Omri (1 Kings 16:15–16; 1 Kings 16:17–20; 1 Kings 16:21–22; 1 Kings 16:23; 1 Kings 16:24; 1 Kings 16:25–26; 1 Kings 16:27–28; 1 Kings 16:29–30; 2 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 8:26; 2 Chronicles 22:2; Micah 6:16)

Captain of the Host, King of Israel

The captain of the host whom all Israel made king in the camp at Gibbethon, who besieged Tirzah, outlasted Tibni, bought the hill Samaria and built the city, did evil above all before him, and was succeeded by his son Ahab.

Omri first appears in the camp. The people were encamped against Gibbethon when they heard that Zimri had conspired and smitten the king, “wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp” (1 Kings 16:16). He went up with all Israel and besieged Tirzah, and when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he “burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died” (1 Kings 16:18). Then the people were divided: “half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri” (1 Kings 16:21). “But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned” (1 Kings 16:22).

He reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah (1 Kings 16:23). Then “he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria” (1 Kings 16:24). The writer of Kings judges him in his own words: “Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and dealt wickedly above all that were before him” (1 Kings 16:25). He “walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat” (1 Kings 16:26). His acts and his might are referred to the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel; he “slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his stead” (1 Kings 16:28). Scripture records no words spoken by Omri.

His name appears again after his death. The mother of Ahaziah king of Judah is called “Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel” (2 Kings 8:26), and Chronicles likewise names her “Athaliah the daughter of Omri” (2 Chronicles 22:2), while of Jehoram, Ahaziah's father, it is written that “he had the daughter of Ahab to wife” (2 Kings 8:18). In Micah, when “Jehovah hath a controversy with his people” (Micah 6:2), his voice cries unto the city: “For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels” (Micah 6:16).

Weaknesses

• Dealt wickedly above all before him
• Walked in the way of Jeroboam

Themes

• Made king in the camp
• A divided people
• Samaria
• Walking in Jeroboam's way
• The house of Ahab

Made king in the camp at Gibbethon (1 Kings 16:15–16)

When the people encamped against Gibbethon hear that Zimri has smitten the king, all Israel makes Omri, the captain of the host, king that day in the camp.

Made king in the camp at Gibbethon

Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. “Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines” (1 Kings 16:15).

“And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also smitten the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp” (1 Kings 16:16).

Besieges Tirzah (1 Kings 16:17–20)

Omri goes up from Gibbethon with all Israel and besieges Tirzah, and when Zimri sees that the city is taken, he burns the king's house over him with fire and dies.

Prevails over Tibni (1 Kings 16:21–23)

The people of Israel divide, half following Tibni the son of Ginath and half following Omri; Omri's people prevail, Tibni dies, and Omri reigns.

Prevails over Tibni

“Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri” (1 Kings 16:21).

“But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned” (1 Kings 16:22). The text gives no cause for Tibni's death.

“In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, and reigned twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah” (1 Kings 16:23).

Buys the hill Samaria (1 Kings 16:24)

The king buys the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, builds on it, and names the city Samaria after Shemer, the owner of the hill.

Buys the hill Samaria

“And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria” (1 Kings 16:24).

The verse follows the account of the reign begun in Tirzah (1 Kings 16:23). Omri is buried in Samaria (1 Kings 16:28), and his son Ahab reigns “over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years” (1 Kings 16:29).

Evil above all before him (1 Kings 16:25–26)

The writer of Kings says Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, dealt wickedly above all before him, and walked in the way of Jeroboam.

Evil above all before him

“And Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and dealt wickedly above all that were before him” (1 Kings 16:25).

“For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities” (1 Kings 16:26).

In Micah the voice of the LORD cries unto the city: “For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels” (Micah 6:16).

Death and burial in Samaria (1 Kings 16:27–28)

Omri's acts and might are referred to the chronicles of the kings of Israel; he sleeps with his fathers, is buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigns.

Ahab (1 Kings 16:28–30)

His son, who reigned in his stead and is called the son of Omri.

Athaliah (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Kings 8:26; 2 Chronicles 22:2)

Mother of Ahaziah king of Judah, called the daughter of Omri king of Israel; Jehoram of Judah had the daughter of Ahab to wife.

Zimri (1 Kings 16:15–18)

Conspired against the king and reigned seven days; Omri besieged Tirzah, and Zimri burnt the king's house over him with fire.

Tibni (1 Kings 16:21–22)

The son of Ginath, whom half the people followed to make him king; Omri's people prevailed and Tibni died.

The people of Israel (1 Kings 16:16–17; 1 Kings 16:21–22)

All Israel made him king in the camp and went up with him to Tirzah.

The LORD (1 Kings 16:25–26)

Omri did that which was evil in his sight and provoked him to anger.

Major sections

• 1 Kings 16:15–28
• 2 Kings 8:26
• Micah 6:16

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