²⁵ Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.^{(A) 26} He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins that he caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols.^{(B) 27} The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ²⁸ Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.

Israel’s King Ahab

²⁹ Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years. ³⁰ But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight more than all who were before him.^{(C) 31} Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel,^(D) the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians,^(E) and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him.^{(F) 32} He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal^(G) that he had built in Samaria. ³³ Ahab also made an Asherah pole.^(H) Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.^(I)

³⁴ During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.^(J)

³ He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed^(A) and reestablished the altars for Baal. He made an Asherah,^(B) as King Ahab of Israel had done;^(C) he also worshiped the whole heavenly host^(D) and served them.

⁶ He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done,^(A) for Ahab’s daughter was his wife.^(B) He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight,

²⁴ Yet they didn’t listen or pay attention^(A) but followed their own advice and according to their own stubborn, evil heart. They went backward and not forward.^(B)