²⁵ But Omri did evil^(A) in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him. ²⁶ He followed completely the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, committing the same sin Jeroboam had caused^(B) Israel to commit, so that they aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by their worthless idols.^(C)

²⁷ As for the other events of Omri’s reign, what he did and the things he achieved, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? ²⁸ Omri rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria.^(D) And Ahab his son succeeded him as king.

Ahab Becomes King of Israel

²⁹ In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. ³⁰ Ahab son of Omri did more^(E) evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. ³¹ He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married^(F) Jezebel daughter^(G) of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal^(H) and worship him. ³² He set up an altar^(I) for Baal in the temple^(J) of Baal that he built in Samaria. ³³ Ahab also made an Asherah pole^(K) and did more^(L) to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him.

³⁴ In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.^(M)

³ He rebuilt the high places^(A) his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal^(B) and made an Asherah pole,^(C) as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts^(D) and worshiped them.

⁶ He followed the ways of the kings of Israel,^(A) as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab.^(B) He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

²⁴ But they did not listen^(A) or pay attention;^(B) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.^(C) They went backward^(D) and not forward.