2 Kings 3:1 kjv
Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
2 Kings 3:1 nkjv
Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
2 Kings 3:1 niv
Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years.
2 Kings 3:1 esv
In the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twelve years.
2 Kings 3:1 nlt
Ahab's son Joram began to rule over Israel in the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat's reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twelve years.
2 Kings 3 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 16:29 | In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign... | Ahab's reign started; Jehoram's father. |
| 1 Kgs 16:30-33 | Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord... and built a house for Baal... | Ancestral sin of Ahab that affected Jehoram. |
| 1 Kgs 21:20-24 | The word of the Lord came to Elijah concerning Ahab: "Behold, I will bring disaster upon you... | Prophecy of judgment on Ahab's house. |
| 1 Kgs 22:41-43 | Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah... He walked in all the way of Asa his father; he did not turn aside... | Jehoshaphat's righteousness in Judah. |
| 1 Kgs 22:44 | Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel. | Alliance and complex relationship between kingdoms. |
| 2 Kgs 1:17 | So Ahaziah died... And Jehoram became king in his place... in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. | Ahaziah's short reign, preceding Jehoram of Israel. |
| 2 Kgs 2:1-12 | Focuses on Elijah's ascension and Elisha's succession... | Sets stage for Elisha's ministry during Jehoram's reign. |
| 2 Kgs 3:2-3 | He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made... | Jehoram's limited religious reforms, partial obedience. |
| 2 Kgs 8:16 | In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. | Another Jehoram, king of Judah; synchronism point. |
| 2 Kgs 9:6-10 | Jehu anoints king and prophesies the destruction of Ahab's house and Jezebel. | Prophecy directly fulfilled through Jehoram's death. |
| 2 Kgs 9:24 | Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Jehoram... and he fell in his chariot. | Fulfillment of judgment against Jehoram's life. |
| Deut 17:14-20 | Commands regarding kingship in Israel... "He shall not acquire many horses... nor shall he acquire much silver or gold." | Ideal standard for kings, contrasted with northern kingdom's kings. |
| Hos 8:4 | They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not... | Reflects God's view on illegitimate kingship/succession in Israel. |
| Isa 9:9-10 | ...for the whole people, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in arrogance... | Samaria as a center of rebellion and idolatry. |
| Amos 3:12 | Thus says the Lord: "As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear... | Judgment on Samaria for its corruption and idol worship. |
| Mic 1:5-7 | What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? ...Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country... | Samaria's future destruction due to idolatry. |
| Prov 29:2 | When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. | Contrast to the reality under wicked kings like Jehoram. |
| Ps 75:6-7 | For promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south, but from God. He puts down one and sets up another. | Divine sovereignty over the rise and fall of kings. |
| Matt 1:8 | Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph... and Jehoram the father of Uzziah. | Jehoram of Judah is in the messianic lineage, distinct from this Jehoram. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | Authority of rulers, though God allows wicked ones for His purposes. |
| Rev 11:15 | The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ... | Ultimate kingship belongs to God and Christ, contrasting temporary earthly rulers. |
| Jude 1:11 | Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. | Reminder of the consequence of rebellion against God and His appointed authority, akin to Jehoram's lineage. |
2 Kings 3 verses
2 Kings 3 1 Meaning
2 Kings 3:1 marks the commencement of Jehoram's reign as king over the northern kingdom of Israel. He succeeded his brother Ahaziah and was the second son of King Ahab, inheriting a lineage deeply rooted in idolatry. His enthronement occurred in Samaria, Israel's capital, coinciding with the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, who was then reigning as king over the southern kingdom of Judah. Jehoram ruled Israel for a total of twelve years.
2 Kings 3 1 Context
2 Kings chapter 3 immediately follows the detailed accounts of Elijah's departure and Elisha's anointing as his prophetic successor. This verse transitions the narrative focus to the political leadership of the northern kingdom, Israel, by introducing King Jehoram. Historically, this period is characterized by the ongoing divided monarchy, with Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Both kingdoms were subject to regional geopolitical pressures, including from Moab and Syria. Jehoram's accession is significant as it sets the stage for the conflict with Moab that dominates the rest of the chapter, highlighting the interactions between Israel, Judah, and Edom in addressing this rebellion. The book of 2 Kings generally recounts the successive reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah, documenting their obedience or disobedience to Yahweh and leading towards the eventual exiles of both kingdoms. Jehoram’s reign, though showing a slight improvement over his notoriously idolatrous parents Ahab and Jezebel, still exemplifies Israel's continued deviation from pure worship, which sets the spiritual tone for the kingdom under his rule.
2 Kings 3 1 Word analysis
- Now (וַיְהִי, wa-yĕhî): A common Hebrew conjunctive particle, often translated as "and it came to pass" or "now." It serves to connect the present narrative to previous events and introduce a new development in the unfolding historical account, signaling a shift in focus from the prophetic ministry (Elijah/Elisha) back to the royal succession.
