After the uniting of the former army of the over king with the people of Lehonti, Amalickiah puts into action the next phase of his plan. He has had himself made second in command, a position to which he might make claim through right of birth status as well as the importance of his alliance in bringing such a large army under the control of Lehonti. Of course Lehonti would not have acquiesced complete control, so Amalickiah does not ask for it, but rather obtains it by stratagem.
Amalickiah uses poison, a favorite method throughout the world for palace intrigues. Even with a right to a throne, the active use of force to obtain that position might erode the support base of the one who murdered for the sake of position. Poison has the advantage of achieving the removal of the rival without the obvious implication of the aspirant. In the ancient world there were no scientific tests to prove death by poison, so while suspicions might be rife, evidence was not. Amalickiah takes the path of least resistance to a position of leadership which has now delivered to him not only the army of the over king, but also the addition of that of Lehonti. Beyond the military capabilities, he also has a population of people that serve as his logistical support and perhaps even more importantly, can support his claims to legitimate right to a throne.