The final consolidation of Amalickiah’s power came when he took the previous queen as his wife. Thus, even as a former Nephite, Amalickiah was now married into Lamanite royalty, and could rule by force of his armies and also by the traditions of the royal line.
Mormon’s conclusion to this section of the story is that all of those who had been dissenters from the Nephites became even more firm in their hatred of the Nephites than before. This story is a prime example of Mormon’s contention that the most dangerous enemies are apostate Nephites, at least until the Gadiantons enter the picture.
There is no chapter break at this point in the 1830 edition.