1 Kings 16:21

OMRI RULED AFTER FOUR YEARS OF CIVIL WAR

"Then were the people of Israel 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 that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, and reigned twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah."

"So Tibni died, and Omri reigned" (1 Kings 16:22). When two men claimed a throne, the only possible solution was the death of one of them; and, in this case, it was Tibni who died. We are not told how his death occurred, but it was probably in the battle, mentioned by Josephus, in which the forces of Omri triumphed.[17] This of course terminated the war, but it had also exhausted one-third of Omri's twelve-year reign.

"Six years reigned he in Tirzah" (1 Kings 16:23). The fire at Tirzah in which Zimri's suicide occurred had doubtless severely damaged that capital city of Israel, but the end of the war gave Omri the opportunity to build another capital. Omri's reign continued six more years in his new capital in the city of Samaria. Herod the Great rebuilt Samaria and named it after Augustus Caesar.