1 Kings 16:21-28

Omri’s Reign over Israel

16:21 At that time the people of Israel were divided in their loyalties. Half the people supported Tibni son of Ginath and wanted to make him king; the other half supported Omri. 16:22 Omri’s supporters were stronger than those who supported Tibni son of Ginath. Tibni died; Omri became king.

16:23 In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 16:24 He purchased the hill of Samaria ¹  from Shemer for two talents ²  of silver. He launched a construction project there ³  and named the city he built after Shemer, the former owner of the hill of Samaria. 16:25 Omri did more evil in the sight of ⁴  the Lord than all who were before him. 16:26 He followed in the footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat and encouraged Israel to sin; ⁵  they angered the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols. ⁶ 

16:27 The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. ⁷  16:28 Omri passed away ⁸  and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab replaced him as king. ⁹ 

[16:24]  ¹ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.

[16:24]  ² tn The Hebrew term כִּכָּר (kikkar, “circle”) refers generally to something that is round. When used of metals it can refer to a disk-shaped weight made of the metal or to a standard unit of weight, generally regarded as a talent. Since the accepted weight for a talent of metal is about 75 pounds, this would have amounted to about 150 pounds of silver.

[16:24]  ³ tn Heb “he built up the hill.”

[16:25]  ⁴ tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

[16:26]  ⁵ tn Heb “walked in all the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sin which he made Israel sin.”

[16:26]  ⁶ tn Heb “angering the Lord God of Israel with their empty things.”

[16:27]  ⁷ tn Heb “As for the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his strength which he demonstrated, are they not written on the scroll of the events of the days of the kings of Israel?”

[16:28]  ⁸ tn Heb “lay down with his fathers.”

[16:28]  ⁹ tc The Old Greek has eight additional verses here. Cf. 1 Kgs 22:41-44.