Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 1:17

17 ¶ So he died, according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken: and Jehoram reigned in his stead, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah , because he had no son.

His Brother, Chap. 3. 1. for he had no son to Succeed him, as it here follows.

Other Passages of Scripture seem to close with this, as that Ahaziah, who reigned but two years, begun his Reign in Iehoshaphats seventeenth year, 1 King. 22. 51. and therefore this Iehoram must begin his Reign in Iehoshaphats Nineteenth Year; and therefore before the Reign of Iehoram, Iehoshaphat's Son; and that Iehoram the son of Iehoshaphat began to reign in the fifth year of Ioram, Ahabs son, 2 King. 8. 16. Answ. These difficulties are easily resolved by this consideration, That it was an usual Practise among Kings in former Ages, to make their Sons sometimes their Viceroys and Deputies in the Administration of the Kingdom▪ and sometimes formally Kings in Conjunction with themselves, and whilst they lived; whereof there are instances both in Prophane History, among the Persians, Greeks, and Romans, and in the Sacred Scripture, as in David; 1 Chron. 23. 1. and 29. 22. in Uzziah, 2 Chron. 26. 21. (and to come close to the point) in Iehoshaphat, 2. King. 8. 16. who in his Seventeenth year, when he went to Ahab, and with him to Ramoth-Gilead, appointed his Son Iehoram his Vice-roy, and (in case of his Death) his Successor. In the Second Year from that time, when Iehoram was thus made Vice-King in his Fathers stead and absence; this Iehoram, Ahab's son, began to Reign: and in the fifth year of the reign of this Ioram son of Ahab, which was about the Twenty fourth Year of Iehoshaphat's Reign, Iehoram the son of Iehoshaphat was formerly made king of Iudah, together with his Father; or whilest Iehoshaphat lived, and was king of Iudah also. And [illegible: 1+ letters]o all the places agree. To which some add, that this Verse, or this part of it, wherein the difficulty consists, is wanting in some ancient Copies, and is omitted by the LXX Interpreters; which is far more prudent and pious to grant, than upon such Chronological difficulties to question the Truth and Divinity of the Holy Scriptures.