Who was King Omri in the Bible?
King Omri was the sixth king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He reigned from around 885-874 BC. Omri is mentioned several times in the Bible, primarily in 1 Kings 16 and Micah 6.
Here is a summary of the key facts about King Omri according to the Bible:
– Omri was initially the commander of the army under King Elah. When Elah was assassinated by Zimri, Omri led the army to attack Zimri and take the throne for himself (1 Kings 16:16-18).
– Omri ruled over Israel for 12 years in the city of Tirzah (1 Kings 16:23). He bought the hill of Samaria from a man named Shemer for two talents of silver and built up the city of Samaria, making it his new capital (1 Kings 16:24).
– The Bible says Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than all the kings before him (1 Kings 16:25). He continued in the sins of Jeroboam, provoking the Lord to anger with idolatry.
– Despite his evilness, Omri seemed to bring strength and stability to the kingdom of Israel militarily. The Moabite Stone, an extrabiblical source, calls Omri a “king of Israel” who “oppressed Moab for many days.”
– Omri established a dynasty. His son Ahab succeeded him as king and married the infamous Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of Sidon. The couple promoted the worship of Baal in Israel (1 Kings 16:29-33).
– The prophet Micah condemned Omri and his son Ahab for their idolatry, injustice, and oppression (Micah 6:16).
– Despite his wickedness, Omri’s dynasty was considered significant enough that the northern kingdom was still referred to as the “land of Omri” many years later (Micah 6:16). The Moabite Stone also calls Israel “Omri’s land” even during the reigns after him.
– Ahab was likely more wicked than Omri. Nevertheless, Omri seemed to pave the way for the ultimate apostasy under Ahab and Jezebel by consolidating royal power, establishing Samaria as capital, and making alliances with pagan nations like Sidon.
In summary, King Omri was an influential but evil ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel. He rejected the true God and promoted idolatry. But he also brought military strength and stability to Israel for a time. His wicked legacy continued under his son Ahab and daughter-in-law Jezebel. The Bible presents Omri as an example of how worldly success cannot make up for spiritual failure before God.
Here are some key passages that mention King Omri:
1 Kings 16:16-28 – Zimri kills Elah but is replaced by Omri as king. Omri builds up Tirzah and Samaria as royal cities.
“In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days at Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, and the troops who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired and he has killed the king.” Therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire and died, because of his sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and for his sin which he committed, making Israel to sin. Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy that he made, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.”
1 Kings 16:29-33 – Ahab succeeds Omri and marries Jezebel who promotes Baal worship.
“In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”
Micah 6:16 – Israel condemned for the idolatry of Omri and Ahab.
“For you have kept the statutes of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and you have walked in their counsels, that I may make you a desolation, and your inhabitants a hissing; so you shall bear the scorn of my people.”
While not mentioned by name here, 1 Kings 21 details more of the evil deeds of Ahab – murdering Naboth to take his vineyard. 1 Kings 22 describes Ahab’s death in battle after being deceived by false prophets into going to war. 2 Kings 8-10 chronicles the eventual demise of Ahab’s dynasty under Jehu. But Omri set the stage for these later tragic events by establishing the capital in Samaria and intermarrying with the Phoenicians.
Some key lessons and takeaways about King Omri:
– Outward success is worthless if not built on obedience to God. Omri expanded Israel’s power but spiritually destroyed it.
– Marrying an unbelieving spouse often leads to tragedy. Omri’s son made the same mistake with Jezebel.
– Parental influence is so important. The sins of Omri were continued and expanded under his son.
– God judges sin consistently in every generation, not overlooking evil. The kings were each held accountable.
– Staying faithful to God is challenging when leaders oppose Him. The prophets stood apart from evil kings.
– Idolatry and moral compromise destroys a nation from within. Israel declined steadily after Solomon.
King Omri is a sobering example of how spiritual compromise creates generational problems. His life is a warning against prizing success over faithfulness to God. Every leader influences those who follow. May we choose wisdom and obedience, not foolishness and idolatry.