- Jehoram (יְהוֹרָם, Yəhôrām): The name means "Yahweh is exalted" or "Yahweh is high." This is ironic, given his lineage and eventual actions which, though not as extreme as Ahab, still did not fully exalt Yahweh. It is crucial to distinguish him from Jehoram (Joram) king of Judah, son of Jehoshaphat (2 Kgs 8:16). The identification as "the son of Ahab" is vital for clarity.
- the son of Ahab (בֶּן־אַחְאָב, ben-ʾAḥʾāb): This paternity is profoundly significant. Ahab was Israel's most wicked king (1 Kgs 16:30), infamous for promoting Baal worship through his Sidonian wife Jezebel. Jehoram’s association with Ahab immediately places him within a lineage marked by deep apostasy and divine judgment prophesied against his father's house. Despite the name "Yahweh is exalted," his actions are still framed within his father's corrupt legacy.
- became king (מָלַךְ, mālāḵ): Standard Hebrew verb for "to reign" or "to become king." It signifies a formal ascension to power.
- over Israel (עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, ʿal-Yiśrāʾēl): Specifies the northern kingdom, highlighting the division that began after Solomon's reign. This emphasizes his role as ruler of the ten northern tribes.
- in Samaria (בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן, bə-Šōmrōn): Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom, established by King Omri (Ahab's father) (1 Kgs 16:24). It symbolized the kingdom's prosperity, but also became a major center of idolatry and wickedness.
- in the eighteenth year (בִּשְׁנַת שְׁמֹנֶה־עֶשְׂרֵה, bišnaṯ šĕmōneh-ʿeśreh): Provides precise chronological synchronization, a common feature in the books of Kings, connecting events in Israel with those in Judah. This detail helps scholars construct the historical timeline of the divided monarchy.
- of Jehoshaphat king of Judah (לִיהוֹשָׁפָט מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה, lîhōšāp̄āṭ melek-Yəhûdāh): Jehoshaphat was known as a righteous king of Judah who sought the Lord, though he also made problematic alliances (1 Kgs 22:43). His contemporary reign with Jehoram forms an important historical and prophetic parallel.
- and reigned twelve years (וַיִּמְלֹךְ שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה, wa-yimlōḵ šĕttê m-ʿeśrēh šānāh): States the duration of Jehoram's kingship. This timeframe allows the reader to place subsequent events, such as the Moabite rebellion, within his rule and to contextualize his overall influence on Israel.
Word-Groups Analysis:
- Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria: This phrase introduces the central figure and his immediate sphere of influence. The connection to Ahab instantly prefigures the continuation of a wicked dynasty, despite the "Yahweh is exalted" meaning of Jehoram's name. It grounds the subsequent narrative in the political and spiritual reality of the Northern Kingdom, which has consistently fallen short of Yahweh's covenant standards.
- in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah: This phrase serves a crucial synchronistic purpose. It firmly fixes Jehoram's ascension within the larger biblical chronology, establishing a direct contemporary link between the kings of the northern and southern kingdoms. This also sets the stage for later interactions and alliances between these rulers, especially Jehoshaphat's continued involvement with the House of Ahab.
2 Kings 3 1 Bonus section
The biblical chronology, particularly in the books of Kings, can be complex due to the practice of "co-regencies" or differing methods of calculating regnal years (e.g., accession-year vs. non-accession-year counting). 2 Kings 3:1 states Jehoram (Israel) began to reign in Jehoshaphat's 18th year. However, 2 Kings 1:17 states that Jehoram (Israel) succeeded Ahaziah in the second year of Jehoram (Judah). Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram of Judah, began to reign in Jehoshaphat's 5th regnal year (as co-regent) (2 Kgs 8:16). Reconciling these different chronological notes is a known scholarly challenge but generally points to complex overlapping reigns. Despite these challenges, the precision underscores the biblical narrative's historical claim and provides valuable synchronisms for dating events across the divided kingdoms, reinforcing the interwoven destiny of Israel and Judah under divine oversight. Jehoram's kingship ultimately exemplifies that simply being "less evil" than previous generations is insufficient in the eyes of Yahweh, as true kingship requires full allegiance and obedience to Him alone.
2 Kings 3 1 Commentary
2 Kings 3:1 functions as a crucial opening verse, formally initiating the reign of Jehoram of Israel. This synchronistic datum establishes him as a key figure following Ahaziah's brief rule and signals the beginning of significant events in Israel's history, particularly the impending Moabite conflict. While Jehoram's reign marks a slight deviation from his parents' overt Baal worship (as later specified in 2 Kgs 3:2), his deep lineage to the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel foreshadows that Israel's pervasive idolatry will persist. The divine judgment against the house of Ahab, long prophesied, looms over his rule, shaping the subsequent narrative towards its inevitable culmination. The chronological markers connect Israel's story to Judah's, highlighting the interwoven destiny of the two divided kingdoms and setting the stage for prophetic and military encounters during his reign.