1 Kings 16:8-28
Read 1 Kings 16 in full →Elah Reigns over Israel
8In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel at Tirzah, and reigned two years. 9And his servant aZimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was at Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, bwho was over the household at Tirzah. 10Then Zimri went in and struck him and put him to death in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and became king in his place. 11Now it happened when he became king, as soon as he sat on his throne, that ahe struck down all the household of Baasha; he did not leave 1a single male—not even any of his kinsman redeemers or his friends.
12Thus Zimri destroyed all the household of Baasha, aaccording to the word of Yahweh, which He spoke against Baasha by the hand of bJehu the prophet, 13for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel sin, aprovoking Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their 1idols. 14aNow the rest of the acts of Elah and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
Zimri Reigns over Israel
15In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days at Tirzah. Now the people were camped against aGibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16And the people who were camped heard 1it said, “Zimri has conspired and has also struck down the king.” Therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. 18Now it happened that when Zimri saw that the city was captured, he went into the citadel of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire, and adied, 19because of his sins which he sinned, doing what is evil in the sight of Yahweh, awalking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, making Israel sin. 20aNow the rest of the acts of Zimri and his conspiracy which he 1carried out, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
Omri Reigns over Israel
21Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; the other half followed Omri. 22But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. And Tibni died and Omri became king. 23In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel and reigned twelve years; he reigned six years at aTirzah. 24And he bought the hill 1Samaria from Shemer for two 2talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and named the city which he built 3,aSamaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.
25aAnd Omri did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and bacted more wickedly than all who were before him. 26For he awalked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sins which he made Israel sin, provoking Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their 1idols. 27Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did and his might which he 1showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 28So Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son became king in his place.