View source for Omri

{{Short description|Biblical King of Israel}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name               = Omri
| title              = 
| image              = Omri King.png
| caption            = Portrait from ''[[Promptuarium Iconum Insigniorum]]'' (1553) by [[Guillaume Rouillé]]
| succession         = [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|King of Israel (Northern Kingdom)]]
| reign              = 885-874 BC
| coronation         = 
| full name          = 
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = <!-- {{birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| birth_place        = 
| death_date         = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth) -->
| death_place        = 
| burial_date        = 
| burial_place       = <!-- <br /> {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| predecessor        = [[Tibni]]
| successor          = [[Ahab]]
| spouse             = 
| issue              = [[Ahab]]<br>[[Athaliah]]<ref>For a discussion about whether Athaliah was actually the daughter of Omri or of Omri's son [[Ahab]], see {{Cite journal|title = Queen Athaliah: The Daughter of Ahab or Omri?|last1 = Klein|first1 = Reuven Chaim |journal = Jewish Bible Quarterly |year = 2014|volume = 42|issue = 1|pages = 11–20|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305725131}}</ref><br>[[Nimshi]]?
| royal house        = [[Omrides|House of Omri]]
| dynasty            = 
| father             = 
| mother             = 
| signature          = 
}}
'''Omri''' ({{langx|he|{{Script/Hebrew|עָמְרִי}}}}, ''‘Omrī''; {{langx|akk|𒄷𒌝𒊑𒄿}} ''Ḫûmrî'' [''ḫu-um-ri-i'']; [[fl.]] 9th century BCE) was, according to the [[Hebrew Bible]], the sixth [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|king of Israel]]. He was a successful military campaigner who extended the northern kingdom of Israel. Other monarchs from the House of Omri are [[Ahab]], [[Ahaziah of Israel|Ahaziah]], [[Joram of Israel|Joram]], and [[Athaliah]].<ref>For a discussion about whether Athaliah was actually the daughter of Omri or of Omri's son [[Ahab]], see {{Cite journal|title = Queen Athaliah: The Daughter of Ahab or Omri?|last1 = Klein|first1 = Reuven Chaim |journal = Jewish Bible Quarterly |year = 2014|volume = 42|issue = 1|pages = 11–20|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305725131}}</ref> Like his predecessor, king [[Zimri (king)|Zimri]], who ruled for only seven days, Omri is the second king mentioned in the Bible without a statement of his [[Twelve tribes of Israel|tribal origin]]. One possibility, though unproven, is that he was of the [[tribe of Issachar]].<ref name="MillerHayes">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uDijjc_D5P0C&pg=PA266 |page=266|title=A History of Ancient Israel and Judah |publisher=James Maxwell Miller, John Haralson Hayes |date=2006 |access-date=25 January 2015|isbn=9780664212629}}</ref>

Nothing is said in Scripture about the lineage of Omri. His name may be [[Amorite]], [[Arabic]], or [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] in origin.<ref name="Thiel">Thiel, W., "Omri", ''The Anchor Bible Dictionary'', p. 17, vol. 5, D.N. Freedman (ed.). New York: Doubleday (1992)</ref> Omri is credited with the construction of [[Samaria (ancient city)|Samaria]] and establishing it as his capital. Although the Bible is silent about other actions taken during his reign, he is described as doing more evil than all the kings who preceded him.<ref name=Berlin>{{cite book |last1=Berlin |first1=Adele |last2=Brettler |first2=Marc Zvi |title=The Jewish Study Bible: Jewish Publication Society Tanakh Translation |date=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780195297515 |page=710 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDuy3p5QvEYC&q=Omri+Israel&pg=PA710}}</ref> An alternative modern hypothesis maintains that, as founder of the [[Omrides|House of Omri]], an Israelite [[dynasty|royal house]], his kingdom formed the first state in the Land of Israel, and that the [[Kingdom of Judah]] only achieved statehood later.<ref name="Grabbe" >{{cite book |author-link=Lester L. Grabbe |first=Lester L. |last=Grabbe |chapter=The Kingdom of Israel to the Fall of Samaria: If We Had Only the Bible |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WUGtAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA70 |title=Ahab Agonistes: The Rise and Fall of the Omri Dynasty |date=28 April 2007 |publisher=A&C Black |pages=54–99, 70, 82–4|isbn=9780567045409 }} (Lemche-Thompson hypothesis)</ref>

Extrabiblical sources such as the [[Mesha Stele]] and the [[Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III]] also mention his name; however, in the case of the Black Obelisk the reference is to the [[Omrides|dynasty named for Omri]] rather than to Omri himself. Many{{Which|date=July 2025}} scholars consider Omri the first truly [[historical figure]] in the Bible, though this is debated.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

