Omri Establishes Samaria as Capital
1 Kings 16:21-28
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1 K.16.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אז: ADV
- יחלק: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לחצי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- חצי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אחרי: PREP
- תבני: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גינת: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להמליכו: PREP+VERB,hiph,inf,3,m,sg
- והחצי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחרי: PREP
- עמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 16:22 (structural): Direct continuation of the same episode: describes the armed conflict between Omri and Tibni and Omri's eventual victory.
- 1 Kings 16:20 (structural): Immediate context: how Omri was proclaimed king by the army, setting up the rival claim and the subsequent division of the people.
- 1 Kings 12:16-17 (thematic): Another instance of the people splitting over who should rule (the northern tribes rejecting Rehoboam), showing the political division that can follow disputes over kingship.
- 2 Samuel 15:13-14 (thematic): Describes large-scale defections to Absalom and a division of loyalties within Israel—parallel in the phenomenon of the populace splitting to support rival claimants to the throne.
- Judges 9:22-24 (thematic): Conflict between Abimelech and Gaal produces factions within a city, an earlier example of internecine struggle and divided popular support for competing leaders.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts; half the people were for Tibni son of Ginath to make him king, and half were for Omri.
- Then the people of Israel were divided in two: half the people followed Tibni son of Ginath to make him king, and half followed Omri.
1 K.16.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויחזק: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אחרי: PREP
- עמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אחרי: PREP
- תבני: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גינת: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וימת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- תבני: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וימלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 1:5 (thematic): Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne with supporters parallels Tibni/Omri — rival claimants to the kingship backed by factions of the people.
- 1 Kings 15:27 (thematic): Baasha's violent usurpation of the throne (killing Nadab and eliminating the previous dynasty) parallels the Israelite pattern of contested successions and factional victory.
- 2 Samuel 3:17 (structural): Abner's negotiations and the shifting of military/political support between rival leaders (Ish-bosheth and David) mirror the factional realignments that decide Israel's kingship in the Omri–Tibni contest.
- 1 Kings 16:25-28 (structural): The immediate aftermath of Omri's accession (his reign and founding of Samaria) is a direct structural parallel showing the outcome of the factional struggle described in 16:22.
Alternative generated candidates
- The people who were for Omri prevailed over the people who were for Tibni; Tibni died, and Omri became king.
- The people who were for Omri prevailed over the people who were for Tibni son of Ginath; so Tibni died, and Omri became king.
1 K.16.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בשנת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- שלשים: NUM,m,pl,abs
- ואחת: CONJ+NUM,card,sg,f
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לאסא: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- עמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שתים: NUM,f,pl,abs
- עשרה: NUM,card,m,pl
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בתרצה: PREP+NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- שש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kgs 16:21-22 (structural): Immediate narrative context giving Omri’s rise to power, the civil war with Tibni, and details about the length and location of his reign — a direct continuation/expansion of the regnal data in 16:23.
- 1 Kgs 16:25 (thematic): Evaluative comment on Omri — "Omri did evil... worse than all who were before him" — theological judgment tied to the mention of his accession and reign in 16:23.
- 1 Kgs 16:29 (verbal): Another synchronism using Asa’s regnal years to date the start of Ahab’s reign (son of Omri); repeats the chronological formula found in 16:23 and gives Ahab’s regnal summary.
- 1 Kgs 16:30-33 (thematic): Account of Ahab’s marriage to Jezebel and the introduction of Baal worship in Israel — developments tied to the Omride dynasty introduced by the regnal note in 16:23.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the thirty‑first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He reigned twelve years—six years in Tirzah.
- In the thirty‑first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel. He reigned twelve years; six of those years he reigned at Tirzah.
1 K.16.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מאת: PREP
- שמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בככרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויבן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- שם: ADV
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בנה: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,f,sg
- על: PREP
- שם: ADV
- שמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שמרון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 33:18-19 (verbal): Jacob purchases a parcel of land at Shechem from the sons of Hamor—parallel language of buying land and linking a place-name to the previous owner/inhabitants.
- Genesis 4:17 (structural): Cain builds a city and names it after his son Enoch—similar pattern of founding/constructing a settlement and naming it after a person.
- 2 Samuel 5:9 (thematic): David takes and fortifies a stronghold and calls it the City of David—parallels the establishment of a new royal center and its naming by a ruler.
- 1 Kings 16:23 (structural): Immediate narrative context introducing Omri’s rise to power; verse 24 continues the actions by which Omri establishes a capital (buying and building Samaria).
Alternative generated candidates
- Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; he built the hill and named the city he built after Shemer, owner of the hill—Samaria.
- Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for a talent of silver. He built on the hill and named the city that he built Samaria, after Shemer, the owner of the hill.
