22. But Omri’s followers were stronger than the followers of Tibni son of Ginath. Tibni died, and Omri became king.
23. Omri became king of Israel during Asa’s 31st year as the king of Judah. Omri ruled over Israel for 12 years. Six of those years he ruled from Tirzah.
24. Then Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for about 150 pounds of silver. Omri built a city on that hill. He named the city Samaria after the name of its owner, Shemer.
25. Omri did what the Lord said was wrong. He was worse than all the kings who were before him.
26. He committed all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had committed when he caused the Israelites to sin. They worshiped worthless idols, and this made the Lord, the God of Israel, very angry.
27. The rest of the story about Omri and the great things he did are written in the book, The History of the Kings of Israel.
28. Omri died and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became the new king after him.
29. Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel during the 38th year that Asa was king of Judah. Ahab ruled Israel from the town of Samaria for 22 years.
30. He did what the Lord said was wrong. Ahab was worse than all the kings who were before him.
31. It was not enough for Ahab to commit the same sins that Jeroboam, son of Nebat, had done. Ahab also married Jezebel, daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Then Ahab began to serve and worship Baal.
32. He built a temple and an altar in Samaria for worshiping Baal.