Topic: Persons Of The Bible - Omri

The name "Omri" means "my sheaf" in Hebrew. The name also means "servant of Jehovah" or "pupil of Jehovah."

• Omri was the founder of the third dynasty. Omri was engaged in the siege of Gibbethon situated in the tribe of Dan, which had been occupied by the Philistines. When Elah was murdered by Zimri at Tirzah (1 Kings 16:15-27), Omri, his captain, was made king (B.C. 931). For four years there was continued opposition to his reign, with Tibni, another claimant to the throne, leading the opposing party; but at the close of that period all Omri's rivals were defeated, and he became king of Israel, "Tibni died and Omri reigned" (B.C. 927). By Omri's vigor and power he gained great eminence and consolidated the kingdom. He fixed his dynasty on the throne so firmly that it continued during four succeeding reigns. More specifically, Omri was not allowed to establish his dynasty without a struggle against Tibni, whom "half the people," (1 Kings 16:21) desired to raise to the throne. After the defeat sad death of Tibni, Omri reigned for six years in Tirzah. At Samaria , Omri reigned for six years more. He seems to have been a vigorous and unscrupulous ruler, anxious to strengthen his dynasty by intercourse and alliances with foreign states. He died at Samaria and was succeeded by his son Ahab. "He wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him." Beth-omri, "the house" or "city of Omri ," is the name usually found on Assyrian inscriptions for Samaria . In the stele of Mesha (the "Moabite stone"), which was erected in Moab about twenty or thirty years after Omri's death, it is recorded that Omri oppressed Moab till Mesha delivered the land: "Omri, king of Israel , oppressed Moab many days, for Chemosh was angry with his land. His son succeeded him, and he also said, I will oppress Moab " (comp. 2 Kings 1:1; 3:4, 5). The "Moabite stone" also records that "Omri took the land of Medeba , and occupied it in his day and in the days of his son forty years."
• Another person named "Omri" was one of the sons of Becher the son of Benjamin. (1 Chronicles 7:8)
• Another person named "Omri" was a descendant of Pharez the son of Judah, (1 Chronicles 9:4)
• Another person named "Omri" was the son of Michael, and chief of the tribe of Issachar in the reign of David. (1 Chronicles 27:18) (B.C. 1030.)

Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries

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