“In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri…

Continuing the review of the kings of Israel…”Omri does evil in the eyes of the Lord!”…

“In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel and reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah…” 1 Kings 16:23. As was common during the this era, the authority of the king originated from the power and support of the military. Omri gained control of the throne after forcing king Zimri to suicide and killing his opposition, “Tibni, son of Ginath” (I Kings 16:21-22. “But Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him” (1 Kings 16:25). After approximately a 12-year reign, Omri’s son, Ahab, succeeds him as king in Samaria, as the capital was strategically placed during Omri’s reign. (Genealogy chart available at http://adam2jesus.org/full-chart-genealogy/.)