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And a decree went out from King Jeroboam to number Samaria. It was reported back to the king that the men of the kingdom able to hold a sword numbered more than three and ninety thousands, with their wives and men-children and maid-children and servants many more besides.

In battle Jeroboam prevailed over the Arameans. He took possession of Damascus, Lodebar, and Karnaim, and he extended the boundaries of Samaria from Hamath on the river Orontes. King Jeroboam took the whole Jordan valley to the Red Seat.

But King Jeroboam did not give glory to God Most High for his good fortune. He removed the idols of the Edomites from the depths of the palace and ordered them set up throughout the city of Samaria, thinking it was they who had caused him to prevail on the field of battle.

Then a prophet from the city of Tekoa named Amos came before the king and said he had caused the children of Israel to sin by setting up the idols of the Edomites. "Two years are appointed that you may act to remove the abominations from the sight of God Most High. Failing that, at the end of the two years a great earthquake shall smite many."

But Jeroboam grew full of wrath and sent Amos out from his presence, and he did not remove the idols of the Edomites from their shrines in the city. When the two years had passed a great earthquake struck the kingdom, such as had never been known before, and forty thousand were slain.

Yet King Jeroboam did not remove the idols of the Edomites, and he restored the shrines that had been smitten of God Most High in the earthquake. Then Amos came before the king once more and said Yahweh had decreed the kingdom would be ripped from the hands of Jeroboam's son and be given to another.

Zachariah the son of Jeroboam ascended to the throne in Samaria upon the death of this father, but he only reigned for six months before an officer of his army named Shallum son of Jabesh assassinated him and took the throne for himself.