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 he reigned twelve 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 walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat in every respect and continued in his sins that he caused Israel to commit, angering 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 ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 16:24 Lit for two talents
  2. 16:24 = Belonging to Shemer’s Clan

21 Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; the other half followed Omri. 22 But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. And Tibni died and Omri became king. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel and reigned for twelve years; he reigned for six years at (A)Tirzah. 24 And he purchased the hill [a]Samaria from Shemer for [b]two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and named the city which he built [c](B)Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.

25 Now (C)Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, and (D)acted more wickedly than all who were before him. 26 For he (E)walked [d]entirely in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sins into which he misled Israel, provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their [e]idols. 27 Now as for the rest of the acts of Omri which he did and his might which he [f]displayed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 28 And Omri [g]lay down with his fathers and was buried in Samaria; and his son Ahab became king in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 16:24 Heb Shomeron
  2. 1 Kings 16:24 About 150 lb. or 68 kg
  3. 1 Kings 16:24 Heb Shomeron
  4. 1 Kings 16:26 Lit in all the way of
  5. 1 Kings 16:26 Lit non-existing things
  6. 1 Kings 16:27 Lit did
  7. 1 Kings 16:28 I.e., died