Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 21:6
And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jehoram assumes the throne of Judah at age thirty-two and rules for eight years in Jerusalem. The narrative positions his reign immediately after Jehoshaphat's rule and directly before the explanation of God's restraint from destroying David's line.
The words — The text states Jehoram "walked" (וַ/יֵּ֜לֶךְ / va/i.Ye.lekh) in the "way" (בְּ/דֶ֣רֶךְ / be./De.rekh) of Israel's kings, matching the conduct of Ahab's house. It grounds this alignment in his marriage to an Ahabid daughter and his commission of evil before the LORD.
The thread — This account parallels 2 Kings 8:18 and originates in the political marriage alliance recorded in 2 Chronicles 18:1. The narrative later contrasts his actions with the covenant promise to preserve a lamp for David in 2 Chronicles 21:7.
Why it lands — The verse identifies royal intermarriage as the mechanism for importing foreign religious practices into Judah. It requires the reader to recognize how political alliances directly shape covenant faithfulness and invite divine assessment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had an abundance of riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
- 1 Kings 12:28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
- 2 Kings 8:18 And Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done. For he married a daughter of Ahab and did evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 1 Kings 16:25 But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.
- 2 Chronicles 22:2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.
- Nehemiah 13:25 I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!