Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even though Jehoram took away the pillar of Baal, he still clung to the idolatry Jeroboam introduced, showing that removing one idol doesn't automatically mean true worship. The verse emphasizes his persistence in this old sin, highlighting how deeply ingrained and difficult to uproot such deviations from God's ways can become.
Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Jehoram of Israel, though he removed the pillar of Baal, still refused to turn away from the idolatry that King Jeroboam had established. This chapter is setting up a joint military campaign by Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab, and it's highlighting the spiritual compromise that plagues Israel even under a king who shows some positive steps. The situation immediately following will show how this spiritual compromise deeply affects their trust in God during the battle.
King Jehoram had a chance to start fresh, but something held him back. What makes certain sins so hard to shake?
Even after initial steps toward good, the verse highlights that Jehoram 'clung to the sin of Jeroboam.' This wasn't just a mistake; it was a deliberate adherence to a destructive pattern. Jeroboam’s sin was setting up idolatrous worship centers to keep the northern tribes from going to Jerusalem, essentially redefining worship to serve political ends. This shows how sin can become a deeply ingrained habit, a 'way of doing things' that feels almost impossible to break. It’s like a comfortable, familiar path that leads away from God, even when we know better.
Jeroboam's sin didn't just affect him; it 'made Israel to sin.' How does one person's sin ripple outwards?
The sin of Jeroboam was not a private matter. His actions created a system and a culture of idolatry that influenced the entire nation of Israel. When leaders, or even just influential people, embrace and perpetuate sin, it creates a spiritual contagion. They establish norms, provide justifications, and often punish those who try to remain faithful. Jehoram’s failure to abandon this sin meant that the nation continued to be led into spiritual compromise, impacting generations and paving the way for further disaster.
Understand the original words
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dabaq · Hebrew Verb
A term describing a persistent, devoted attachment or loyalty to a person, object, or practice. In a negative spiritual sense, it denotes being glued to or remaining steadfast in sinful habits.
chatta'th · Hebrew Noun
Any act, thought, or attitude that misses the mark of God's perfect standard or violates His law. It is fundamentally an act of rebellion against the sovereignty of the Creator.
The verse highlights how King Jehoram of Judah, despite some reforms, failed to fully break from the deep-seated idolatry that had plagued the Northern Kingdom of Israel since its inception under Jeroboam I. This persistent religious corruption was a major factor in Israel's eventual judgment and exile.
c. 931 BC
Israel Splits into Two Kingdoms
Following King Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam's harsh response to the people's grievances caused the northern ten tribes to break away, forming the Kingdom of Israel. The southern kingdom, Judah, remained loyal to Rehoboam.
c. 931-910 BC
Jeroboam Establishes Idolatrous Worship
Jeroboam I, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, feared that his people would return to Judah if they went to worship at the temple in Jerusalem. To prevent this, he set up golden calf shrines in Bethel and Dan, instituting a non-Levitical priesthood and a new festival, effectively creating an alternative religious system. This act became known as 'the sin of Jeroboam'.
c. 874-853 BC
Reign of Ahab in Israel
King Ahab reigned in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and, influenced by his Phoenician wife Jezebel, aggressively promoted the worship of Baal. This further entrenched idolatry in Israel, making Jeroboam's earlier sins seem less severe by comparison to some.
c. 853 BC
Jehoshaphat's Alliance with Ahab
King Jehoshaphat of Judah formed a political and military alliance with King Ahab of Israel, a dangerous compromise that would later lead him into conflict and spiritual peril.
c. 853-841 BC— this verse
Reign of Jehoram in Israel
Jehoram (also known as Joram) succeeded Ahab and initially removed some Asherah poles set up by his father. However, he continued to allow the continued practice of the idolatrous worship established by Jeroboam I at Bethel and Dan.
c. 841 BC
Anointing of Jehu
The prophet Elisha, following God's command, sent a disciple to anoint Jehu as king over Israel, initiating a violent purge of Ahab's dynasty and the worship of Baal. This event profoundly changed the political and religious landscape of Israel.
This verse describes Jeroboam's initial sin of setting up alternative worship sites, which King Ahab also stubbornly followed, setting a dangerous precedent for future kings.
1 Kings 15:34This verse directly condemns Jeroboam's actions and warns that his sin would lead to destruction, highlighting the devastating legacy that Jehoram continued.
2 Kings 10:29This passage shows a temporary attempt to eradicate the worship of Baal, but it notes that Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, illustrating how that foundational idolatry persisted.
Hosea 8:5-6The prophet Hosea directly links the golden calves set up by Jeroboam to the nation's downfall, powerfully illustrating the spiritual decay that clung to Israel and its kings.
Even though Jehoram took away the pillar of Baal, he still clung to the idolatry Jeroboam introduced, showing that removing one idol doesn't automatically mean true worship. The verse emphasizes his persistence in this old sin, highlighting how deeply ingrained and difficult to uproot such deviations from God's ways can become.
King Jehoram of Israel, though he removed the pillar of Baal, still refused to turn away from the idolatry that King Jeroboam had established. This chapter is setting up a joint military campaign by Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab, and it's highlighting the spiritual compromise that plagues Israel even under a king who shows some positive steps. The situation immediately following will show how this spiritual compromise deeply affects their trust in God during the battle.
King Jehoram of Israel, though he removed the pillar of Baal, still refused to turn away from the idolatry that King Jeroboam had established. This chapter is setting up a joint military campaign by Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab, and it's highlighting the spiritual compromise that plagues Israel even under a king who shows some positive steps. The situation immediately following will show how this spiritual compromise deeply affects their trust in God during the battle.
"Nevertheless, he clung to the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from it." — Even though Jehoram took away the pillar of Baal, he still clung to the idolatry Jeroboam introduced, showing that removing one idol doesn't automatically mean true worship. The verse emphasizes hi…
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Last reviewed October 2026