As noted in verse 2, Nevertheless translates the same Hebrew adverb that is rendered “though” there. Here it marks a return to a consideration of the negative side of Joram’s rule. In spite of his positive contribution to the life of the kingdom of Israel in getting rid of the pillar of Baal, the overall judgment of his reign remains negative. The transition word may be rendered “Nonetheless” (New Jerusalem Bible), “But” (Contemporary English Version), or “Yet” (Revised English Bible).
He clung to the sin: The Hebrew verb rendered clung to is most often used of physical nearness, of a person keeping close to others (Ruth 2.8, 21, 23) or of following closely behind (1 Sam 14.22; 2 Sam 1.6). But it is also used in a more figurative sense of adherence or faithfulness to an idea or a kind of action. In 2 Kgs 18.6 the same verb is translated “held fast [to the LORD].” Some other translations in this context are “he continued to practise the sins” (New Jerusalem Bible), “he kept doing the sinful things” (Contemporary English Version), and “he continued to sin” (New Century Version). In some languages the best way to translate this idea may be to use a habitual form of the verb “to sin.”
The sin of Jeroboam is literally “the sins of Jeroboam.” The ancient Greek version has the singular form, which corresponds to the end of the verse in the Masoretic Text (he did not depart from it). The plural reading of the traditional Hebrew text is adopted by many translations (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible, Nouvelle Bible Segond, Hobbs). While Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom (931–910 B.C.), was guilty of making golden statues of calves to be worshiped (1 Kgs 12.26-30), the intent of the writer here is probably not to focus on one individual act of sin, but on a whole way of life. American Bible speaks of “the sinful way of Jeroboam.” Translators should avoid giving the impression that Joram somehow imitated a particular act of his predecessor. He rather led the people of Israel to commit a variety of sins in the same way that Jeroboam had done.
Which he made Israel to sin: See the comments on 1 Kgs 14.16.
He did not depart from it: This is a negative restatement of the same idea already presented earlier in the verse. But the repetition is intended to emphasize Joram’s determination and persistence in doing evil. The verb in this clause is the same in Hebrew as the one translated “put away” in the previous verse. The writer seems to be emphasizing the fact that although Joram did “get rid of” the pillar of Baal specifically, he did not “get rid of” the general climate of sin in the kingdom. Some translations attempt to show the identity of the two verbs involved; for example, Hobbs has “he turned aside the pillar of Baal … did not turn aside from it.” But given the difference in context, this may not be possible in some languages.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .