Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts ,.... About the succession in the kingdom: half the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king : these were the friends of Zimri, or however such who did not like that the army should impose a king upon them; who this Tibni was is not said: and half followed Omri ; the general of the army, perhaps the whole of that. read more
But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath ,.... Very probably they had a battle, in which the latter were worsted: so Tibni died ; in the battle: and Omri reigned ; took possession of the throne, his rival being slain. read more
In the thirty first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel twelve years ,.... Which are to be reckoned not from the thirty first of Asa; for Ahab the son of Omri began to reign in his thirty eighth year, and so his reign would be but seven or eight years; but they are reckoned from the twenty seventh of Asa, the beginning of it, when Elah was slain by Zimri, and he died, which to the end of the thirty eight of Asa make twelve years; for the division, according to the... read more
And he bought the hill of Samaria of Shemer, for two talents of silver ,.... A talent of silver, according to Brerewood F6 De Ponder. & Pret. c. 4. , was of our money three hundred and seventy five pounds, so that this hill was purchased at seven hundred and fifty pounds: and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria ; its name from him was Shomeron, which is the Hebrew name for Samaria; which,... read more
But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord ,.... Openly and publicly, as if it were in defiance of him: and did worse than all that were before him ; taking no warning by the judgments inflicted on them, which aggravated his sins; and besides, he not only worshipped the calves, as the rest, and drew Israel by his example into the same, as they did, but he published edicts and decrees, obliging them to worship them, and forbidding them to go to Jerusalem, called "the statutes of Omri",... read more
For he walked in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin ,.... Worshipping the calves; to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities ; these, and whatsoever idols else were worshipped by him, see 1 Kings 16:13 . read more
Now the rest of the acts of Omri, which he did, and his might which he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? Where those of the preceding kings were written, see 1 Kings 14:19 . read more
So Omri slept with his fathers ,.... Died a natural death: and was buried in Samaria ; the city he had built, and now the royal seat and metropolis of the kingdom: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead ; of whom much is said in the following history. read more
Divided into two parts - Why this division took place we cannot tell; the people appear to have been for Tibni, the army for Omri; and the latter prevailed. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 16:15-28
Solomon observes (Prov. 28:2) that for the transgression of a land many were the princes thereof (so it was here in Israel), but by a man of understanding the state thereof shall be prolonged?so it was with Judah at the same time under Asa. When men forsake God they are out of the way of rest and establishment. Zimri, and Tibni, and Omri, are here striving for the crown. Proud aspiring men ruin one another, and involve others in the ruin. These confusions end in the settlement of Omri; we must... read more