4Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father. He strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also the rulers of Israel.5Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.6He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, because the daughter of Ahab had become his wife, and he did what was bad in the eyes of the LORD.7Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant that he had made with David, and because he had promised to give him a lamp and to his sons for all days.8In his days Edom rebelled against Judah, and they set a king over themselves.9Jehoram went out with his commanders and all his chariots with him. He arose by night and struck Edom who had turned against him, together with the commanders of the chariots.10Edom has continued in rebellion against Judah to this day. At that time Libnah also rebelled against his rule, because he had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers.11He also built high places in the hill country of Judah, and he led the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, and he thrust Judah aside.12A letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying: Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat your father or in the ways of Asa king of Judah,13but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, as the house of Ahab did, and because you have killed your brothers, of your father's house, who were better than you,14behold, the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives, and all your property with a great plague.15You yourself will suffer many sicknesses, a sickness of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of the sickness, day after day.16The LORD stirred up against Jehoram the Philistines and the Arabians who were beside the hand of the Cushites.17They came up against Judah, broke into it, and carried away all the property found in the king's house, together with his sons and his wives, so that no son remained to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.18After all this the LORD afflicted him with a disease in his bowels.19Day after day the disease continued, and at the end of two years his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His people did not make a fire for him like the fire made for his fathers.20He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He departed undesired, and they buried him in the city of David but not in the tombs of the kings.