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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:23

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:24

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:25

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:26

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:27

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 16:28

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 16:23

In the thirty and first year of Asa - There must be a mistake here in the number thirty-one; for, in 1 Kings 16:10 ; and 1 Kings 16:15 , it is said that Zimri slew his master, and began to reign in the twenty-seventh year of Asa; and as Zimri reigned only seven days, and Omri immediately succeeded him, this could not be in the thirty-first, but in the twenty-seventh year of Asa, as related above. Rab. Sol. Jarchi reconciles the two places thus: "The division of the kingdom... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 16:24

He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer - This should be read, "He bought the hill of Shomeron from Shomer, and called it Shomeron, (i.e., Little Shomer), after the name of Shomer, owner of the hill." At first the kings of Israel dwelt at Shechem, and then at Tirzah; but this place having suffered much in the civil broils, and the place having been burnt down by Zimri, Omri purposed to found a new city, to which he might transfer the seat of government. He fixed on a hill that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 16:25

Did worse than all - before him - Omri was, An idolater in principle; An idolater in practice; He led the people to idolatry by precept and example; and, which was that in which he did worse than all before him, 4. He made statutes in favor of idolatry, and obliged the people by law to commit it. See Micah 6:16 , where this seems to be intended: For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab. read more

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