Jehoram of Israel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kings of Israel

This box: view  talk  edit

Jehoram (or Joram) was the king of Israel (2 Kings 8:16, 25, 28f), and he was the son of Ahab and Jezebel. William F. Albright has dated his reign to 849 BCE-842 BCE, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 852 BCE-841 BCE.

The author of Kings speaks of both Jehoram of Israel and Jehoram of Judah in the same passage, which can be confusing. His final known act was when he, aided by his nephew Ahaziah, king of Judah, fought unsuccessfully against the army of Hazael, king of the Arameans at Ramoth-Gilead; here Jehoram was wounded. It is likely that their defeat at Ramoth-Gilead was serious, for while Jehoram was recuperating at Jezreel, his general Jehu incited a revolt, slew Jehoram, and took the throne of Israel for himself.

The author of the Tel Dan Stele (found in 1993 and 1994 during archaeological excavations of the site of Laish) claimed to have slain both King Ahaziah of Judah (who was visiting Jehoram) and Jehoram; the most likely author of this monument is Hazael of the Arameans. Although the inscription is a contemporary witness of this period, kings of this period were inclined to boast and make exaggerated claims; so it is not likely that Hazael actually did the killing

[edit] External links

Jehoram of Israel
Preceded by
Ahaziah
King of Israel
Albright: 849 BC – 842 BC
Thiele: 852 BC – 841 BC
Galil: 851 BC – 842 BC
Succeeded by
Jehu