Jehoram, Edom and Elijah's Letter

"Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword." "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 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… Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people… And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels."

Philistines and Arabians carry 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." After two years his bowels fall out; "his people made no burning for him," and he departs "without being desired."

A letter from Elijah?

2 Kings 2–3 suggests Elijah had been taken up before Jehoram of Judah's reign (3:11 mentions Elisha "which poured water on the hands of Elijah" under Jehoshaphat). Explanations: Elijah wrote before his departure; the chronology of 2 Kings 2 is not strictly sequential; or Chronicles attributes a later prophetic letter to Elijah. See the passage page.

Jehoahaz or Ahaziah

The surviving son is Jehoahaz in 21:17 and Ahaziah in 22:1; both names mean "YHWH has grasped," with the elements reversed.