851 - Omri and Ahab rule, in Israel

Omri and Ahab rule, in Israel

But now, the people of Israel were split into two factions. 

Half the people tried to make Tibni, son of Ginath, their king, while the other half supported Omri. 

But, Omri’s supporters defeated …the supporters of Tibni. 

So, Tibni was killed, and Omri became the next king. 

Omri began to rule, over Israel, in the thirty-first year, of King Asa’s reign in Judah. 

He reigned twelve years in all, six of them in Tirzah. 

Then, Omri bought the hill, now known as Samaria, from its owner, Shemer, for 150 pounds of silver. 

He built a city on it …and called the city Samaria, in honor of Shemer. 

But, Omri did what was evil, in the Lord’s sight, even more, than any of the kings, before him. 

He followed the example of Jeroboam,  son of Nebat, in all the sins he had committed …and which he led Israel to commit. 

The people provoked the anger, of the Lord, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols. 

The rest of the events, in Omri’s reign, the extent of his power, and everything he did, are recorded, in The Book, of the History, of the Kings of Israel. 

When Omri died, he was buried in Samaria. 

Then, his son, Ahab, became the next king. 

 

Ahab, the son of Omri, began to rule over Israel, in the thirty-eighth year, of King Asa’s reign, in Judah. 

He reigned, in Samaria, for twenty-two years. 

But Ahab, son of Omri, did what was evil, in the Lord’s sight, even more than any, of the kings, before him. 

And, as though it were not enough, to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal, of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down, in worship… of Baal. 

First, Ahab built a temple… and an altar, for Baal, in Samaria. 

Then, he set up an Asherah pole. 

He did more, to provoke the anger, of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings, of Israel, before him. 

It was during Ahab’s reign, that Hiel, a man from Bethel, rebuilt Jericho. 

When he laid its foundations, it cost him the life of his oldest son, Abiram. 

And when he completed it …and set up its gates, it cost him the life of his youngest son, Segub. 

This all happened, according to the message, from the Lord, concerning Jericho, spoken by Joshua, the son of Nun. 

1 Kings 16:21–34 (NLT)

Praise be to God!