Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat began to reign — Jehoram was first made king or viceroy by his father, divers years before this time, at his expedition to Ramoth-gilead, which dominion of his ended at his father’s return. But now Jehoshaphat, being not far from his death, and having divers sons, and fearing some competition among them, makes Jehoram king the second time, as David did Solomon upon the like occasion. See note on chap. 2 Kings 1:17.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Fifth. Houbigant would read "third," p. 100. See chap. i. 17. (Haydock) --- Josaphat. That is, Josaphat being yet alive, who some time before his death made his son Joram king; as David had done before by his son Solomon. (Challoner) --- The words are omitted in some copies of the Septuagint (Du Hamel) and are perhaps inserted from the end of the verse. (Haydock) --- Protestants, "Jehosaphat being then king," in his 22d year. (Haydock) --- Joram had been appointed viceroy in the sixteenth year of his father's reign, and was now raised to sit on the throne with him. Thus the Scripture may be reconciled. (Calmet)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Jehoshaphat being then king. Jehoram associated with him in Joram"s filth year, and reigned solely in Joram"s sixth year. Compare 2 Kings 9:29. Joram (of Ahab) began in Jehoshaphat"s eighteenth year (2 Kings 3:1). His fifth year is therefore Jehoshaphat"s twenty-third year, when Jehoram is associated with him as king, in the third year before his death. See App-50.

began to reign: i.e. in consort with his father.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat ... began to reign - (see the notes at 2 Kings 3:1.) His father resigned the throne to him two years before his death.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab.—See Note on 2 Kings 1:17.

The name Joram is an easy contraction of Jehoram. In this verse and in 2 Kings 8:29 the king of Israel is called Joram, and the king of Judah Jehoram; in 2 Kings 8:21; 2 Kings 8:23-24 Joram is the name of the king of Judah. In 2 Kings 1:17 and 2 Chronicles 22:6, both kings are called Jehoram.

Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah.—Literally, and Jehoshaphat king of Judah; so that the meaning is, “In the fifth year of Joram . . . and of Jehoshaphat.” Were the reading correct, it would be implied that Jehoram was for some reason or other made king or co-regent in the lifetime of his father, just as Esarhaddon united his heir Assurbanipal with himself in the government of Assyria. But the clause should be omitted as a spurious anticipation of the same words in the next line. So some Hebrew MSS., the Complut., LXX., the Syriac, and Arabic, and many MSS. of the Vulg. The clause as it stands is an unparalleled insertion in a common formula of the compiler, and there is no trace elsewhere of a co-regency of Jehoram with his father. Ewald, after Kimchi, would turn the clause into a sentence, by adding the word mêth, “had died:” “Now Jehoshaphat the king of Judah had died,” an utterly superfluous remark.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A. M. 3112. B.C. 892. Jehoram

1:17; 1 Kings 22:50; 2 Chronicles 21:1-20

began to reign

Heb. reigned. "Began to reign in concert with his father."