And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say he followed bad examples; it points to a specific, devastating influence: his wife, "the daughter of Ahab." This highlights how deeply our closest relationships can pull us toward or away from God, making his "evil in the sight of the LORD" a consequence of a tangled family tree and a misguided marriage.
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Jehoram of Judah, though initially seeing some outward reforms, ultimately follows in the disastrous footsteps of his father-in-law, Ahab, king of Israel. This connection is made explicit through his marriage to Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. His reign becomes marked by wickedness, leading directly to further rebellion and judgment against Judah, as detailed in the following chapters.
Sometimes, the people we love and the families we join can lead us down paths we never intended. This verse points to a dangerous connection.
King Jehoram of Judah married Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab of Israel. This wasn't just a political alliance; it was a union with a family deeply entrenched in idolatry and wickedness. The Bible doesn't shy away from how this marriage directly influenced Jehoram's reign:
Entangled by Association
God sees everything, and His perspective on evil is unchanging. This verse ends with a stark statement about Jehoram's actions.
The final clause, 'And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD,' isn't just a historical footnote; it's a theological declaration.
God's Standard and Our Response
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Understand the original words
ra' · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A moral and spiritual state of opposition to God's character and commands. It encompasses actions, thoughts, and attitudes that deviate from God’s holiness and moral law.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His faithfulness, holiness, and self-existence. It is the name by which He revealed Himself to Israel as their Redeemer and Lawgiver.
The verse highlights how dynastic marriages and alliances could spread religious corruption, as Judah's king walked in the ways of Israel's kings because his wife was the daughter of the infamous Ahab and Jezebel.
c. 885–874 BC
Reign of Omri, King of Israel
Omri, a powerful king, established Samaria as Israel's capital and formed a significant alliance with Phoenicia, strengthening the northern kingdom.
c. 874–853 BC
Reign of Ahab, King of Israel
Omri's son Ahab continued his father's policies, but his marriage to Jezebel of Sidon and promotion of Baal worship led to intense conflict with prophets like Elijah.
c. 853 BC
Battle of Qarqar
King Ahab of Israel fought alongside a coalition of Syrian and Phoenician states against the Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser III. This shows Israel's place in regional politics.
c. 843 BC
Reign of Jehoram, King of Israel
Jehoram, son of Ahab, continued to rule Israel. He was initially involved in conflicts with Syria but eventually met a violent end.
c. 843 BC
Reign of Jehu, King of Israel
Jehu led a bloody revolt, assassinating King Jehoram of Israel and Queen Jezebel, and purging the house of Ahab and Baal worshipers. However, Jehu did not turn from the sin of Jeroboam.
c. 841–814 BC
Reign of Athaliah, Queen of Judah
Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, seized the throne of Judah after her son Ahaziah died, ruling with an iron fist and promoting Baal worship in the south.
c. 835-825 BC— this verse
Reign of Joash, King of Judah
Joash, installed as king by priests after Athaliah's overthrow, initially followed the LORD. However, later in his reign, his court succumbed to idolatry, mirroring the northern kingdom.
This passage shows the disastrous consequences of Athaliah, Ahab's daughter, trying to establish idolatrous rule after her son's death, highlighting the deep spiritual corruption inherited through her lineage.
1 Kings 16:30-33This details Ahab's own deep descent into wickedness, marrying Jezebel and promoting Baal worship, providing the context for the kind of 'way' his descendants, including this king, would follow.
Jeremiah 2:23The prophet Jeremiah condemns Judah for its spiritual unfaithfulness, likening them to a wild donkey that runs its own course, which echoes the independent and rebellious spirit of kings who walk apart from God's ways.
Psalm 106:34-36This Psalm recounts Israel's repeated failures to drive out the nations, intermarrying with them and adopting their destructive practices, directly paralleling the king's choice to follow the evil ways of Ahab through his marriage.
The verse doesn't just say he followed bad examples; it points to a specific, devastating influence: his wife, "the daughter of Ahab." This highlights how deeply our closest relationships can pull us toward or away from God, making his "evil in the sight of the LORD" a consequence of a tangled family tree and a misguided marriage.
King Jehoram of Judah, though initially seeing some outward reforms, ultimately follows in the disastrous footsteps of his father-in-law, Ahab, king of Israel. This connection is made explicit through his marriage to Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. His reign becomes marked by wickedness, leading directly to further rebellion and judgment against Judah, as detailed in the following chapters.
King Jehoram of Judah, though initially seeing some outward reforms, ultimately follows in the disastrous footsteps of his father-in-law, Ahab, king of Israel. This connection is made explicit through his marriage to Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. His reign becomes marked by wickedness, leading directly to further rebellion and judgment against Judah, as detailed in the following chapters.
"And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD." — The verse doesn't just say he followed bad examples; it points to a specific, devastating influence: his wife, "the daughter of Ahab." This highlights how deeply our closest relationships can pull us…
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Last reviewed October 2026