2 kings 8:16 - In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being king of Judah then, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.

Generated Verse: 2 kings 8:16

What does "2 kings 8:16" mean?


This verse is establishing the timeline for the beginning of Jehoram's reign as king of Judah. It's a typical example of how the Old Testament often dates events by referencing the reigns of contemporary rulers in both Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom). Let's break it down:

"In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel..." This sets the year relative to the reign of Joram (also sometimes spelled Jehoram), who was king of Israel. It specifies that it was the fifth year of his rule. Ahab was a particularly wicked king of Israel, known for promoting the worship of Baal.

"...Jehoshaphat being king of Judah then..." This confirms that Jehoshaphat was still the reigning king of Judah at this point. This is important because it means that Jehoram (his son) didn't begin to reign instead of his father, but rather with his father, suggesting a co-regency.

"...Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign." This is the main point: Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son, began his reign as king of Judah. The timing is synchronized with the fifth year of Joram of Israel. The language implies Jehoram began to reign while Jehoshaphat was still alive, therefore this likely marked the beginning of a period of co-regency, where father and son ruled together.

In simpler terms:

The verse means that in the 5th year of King Joram of Israel, King Jehoshaphat of Judah appointed his son Jehoram as a co-regent (co-ruler), likely due to Jehoshaphat's age or the need to prepare Jehoram for the throne.

Significance:

Chronological Marker: It helps to establish a specific point in history by linking the reigns of kings in two different kingdoms.
Co-Regency: The verse strongly suggests a period of co-regency between Jehoshaphat and Jehoram. This was not uncommon in ancient monarchies, allowing a smooth transition of power and providing the heir with experience. This is supported by the fact that Jehoshaphat died around 4 years later (2 Kings 3:1 and 2 Kings 8:17).

By understanding the relationships and timelines of the kings of Israel and Judah, we can better understand the historical context of the biblical narrative.

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