2 Chronicles 21: He Killed All of His Brothers

Every day we hear news of unspeakable things done by people in the world. We can become numb with the onslaught of information. But when it happens among us—the children of God—it is much worse. We are supposed to know better and to do better. Jehoram, the new king (whose father was Jehoshaphat), had a reasonably good background and was king in Judah, where people were normally more faithful than in the north. So how did this new king consolidate his power? Did he do it by calling on God and walking in the steps of the faithful kings in his family who went before him? No—he did it by murdering all of his brothers. When he died—eight years later—no one was sorry (v. 20).