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2CHRONICLES
CHAPTER 21

1 Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 2 And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 3 And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn. 4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.

Jehoram was the eldest son of Jehoshaphat. By birthright, the kingdom should be his. According to 2Kings 8:16-24, Jehoshaphat had "schooled" Jehoram in being king for 5 years before he died. Jehoram actually reigned as co-regent for the last 5 years of Jehoshaphat's life.
Be that as it may, he became a wicked king. It is oft the case that good men raise children wisely and the children turn aside from wisdom.
Jehoshaphat had been wise to give his other sons gifts of inheritance and disburse them among the cities of Judah. Thus he left the kingdome securely in the hands of Jehoram.
But Jehoram did not value the lives of his brothers. He killed them all! And he also killed some other worthy men of Judah.
How can men raised in godliness be so wicked? The answer is self-worship! Rather than surrender self to God and serve Him, they desire only to serve SELF!

5 Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD. 7 Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.

Jehoram had married one of Ahab's daughters (an idolatress). And he caused the people of Judah to sin in idol-worship (verse 11).
But God was FAITHFUL! He did not destroy the nation because of the king; but rather He showed mercy in the midst of sin.

8 In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king. 9 Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots. 10 So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.

Because of Jehoshaphat's diligence, Jehoram was endowed with a tremendous army. And he was able to defeat the Edomites when they revolted; but he never brought them back under subjection. He didn't finish the job. Therefore Libnah also revolted and didn't serve him anymore.

11 Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto. 12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, 13 But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself: 14 Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods: 15 And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.

Because Jehoram led the nation in idolatry, God sent a message to him by Elijah. The message was that God would "smite" the people and Jehoram would have an awful disease in the bowels. Eventually his bowels would "fall out"! WOW!

16 Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians: 17 And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons. 18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

Then God sent the Philistines and Arabians against Jehoram in battle. They defeated him and took his wives and children.
It was at that point that God sent the disease of which Elijah had prophesied.
Don't you know that Jehoram had a terrible time? He could not (because of the disease) go and do anything about returning his wives and children. He was destined to die: sick, alone and broke!

19 And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers. 20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

When Elijah's prophecy was complete, and Jehoram's bowels fell out, he died.
He died at only 40 years of age -- in the prime of his life. And no one cared!
There was no "burning" for him as there had been for his father. And they didn't even bury him in the kings' sepulchres.

Listen to what God says about evil leaders.

"The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness." (Proverbs 11:6)