King Omri

How He Became King: After Zimri killed himself
When He Began Reigning: Uncertain
Reign Length: 12 years
Ruled Over: Israel
Type of King: Evil
Prophet: Uncertain
Death: Uncertain
Burial: Buried in Samaria

When Israel discovered that Zimri had assassinated King Elah, the nation appointed Omri as their king:

I Kings 16:16: “And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.”

Omri then went up against Zimri and besieged the city of Tirzah. When Zimri saw that all was lost, he burned down the king’s palace and died in the fire (1 Kings 16:18). Omri then struggled against Tibni, because some of the nation supported Omri and the rest supported Tibni. Over time Tibni lost, and after he died Omri became king:

I Kings 16:21: “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.
22 But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.”

Omri reigned over Israel for 12 years. He did worse evil than those who came before him:

I Kings 16:23: “In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.
25 But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.
26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.”

When he died, he was buried in Samaria:

1 Kings 16:28: “So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.”

His son Ahab then became king over Israel.