Jehoram's cult centralization — high place building — 'Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah and led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness and made Judah go astray' (ויעל גם במות בהרי יהודה ויזנח את ישׁבי ירושׁלם ויתע את יהודה). The construction of high places (במות) — unauthorized local sanctuaries — is presented as active proselytization of apostasy. The verb וזנח (led into unfaithfulness, literally caused to commit harlotry) is language from covenant curses; it suggests that the king actively seduced the people into religious disloyalty. The parallel 'led the inhabitants of Jerusalem' and 'made Judah go astray' (ויתע את יהודה) indicates systematic corruption. The irony is that Jehoram, who eliminated his brothers to secure the kingdom, uses that power to corrupt his people spiritually. Power without piety becomes instruments of apostasy.

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