== Name ==
The name "Omri" itself is puzzling to scholars. Its etymology is uncertain, and theories have proposed an origin in several [[Semitic languages]].<ref name="Thiel" /> In the Hebrew Bible, the name "Omri" appears three times outside of references to the king, first to denote a son of [[Becher (biblical figure)|Becher]], the second of [[Benjamin]]'s ten sons,<ref>[[1 Chronicles]] 7:8</ref> second to denote a descendant of [[Perez (son of Judah)|Perez]], son of Judah,<ref>1 Chron. 9:4</ref> and finally to denote a prince of the [[tribe of Issachar]],<ref>1 Chron. 27:18</ref> seemingly suggesting an Israelite origin for the name. Likewise, that [[Tel Jezreel|Jezreel]] was the site of Omri's estate has been taken by some scholars as indicating that Omri had called the area home, which may imply he was a scion of the [[tribe of Issachar]],<ref name="MillerHayes" /> but this remains unproven. If Omri, and by extension his name, were indeed of Israelite provenance, a number of [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] etymologies have been proposed for ''‘Omrī'': including a [[hypocorism]] of the unattested personal name ''‘Omrīyyā'' ({{Script/Hebrew|עָמְרִיָּה}} "servant of [[Jah|Yah]]"), and derivation from the verb ''‘āmar'' ({{Script/Hebrew|עָמַר}}) meaning "to bind, gather".<ref>{{Strong-number|Omri|H|6018}}</ref>

== Reign ==
=== Struggle for the succession ===
According to the biblical narrative, Omri was "commander of the army" of [[King Elah]] when [[Zimri (king)|Zimri]], "commander of half the king's chariots", murdered [[Elah (king)|Elah]] and made himself king. Instead, the troops at [[Gibbethon]] chose Omri as king, and he led them to [[Tirzah (ancient city)|Tirzah]] where they besieged it. When [[Zimri (king)|Zimri]] saw that the city was taken, he committed suicide by shutting himself in the royal palace and setting it ablaze. He died after a reign of only seven days. Although Zimri was eliminated, "half of the people" supported [[Tibni]] in opposition to Omri. It took Omri four years to subdue Tibni and at last proclaim himself undisputed king of Israel.<ref name=Berlin />

=== Samaria and successor ===
Initially, the capital was in [[Tirzah (ancient city)|Tirzah]], which had been besieged and the royal palace had been burned down. The [[Jewish Encyclopedia]] suggests that "the associations of Tirzah were so repellent and sanguinary, and the location so poor for a capital, that Omri purchased a new site" for his residence.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singer |first1=Isidore |last2=Adler |first2=Cyrus |title=The Jewish Encyclopedia |date=1905 |publisher=[[Funk & Wagnalls]] |page=401 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6F5LAQAAMAAJ&q=Omri+Jewish+encyclopedia&pg=PA401}}</ref> This was in [[Samaria]], on a hill purchased from Shemer for two [[Talent (measurement)|talents]] of silver, where Omri built a new capital for the kingdom. In Samaria, Omri reigned until his death and was buried there. His son [[Ahab]] became the next king.<ref name=Berlin />

== Date ==
Omri became king of Israel in the 31st year of [[Asa of Judah|Asa]], [[king of Judah]] and reigned for 12 years, 6 years of which were in Tirzah. The biblical reference to the period of rivalry with [[Tibni]] is from the 27th year of Asa to the 31st year.<ref name=Berlin /> There are several possible dates: [[William F. Albright]] has dated his reign to 876–869 BCE, [[E. R. Thiele]] offers the dates of 888 BCE to 880 BCE for his rivalry with Tibni and 880–874 BCE for his sole reign,<ref>Edwin Thiele, ''[[The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings]]'', (1st ed.; New York: Macmillan, 1951; 2d ed.; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965; 3rd ed.; Grand Rapids: Zondervan/Kregel, 1983). {{ISBN|0-8254-3825-X}}, 9780825438257</ref> while [[Paul L. Maier]] affirms that it happened between 881–873 BCE.<ref>Paul L. Maier ''Josephus: The Essential Writings'', 1988; Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan</ref>

== Archaeological sources ==
[[File:Louvre 042010 01.jpg|thumb|upright|The Mesha Stele]]
[[File:Omri.melek.israel.gif|thumb|{{Script/Hebrew|עמרי מלך ישראל}} (''‘mry mlk yšr’l'') – "Omri king of Israel" as mentioned in the [[Moabite inscription]]]]
The fortress at [[Jezreel (city)|Jezreel]] was situated on one of the main east–west routes through the kingdom. Hugh Williamson believes it served not only a military function, but also a political one; a very visible example of grandiose public works used as a means of social control and to assert claims of legitimacy.<ref>Williamson, Hugh G.M., "Tel Jezreel and the Dynasty of Omri", ''Palestine Exploration Quarterly'' 128: p. 49, (1996)</ref>

