For Revised Standard Version verses 2-3 are understood as expressing an event contrary to what King Jehoshaphat expected to find on his return to Jerusalem, so it renders the common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse as But (also Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version). However, most modern versions, including New Revised Standard Version, do not translate this conjunction. If some explicit connector is required, it is better to use the temporal transition word “Then.”
Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him …: The prophet Jehu is also mentioned in 1 Kgs 16.1 as speaking to King Baasha of Israel and in the summary statement of Jehoshaphat’s reign in 2 Chr 20.34. His father Hanani was also a prophet. He condemned King Asa of Judah for making an alliance with Syria in 2 Chr 16.7-9. The seer refers to Jehu in this context. The word seer is synonymous with “prophet” (Good News Translation) and may be so translated if the receptor language lacks synonyms. For the Hebrew word rendered seer, see the comments on 1 Chr 9.22. Went out to meet him is literally “went out to his face.” Since Jehu criticized Jehoshaphat, NET Bible translates this phrase as “confronted him.”
And said to King Jehoshaphat: The verb said may be rendered “asked” (New Living Translation) since a question follows.
Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD?: The Hebrew word translated the wicked is singular, referring to King Ahab of Israel. Many translations give the impression that this is a collective noun with a plural meaning (for example, God’s Word “wicked people”), but this is not the case. The Hebrew word rendered those who hate is plural and probably refers more generally to the people of the northern kingdom, although this is a general expression that occurs elsewhere in the Old Testament (see, for example, Exo 20.5; Deut 7.10). Love those who hate the LORD may be rendered “be an ally of those who oppose the LORD” ( NET Bible). This question is rhetorical and may have to be translated as a strong affirmation in some languages by saying “You should not have helped that wicked Ahab and make friends with those who hate the LORD.”
Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD: The demonstrative pronoun this refers to what Jehoshaphat had done in allying himself with Ahab and his army. Because of this may be translated “Because of what you have done” (New Living Translation) or “Because you did that” (La Bible du Semeur). Wrath has gone out you from the LORD is literally “on you is wrath from the face of the LORD.” This clause may be rendered “the LORD is very angry with you” (New Living Translation).
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .