Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 16:19

(19) In walking in the way of Jeroboam.—The use here of this constantly-recurring phrase probably indicates only the historian’s sense of the curse lying on the whole kingdom from its idolatry, which Zimri did not attempt to repudiate; unless, perhaps, his conspiracy had clothed itself under pretence of a righteous zeal for the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jehu (1 Kings 16:3-4), and had thrown off the religious pretence after the deed was done. For except in this way, he had no time for... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 16:21

(21) Tibni.—Of him we know nothing. No doubt he also was a military chief—possibly Zimri’s colleague, under the supreme command of Omri—and the LXX. speaks of a brother, Joram, who fought and fell with him. There is an ominous significance in the terse description of the alternatives of fortune in this internecine struggle, “so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.” By comparison of 1 Kings 16:23 with 1 Kings 16:15, it appears that the struggle had lasted four years. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 16:23

(23) Began Omri to reign over Israel.—The accession of Omri after this long civil war opened a new epoch of more settled government and prosperity for about forty-eight years. Omri had (as appears from 1 Kings 20:34) to purchase peace with Syria by some acknowledgment of sovereignty and cession of cities. He then allied himself with the royal house of Tyre, probably both for strength against Syria, and for revival of the commercial prosperity of the days of Solomon, and proceeded to found a new... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 16:24

(24) Built on the hill.—Omri only followed the usual practice of a new dynasty in the East, of which Jeroboam had set an example at Shechem, and probably Baasha at Tirzah. Possibly the seeds of disaffection may have still lurked in Tirzah, the place of Zimri’s conspiracy, and (as has been conjectured) of Tibni’s rival power. But the site of Samaria must have been chosen by a soldier’s eye. Its Hebrew name (Shomerôn) means a “watch-tower,” and may well have had a double derivation, from its... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 16:25

(25) Did worse than all that were before him.—This phrase, used of Jeroboam in 1 Kings 14:9, may indicate, in addition to the acceptance and development of the old idolatry, some anticipation of the worse idolatry of Baal, formally introduced by Ahab. The “statutes of Omri” are referred to by Micah (Micah 6:16) in parallelism with the “works of the house of Ahab,” as the symbol of hardened and hopeless apostasy. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Kings 16:1-34

Some Lessons From an Unfamiliar Text 1 Kings 16:25 ; 1 Kings 16:30 I. Very bad men may have worse sons. We are told that Omri was a worse-living man than any other man that had lived up till that time, but he had a son, and it is said of his son that he was worse, worse even than his wicked father. II. Bad men may make things worse by unholy friendships. Ahab was worse than Omri, but Ahab was worse in his manhood than he was in his youth, because he married a woman who stirred him up to do... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:11-34

THE KINGS OF ISRAEL FROM ZIMRI TO AHAB1 Kings 16:11-34As far as we can understand from our meager authorities-and we have no independent source of information-we infer that Elah, son of the powerful Baasha, was a self-indulgent weakling. The army of Israel was encamped against Gibbethon-originally a Levitical town of the Kohathites, in the territory of Dan-which they hoped to wrest from the Philistines. It was during the interminable and intermittent siege of this town that Nadab, the son of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Kings 16:1-34

4. Kings of Israel CHAPTERS 15:25-16 1. Nadab, King of Israel (1 Kings 15:25-32 ) 2. Baasha, King of Israel (1 Kings 15:34 ; 1 Kings 16:1-7 ) 3. Elah, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:8-14 ) 4. Zimri, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:15-20 ) 5. Divisions (1 Kings 16:21-22 ) 6. Omri, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:23-28 ) 7. Ahab (1 Kings 16:29-34 ) Six kings of Israel are now mentioned. Asa saw them all ascending the throne of Israel. The first mentioned is Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, who... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Kings 16:17

16:17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged {h} Tirzah.(h) Where Zimri holed up. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Kings 16:21

16:21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: {i} half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.(i) That is, the people who were not at the siege of Gibbethon: for there they had chosen Omri. read more

Group of Brands