Omri Reigns in Israel
The people split between Tibni and Omri, but Omri’s side proves stronger and he becomes king. His reign is consolidated further when he buys the hill of Samaria and builds a city there.
A21t that time the people of Israel were divided: Half of the people supported Tibni son of Ginath as king, and half supported Omri. 22But the followers of Omri proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king. 23In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. 24He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver and built a city there, calling it Samaria after the name of Shemer, who had owned the hill.
Though Omri achieves lasting royal strength, the chapter says he does more evil than any before him, walking in Jeroboam’s sins. His reign ends with the usual record notice, burial in Samaria, and Ahab’s succession.
25But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him. 26For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins, which he caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols. 27As for the rest of the acts of Omri, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 28And Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and his son Ahab reigned in his place.