1 K.16.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרע: ADJ,m,sg,def
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וירע: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מכל: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 16:30 (verbal): Ahab (son of Omri) is described with the same language—he ‘did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him,’ repeating the comparative formula used of Omri’s wickedness.
- 1 Kings 11:6 (thematic): Solomon ‘did what was evil in the sight of the LORD’ and turned away from the LORD—a Deuteronomistic evaluation motif linking royal apostasy and divine judgment.
- 1 Kings 15:25 (verbal): Nadab is likewise said to ‘do evil in the eyes of the LORD’ and to walk in the sins of his father Jeroboam—another use of the royal evaluation formula.
- 2 Kings 21:2 (thematic): Manasseh ‘did what was evil in the sight of the LORD’ and practised abominations of the nations—an example of intensified royal wickedness echoing the assessment of Omri.
Alternative generated candidates
- Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did more evil than all who were before him.
- Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD; he was more wicked than all who had been before him.
1 K.16.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בכל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ירבעם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נבט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובחטאתו: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+suf3,m
- אשר: PRON,rel
- החטיא: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להכעיס: VERB,hiphil,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בהבליהם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
Parallels
- 1 Kings 12:26-33 (quotation): The original account of Jeroboam’s sin: he sets up the golden calves and institutes rival worship, the act referenced as causing Israel to sin and provoking the LORD.
- 1 Kings 15:25 (verbal): Nadab son of Jeroboam is said to have ‘walked in the way of Jeroboam’ and continued his father’s sin — a near-verbatim recurrence of the formula in 1 Kgs 16:26.
- 2 Kings 17:21 (verbal): Summarizes Israel’s long-term repetition of ‘all the sins that Jeroboam did,’ linking Jeroboam’s actions directly to the nation’s persistent idolatry and the LORD’s judgment.
- 1 Kings 16:30-33 (thematic): Describes Ahab’s embrace of idolatry (Baal worship) and his acting to ‘make Israel sin,’ echoing the charge that following Jeroboam’s ways provoked the LORD.
Alternative generated candidates
- He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in the sin by which Jeroboam caused Israel to sin, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their vanities.
- He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in the sin by which Jeroboam had caused Israel to sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel with their idols.
1 K.16.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- עמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- וגבורתו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,suff
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הלא: PART
- הם: PRON,personal,3,m,pl
- כתובים: VERB,pual,ptcp,m,pl
- על: PREP
- ספר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- הימים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- למלכי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1Kgs.14.29 (verbal): Uses the same formula — 'the rest of the acts of X... are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel' — linking a king's deeds to the royal annals (here about Jeroboam).
- 1Kgs.11.41 (structural): Parallel historiographical closing formula about a monarch (Solomon): 'the rest of the acts of Solomon... are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon,' showing the standard Kings‑Chronicles citation practice.
- 2Chr.32.32 (thematic): Chronicles uses the same referral-to-ancillary records for a king’s deeds (Hezekiah), demonstrating the shared convention of citing 'the book of the kings/chronicles' as the fuller source.
- 2Chr.33.19 (verbal): Another explicit instance where the Chronicler says the remainder of a king's acts are recorded in 'the book of the kings of Israel,' echoing the language and function of the line in 1 Kgs 16:27 (here concerning Manasseh).
Alternative generated candidates
- As for the rest of the deeds of Omri, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
- As for the rest of the acts of Omri and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
1 K.16.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישכב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עמרי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- אבתיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,3s
- ויקבר: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בשמרון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וימלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אחאב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- תחתיו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- 1 Kings 16:29 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Ahab, Omri’s son, begins to reign—directly follows Omri’s death and succession.
- 1 Kings 22:40 (verbal): Uses the same royal formula ‘slept with his fathers; and his son reigned in his stead’ describing the end of a king’s reign and dynastic succession (here applied to Ahab).
- 1 Kings 16:25 (thematic): Describes Omri’s reign as especially wicked, providing background for the dynastic connection between Omri and Ahab and the continuity of royal wrongdoing.
- 1 Kings 14:20 (verbal): Another instance of the conventional phrase ‘slept with his fathers and was buried…,’ showing a recurring formulaic report of a king’s death and burial used throughout Kings/Chronicles.
Alternative generated candidates
- Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
- Then Omri slept with his fathers; they buried him in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half the people followed Tibni son of Ginath to make him king, and half followed Omri. But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni son of Ginath; so Tibni died, and Omri became king.
In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel. Omri reigned twelve years; six years he reigned at Tirzah. And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver. He built the hill and named the city he built after Shemer, the owner of the hill—Samaria.
Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did worse than all who were before him.
He walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and in his sin by which he made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel through their idols. Now the rest of the deeds of Omri, and all his might that he did—are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel?
Omri slept with his fathers; they buried him in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.