Omri

Omri, the 6th king of the northern kingdom of Israel (c. 885—c. 874 b.c.) and founder of a strong dynasty that reigned for approximately 44 years (c. 885—841 b.c.), one fifth of the duration of the kingdom. Before becoming king, Omri was an army commander of King Elah. He was engaged in fighting against the Philistines at Gibbethon when Zimri, an officer of the chariotry, assassinated Elah and usurped the throne. When this news reached the army it immediately proclaimed Omri king, and marched against Zimri at Tirzah, the capital. Zimri, recognizing that he could not hold the throne against Omri's army, committed suicide. His length of reign was only 7 days (1 Ki 16:8—10, 15—20). However, Omri had to fight for more than 4 years against Tibni, another contender for the throne and one who had a considerable following, before he became sole ruler over Israel.

Omri's reign was of great political importance. He moved the capital to Samaria (1 Ki 16:24), strategically a much better location than Tirzah. By selecting an entirely uninhabited site that had neither history nor tradition, Omri revealed much political wisdom and did for Israel what David had done for Judah in the selection of Jerusalem. He subjugated Moab as is attested by the *Moabite Stone of King Mesha . The inscription reads in part: "Omri, king of Israel, had oppressed Moab many days, for Kemosh was angry with his land. ... And Omri had occupied the land of Mehedeba, and (Israel) dwelt therein his days and half the days of his son, 40 years." That Omri' conquest of Moab was a profitable venture is seen from the tribute that Moab paid to his son Ahab.

It amounted, probably annually, to 100,000 lambs, and the wool of 100,000 rams (2 Ki 3:4). With his Phoenician neighbors Omri established cordial relations, and crowned these relations by marrying his son Ahab to Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre, called "king of the Zidonians" in 1 Ki 16:31, according to ancient usage. The result of this alliance with the Phoenicians was the introduction of the worship of Baal and Asherah into Israel to an extent previously unknown (vs 32, 33).

Not much is known about Omri's relations with the Syrians of Damascus, except that he granted economic concessions to Damascus and allowed Syrian traders to have bazaars in Samaria (1 Ki 20:34, RSV). It is unknown whether this was a purely economic agreement or a concession after a military defeat. There is no evidence of any encounters with the Assyrians, but for the next 150 years the Assyrian records refer to Israel as the "land of Omri," or the "house of Omri."

They call even Jehu, the exterminator of the dynasty of Omri, a "son of Omri." Omri's personality, political success, or trading enterprises seem to have gained this fame for him in the eyes of his contemporaries and later generations. In view of this, Omri must be considered one of the most notable kings of Israel, although the Bible devotes little space to him, noting that he did "evil in the sight of the Lord," even worse "than all who were before him" (1 Ki 16:25, RSV).