You have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes: This stands in contrast with “every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes” (Deut 12.8; Jdg 17.6; 21.25). Compare 1 Kgs 11.33, 38; 14.8; 15.5, 11. With respect to the worship of Baal, Jehu had done what Yahweh wanted him to do. Since a literal rendering is usually inadvisable, many translators may find inspiration in one of the following models: “you have done well in carrying out what I consider right” (New Revised Standard Version) or “… what pleases me” (New Jerusalem Bible).

Have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart: This expression refers to a complete fulfillment of the will of Yahweh with respect to the family of Ahab. Yahweh’s unqualified approval here of Jehu’s murderous deeds stands in contrast to the view of Hos 1.4.

For the house of Ahab, compare verses 10 and 11. See also the comments on 2 Kgs 8.18 and 9.7.

Since it will not be helpful in many languages to translate literally according to all that was in my heart, some nonliteral models are “all I had in mind to do” (New International Version), “everything I required to be done” (New Jerusalem Bible), and “all that I desired” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh).

Your sons of the fourth generation shall sit … is literally “four sons will sit for you….” The word sons in this context clearly denotes “descendants.” The promise is not only that a descendant of the fourth generation would rule over Israel, but that this would be the case “down to the fourth generation” (New Jerusalem Bible); that is, during four generations, a person related to Jehu would be the ruler of the northern kingdom. Four descendants of Jehu ruled after him: Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Zechariah. In the Law it is said that punishment for wrongdoing would be brought “to the fourth generation” of those who oppose God (Exo 20.5; 34.7). The situation is reversed here.

Shall sit on the throne of Israel will be perfectly understood in some languages as an expression meaning to rule or reign (see the comments at 1 Kgs 1.13). But in other languages it will be better to say more directly “will rule over the people of Israel,” “will be kings of Israel” (Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), or “will succeed you as king of Israel” (Bible en français courant).

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 .