²¹ At that time the people of Israel were divided: half the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. ²² However, the people who followed Omri proved stronger than those who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

Israel’s King Omri

²³ In the thirty-first year of Judah’s King Asa, Omri became king over Israel and reigned 12 years. He reigned six years in Tirzah,^{(A) 24} then he bought the hill of Samaria^(B) from Shemer for 150 pounds^[a] of silver, and he built up the hill. He named the city he built Samaria^[b] based on the name Shemer, the owner of the hill.

²⁵ Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.^{(C) 26} He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins that he caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols.^{(D) 27} The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ²⁸ Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.