tore his clothes: Tearing one's clothes was often a sign of strong emotion. For example:
Agitation (2 Kings 11:4)
Grief (Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 13:31)
Sorrow (2 Kings 6:30; Job 1:20; 2:12)
Due to ongoing distrust and hostility between the Arameans and Israelites, Joram thought the Aramean king wanted to start a fight, as had happened during his father Ahab's time (1 Kings 20:1–12).