The Moabite [[Mesha stele]] (on display in the [[Louvre]]) indicates that Omri expanded his holdings to include northern [[Moab]] east of the [[Jordan River]]. It makes reference to the oppression of [[Moab]] by "Omri King of Israel". Israel would later become identified in sources as the "[[House of Omri]]" (''Bit-Humria''),<ref name="JBP">[[James B. Pritchard]], ed., ''[[Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament]]'' (3rd ed.; Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1969) 283. {{ISBN|0-691-03503-2}}</ref> with the term "Israel" being used less and less as history progressed (the other defining term for "Israel" is "Samaria", beginning in the reign of [[Jehoash of Israel|Joash]]).{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}.

The Assyrian [[Black Obelisk]] in the [[British Museum]] has been interpreted as referring to [[Jehu]] "son of Omri", though that interpretation has been questioned, in favor of the reading "[[Omride]]".<ref name=McCarter>McCarter, P. Kyle "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/1356327 'Yaw, Son of Omri': A Philological Note on Israelite Chronology]." ''Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research'', No. 216 (Dec. 1974), pp. 5–7.</ref><ref name=Thiele>{{cite web| url = https://www.jstor.org/stable/1356296| title = Edwin R. Thiele, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 222 (Apr., 1976), pp. 19–23| jstor = 1356296}}</ref>

== The Omride Dynasty ==
{{Main|Omrides}}
[[File:Jehu-Obelisk-cropped.jpg|thumb|300px|right|In a scene from the [[Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III|Black Obelisk]] [[Jehu]], designated ''<sup>m</sup>Ia-ú-a mar <sup>m</sup>Hu-um-ri-i'' (Jehu of the land of people<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/cuneiformparall00rogegoog |page=[https://archive.org/details/cuneiformparall00rogegoog/page/n334 304] |title= Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament |publisher=Eaton & Mains |last1=Rogers |first1=Robert William |year=1912 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Bezold|first1=Carl|last2=King|first2=L. W.|date=1889|title=Catalogue of the Cuneiform Tablets in the Kouyunjik Collection of the British Museum|publisher=British Museum Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MEI8AAAAMAAJ |isbn=1145519350}}</ref> of Omri) bows before [[Shalmaneser III]].]]
The [[Omrides|short-lived dynasty founded by Omri]] constituted a new chapter in the history of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It ended almost fifty years of constant civil war over the throne. There was peace with the [[Kingdom of Judah]] to the south, and even cooperation between the two rival states, while relations with neighboring [[Sidon]] to the north were bolstered by marriages negotiated between the two royal courts. This state of peace with two powerful neighbors enabled the Kingdom of Israel to expand its influence and even political control in [[Transjordan (Bible)|Transjordan]], and these factors combined brought economic prosperity to the kingdom.

On the other hand, peace with Sidon also resulted in the penetration of [[Phoenicia]]n religious ideas into the kingdom and led to a ''[[Culture war|kulturkampf]]'' between traditionalists (as personified by the [[prophet]] [[Elijah]] and his followers) and the aristocracy (as personified by Omri's son and heir [[Ahab]] and his consort [[Jezebel (biblical)|Jezebel]]). In foreign affairs, this period paralleled the rise of the Kingdom of [[Aram (biblical region)|Aram]] based in [[Damascus]], and Israel soon found itself at war in the northeast.  Most threatening, however, was the ascendancy of [[Assyria]], which was beginning to expand westward from [[Mesopotamia]]: the [[Battle of Qarqar]] (853 BCE), which pitted [[Shalmaneser III]] of [[Assyria]] against a coalition of local kings, including Ahab, was the first clash between Assyria and Israel. It was the first in a series of wars that would eventually lead to the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE and the reduction of the Kingdom of Judah to an Assyrian tributary state.

In 841 BCE, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III campaigned along the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean coast]] and forced [[Jehu]] to pay tribute. Assyrian kings frequently referred to Omri's successors as belonging to the "House of Omri" (''Bit Hu-um-ri-a'').<ref name="JBP"/>

== See also ==
*[[History of ancient Israel and Judah]]
*[[List of biblical figures identified in extra-biblical sources]]

== References ==
{{EB1911 Poster|Omri}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|House of Omri<br><small>''Contemporary [[Kingdom of Judah|King of Judah]]:''</small> [[Asa of Judah|Asa]]||||}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Zimri (king)|Zimri]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|King of Israel]]|years=Rival to Tibni: 885–880 BCE<br>Sole reign: 880–874 BCE}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ahab]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{IsraeliteKings}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:9th-century BCE kings of Israel]]
[[Category:Omrides]]