In the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab over Israel, Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat succeeded his father as king of Judah.
We have here a brief account of the life and reign of Jehoram (or Joram), one of the worst of the kings of Judah, but the son and successor of Jehoshaphat, one of the best. Note, 1. Parents cannot give grace to their children. Many that have themselves been godly have had the grief and shame of seeing those that came forth out of their bowels wicked and vile.
Commenting on 2 Kings 8:16-24
And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel,.... Who began his reign in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat, Kg2 3:1. Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah; as he continued to be two years more; for this must be in the twenty third year of his reign, and he reigned twenty five years, Kg1 22:42.
JEHORAM'S WICKED REIGN. (Kg2 8:16-23) Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat . . . began to reign--(See on Kg2 3:1). His father resigned the throne to him two years before his death.