1 Kings 16:21-28

Common English Bible

Omri rules Israel

²¹ At this time the people of Israel were split in two. One half of the people followed Tibni, Ginath’s son, making him king; the other half followed Omri. ²² Omri’s side was stronger than those who followed Tibni, Ginath’s son. So Tibni died and Omri became king. ²³ In the thirty-first year of Judah’s King Asa, Omri became king of Israel. He ruled for twelve years, six of which were in Tirzah. ²⁴ He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two kikkars of silver. He fortified the hill and named the town that he built there after Shemer, the previous owner of the hill of Samaria. ²⁵ Omri did evil in the Lord’s eyes, more evil than anyone who preceded him. ²⁶ He walked in all the ways and sins of Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, because he caused Israel to sin. They angered Israel’s God, the Lord, with their worthless idols. ²⁷ The rest of Omri’s deeds and his powerful acts, aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? ²⁸ Omri lay down with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab succeeded him as king.