Omri (I)

I. OMRI, or Amri, General of the Army of Elab King of Israel. Being at the Siege of Gibbethon, and hearing that his Master Elab was assassinated by Zimri, and that this Murderer had usurped his Kingdom; he immediately raised the Siege of Gibbethon, and being elected King by his Army, he march’d against Zimri, set upon him at Tirzah, whither he had retir’d, and press’d so hard upon him, that he forc’d him to burn himself and all his Family, in the Palace wherein he had shut up himself. Zimri reigned but seven Days, and died in the Year of the World 3075, Seleucidæ. before Christ 925, before the Vulgar Æra 929.

After the Death of Zimri all Israel was divided into two Parties. Half of the People acknowledged Omri for King, and the other half adhered to Tibni the Son of Gineth. This Division continued for four Years; and when Tibni was dead, all the People united again in the Person of Omri, who was owned as King of all Israel, and reigned twelve Years. That is, six Years at Tirzah, and six at Samaria.

Till then Tirzah had been the chief Place of Abode of the Kings of Israel. But when Omri made a Purchase of the Hill of Shomeron¹, for the Sum of two Talents of Silver; that is of our Money six hundred and eighty four Pounds seven Shillings and six Pence. He there built a new City, which he called Samaria, from the Name of the first Possessor Shemer or Shomer; and there he fix’d his Royal Seat. From which Time Samaria was always the Capital of the Kingdom of the ten Tribes.

Omri did Evil before the Lord, and his Crimes still exceeded those of his Predecessors. He walk’d in all the Ways of Jeroboam the Son of Nebat. He died at Samaria in the Year of the World 3086, before Christ 914, before the Vulgar Æra 918. His Successor was Ahab, who still exceeded him in all Kinds of Wickedness.

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