Bible Dictionaries
Omri

Holman Bible Dictionary

(ahm' ri) Personal name meaning, “pilgrim” or “life.” 1. King of Israel 885-874 B.C. and founder of the Omride dynasty, which ruled until 842. Omri came to the throne in a very odd manner. Zimri, a chariot captain in Israel's army, assassinated King Elah and took control of the palace of Tirzah (1 Kings 16:8-15 ). Half of the people rebelled and installed Omri (“captain of the host,” 1 Kings 16:16 ) as king. When Zimri realized his situation was hopeless, he burned the palace down upon himself. Omri became king only after successfully opposing another rebellion in the person of Tibni (1 Kings 16:21-22 ). In his reign of eleven years, Omri's greatest accomplishment was to buy the hill of Samaria and build the capital of Israel there. He was succeeded by his son, Ahab. Assyrian sources continued to call Israel, “the land of Omri.” Micah accused Jerusalem of following Omri's actions and also his son Ahab's. That was grounds for God's destroying Jerusalem (Micah 6:16 ). 2 . Officer of tribe of Issachar under David (1 Chronicles 27:18 ). 3 . Grandson of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:8 ). 4 . Grandfather of member of tribe of Judah who returned to Jerusalem from Exile about 537 B.C.