And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel means that Jehoram acted like the kings of Israel by being evil. For the figurative expression walked in the way of, see the comments on 2 Chr 20.32. This whole clause may be rendered “But Jehoram followed the example of the kings of Israel” (New Living Translation) or “He conducted himself like the kings of Israel” (New American Bible). The implied idea of evil may be added by saying “He was evil like the kings of Israel.”

As the house of Ahab had done: The comparison becomes more specific with the introduction of the house of Ahab, that is, the dynasty of Ahab. While the kings of Israel were in general thought to be bad, the family of Ahab is represented by the biblical writers as the very essence of evil. So this comparison is especially derogatory. The writer is probably referring to the worship of Baal, but this should not be made explicit in translation. Good News Translation renders the house of Ahab as “King Ahab,” but this phrase refers to others in Ahab’s court in addition to the king himself, so Contemporary English Version and God’s Word say “Ahab’s family” (similarly New Century Version), and NET Bible has “Ahab’s dynasty.”

For the daughter of Ahab was his wife: Jehoram followed the evil example of the kings of Israel because he had married one of Ahab’s daughters. The daughter of Ahab refers to Athaliah (see the comments on 2 Chr 22.2). Since Ahab probably had other daughters, a literal translation of the Hebrew may be misleading. The definite article in this phrase may be intended to show that Athaliah was well known and not that she was Ahab’s only daughter. For this reason New International Version translates “a daughter of Ahab,” while Good News Translation and New Living Translation say “one of Ahab’s daughters.”

And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD is literally “and he did the evil in the eyes of the LORD.” In most languages it will be misleading to begin this sentence with the conjunction And. This is not an additional fact about Jehoram. Instead, it is a summary statement of what has already been affirmed earlier in the verse. The conjunction is dropped in most modern versions, including New Revised Standard Version. This sentence may be rendered “So he did what the LORD considered evil” (God’s Word) or “Jehoram did what the LORD said was wrong” (New Century Version).

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 .