דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״א, פסוק ד׳

Upon taking control after the death of his father, Jehoram takes extreme and cruel measures to secure his position as the sole ruler. He first goes through a period of gathering power, fully establishing his exclusive authority over the kingdom [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Once his grip on power is secure, Jehoram turns his attention to eliminating any potential threats, leading him to execute all of his brothers. Commentators present two complementary motives for this brutal act. The primary approach views it as a calculated political purge designed to stop his brothers from competing for the throne or challenging his rule [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another perspective suggests that this was the suppression of an active rebellion. According to this view, Jehoram discovered that his brothers were organizing against him, likely in protest of his decision to adopt the wicked practices of the House of Ahab [מלבי״ם].

The purge extends beyond his own family, as Jehoram also executes several leaders of Israel. These officials are put to death because they had allied themselves with Jehoram's brothers, offering them support and actively participating in the conspiracy and rebellion against the new king [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].