1 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._ Then were the people ... divided into two parts - i:e., the people principally, it may be presumed, of Tirzah, who supported Tibni, while Omri had the army on his side. The factions that ensued occasioned a four years' duration (cf. 1 Kings 16:15 with 1 Kings 16:23) of anarchy or civil war. Whatever might be the public opinion of Omri's merits, a large body of the people disapproved of the mode of his election, and declared for Tibni. The army, however, as usual in such circumstances (and they had the will of Providence favouring them), prevailed over all opposition, and Omri became undisputed possessor of the throne....

15-28 When men forsake God, they will be left to plague one another. Proud aspiring men ruin one another. Omri struggled with Tibni some years. Though we do not always understand the rules by which God governs nations and individuals in his providence, we may learn useful lessons from the history before us. When tyrants succeed each other, and massacres, conspiracies, and civil wars, we may be sure the Lord has a controversy with the people for their sins; they are loudly called to repent and reform. Omri made himself infamous by his wickedness. Many wicked men have been men of might and renown; have built cities, and their names are found in history; but they have no name in the book of life....

Verse 1 Kings 16:21. _DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS_] Why this division took place we cannot tell; the people appear to have been for Tibni, the _army_ for Omri; and the latter prevailed....

EXPOSITION This division of chapters, immediately after the commencement of the narrative of the reign of Baasha, is somewhat unfortunate, inasmuch as it obscures the close connexion between the sin of Baasha and the prophecy which it provoked. The idea the historian would convey is clearly this—the analogy between the dynasty of Jeroboam and that which supplanted it, (1) in their sin, (2) in the denunciation of each by a prophet, and (3) in the punishments which followed their sins an analogy so close that the prophet Jehu almost employs the _ipsissima verba _of his predecessor, Ahijah. 1 KINGS 16:1 THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO JEHU, THE SON OF HANANI [Hanani is mentioned in...

THEN WERE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS,.... About the succession in the kingdom: HALF THE PEOPLE FOLLOWED TIBNI THE SON OF GINATH, TO MAKE HIM KING: these were the friends of Zimri, or however such who did not like that the army should impose a king upon them; who this Tibni was is not said: AND HALF FOLLOWED OMRI; the general of the army, perhaps the whole of that....

4. KINGS OF ISRAEL Chapter S 15:25-16 _ 1. Nadab, King of Israel (1 Kings 15:25)_ 2. Baasha, King of Israel (1 Kings 15:34; 1 Kings 16:1) 3. Elah, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:8) 4. Zimri, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:15) 5. Divisions (1 Kings 16:21) 6. Omri, King of Israel (1 Kings 16:23) 7. Ahab ...

1 KINGS 15:33 TO 1 KINGS 16:34. BAASHA'S DYNASTY. RISE OF THE HOUSE OF OMRI. Nothing is told us of Baasha except the usual annalistic details, and, that a prophet named Jehu foretold the destruction of his whole house. His son Elah was at war with the Philistines (1 Kings 16:15), but remained at Tirzah (p. 30), which at this time was the chief residence of the kings of Israel. Zimri slew him and reigned but seven days, and was then attacked by the army under Omri, and burned himself in his house. For four years, (_cf._ 1 Kings 16:15 with 1 Kin

Two parties in Israel. Omri's followers prevail. Reign of Omri, and the building of Samaria (Not in Chronicles) 21. _divided into two parts_ Probably it was the civil population, which at first followed Zimri, and after his death, Tibni, while the military strength declared for their commander-in-chief Omri. _half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath_ Of Tibni we have no information but what is to be gathered from this passage. Comparing the date of Omri's accession in 1 Kings 16:23, viz. the 31st year of Asa, with that of Zimri's death in the 27th year of the same king (see 1 Kings 16:15) we find that the struggle between the two parties was continued for four years....

D. THE OMRI DYNASTY 16:21-34 The Omri dynasty ruled Israel for forty-four years. The closing verses of chapter 16 contain brief notices concerning (1) Omri's rise to power (1 Kings 16:21-22); (2) the reign of Omri (1 Kings 16:23-28); and (3) the early years of Ahab (1 Kings 16:29-34). Sixth King of Israel OMRI 885-874 B.C. (_Heaping_) 1 Kings 16:15-28 Synchronism Omri 1 = Asa 27 _The curse of the Lord is in the bouse of the wicked; but He blesses the habitation of the just._...

THE REIGNS OF ELAH, ZIMRI, AND OMRI 1. Jehu the son of Hanani] Hanani is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 16:7. Jehu's denunciation of Baasha is similar to Ahijah's denunciation of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:7)....