MPV Commentary

Jehoram Succeeds Jehoshaphat.

When Jehoshaphat passed away, he was succeeded by his son Jehoram. The late king had left behind seven sons, two of whom are named Azariah in our records. However, their names differ slightly in the original Hebrew text, with one being spelled "Azariah" and the other "Azariahu." Despite Jehoshaphat's efforts to secure a smooth transition of power, his intentions were ultimately thwarted.

Jehoram had been appointed co-regent by his father, who had also divided the responsibilities of royalty among his sons. Additionally, Jehoshaphat had designated each of his seven sons to govern a fortified city, providing them with a measure of independence and authority. However, as soon as Jehoram took sole control of the throne, he turned on his brothers, motivated by jealousy or a desire to eliminate potential rivals.

Tragically, Jehoram ordered the murder of all his brothers, along with several influential individuals who were suspected of supporting their interests or seeking revenge for their deaths. This brutal act was not an isolated incident in Eastern royal courts, where the heir to the throne often viewed his siblings as formidable enemies and saw fit to eliminate them in order to secure his own power.