Jehoram of Israel

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

The author of Kings speaks of both Jehoram of Israel and Jehoram of Judah in the same passage, which can be confusing. His only 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 Jehroam, and took the throne of Israel for himself.

The author of the Dan Stele (found in 1993 and 1994 during archeological excavations of the site of Laish) claimed to have slain both Ahaziah, son of 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; it is not clear whether Jehu killed the two kings (as the Bible reports) or Hazael (as the Dan Stele reports).

External links

• Biography of Jehoram