דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״א, פסוק ג׳

King Jehoshaphat's return from the war in Ramoth-Gilead marked a defining moment for the future of his kingdom. Wanting to secure a smooth succession, he arranged the division of his realm among his sons. In the seventeenth year of his reign, he took the step of crowning his son Jehoram while he himself was still alive [מלבי״ם]. Because Jehoram was the firstborn, he was the natural heir to receive the central monarchy [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

While the throne went to the eldest, the other sons were well provided for. Jehoshaphat gave them an abundance of wealth to establish their status throughout Judah. He gifted them excellent, high-quality items, which included choice fruits, expensive clothing, and precious stones [מצודת ציון], alongside various delicacies [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Beyond these valuable gifts, the king also granted each of his other sons a fortified city of their own [מצודת ציון]. This arrangement allowed each son to have a specific territory for settlement and local control, balancing their regional authority with Jehoram's central rule over the entire kingdom.