1 Kings 16:17 kjv
And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
1 Kings 16:17 nkjv
Then Omri and all Israel with him went up from Gibbethon, and they besieged Tirzah.
1 Kings 16:17 niv
Then Omri and all the Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah.
1 Kings 16:17 esv
So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
1 Kings 16:17 nlt
So Omri led the entire army of Israel up from Gibbethon to attack Tirzah, Israel's capital.
1 Kings 16 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 16:15 | "In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days..." | Context: Zimri's brief, usurped reign in Tirzah |
| 1 Ki 16:16 | "When the army who were encamped heard that Zimri had conspired and murdered the king... Omri...king over Israel" | Context: Army's decision to enthrone Omri |
| 1 Ki 16:18 | "When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel..." | Outcome: Zimri's fall and death |
| 1 Ki 16:23 | "In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel..." | Omri's undisputed reign begins after civil war |
| 1 Ki 16:24 | "He bought the hill Samaria from Shemer...built on the hill and called the name of the city...Samaria..." | Omri founds Samaria, moving capital from Tirzah |
| Deut 17:15 | "you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses..." | Kingship: Divine vs. military choice of king |
| 2 Sam 5:6-9 | "The king and his men went to Jerusalem...And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David." | Seizing capital city as means to consolidate power |
| 1 Ki 15:27-28 | "Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon...became king in his place." | Precedent: Commanders assassinating and seizing throne from a siege at Gibbethon |
| Judges 9:5-6 | "Jotham’s youngest son remained...when Abimelech killed all his brothers...all the citizens of Shechem gathered and made Abimelech king..." | Violent political shifts, leadership struggles |
| 1 Sam 11:15 | "Then all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king..." | Popular acclamation and military backing of a king |
| 2 Ki 9:5-6 | "When Jehu came...they all quickly took their garments and put them under him...and proclaimed, 'Jehu is king!'" | Military leader proclaimed king in camp |
| 2 Ki 9:31 | "When Jehu entered the gate, he said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?”" | Zimri's archetype: treacherous assassin who faced a similar fate |
| 1 Ki 15:17 | "Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah..." | Kings attacking/building fortresses; military strategy |
| Jer 34:7 | "the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah...Lachish and Azekah, for these were the only fortified cities of Judah that remained." | Examples of fortified cities being besieged |
| Josh 19:44 | "Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath..." | Gibbethon's geographical location |
| 1 Ki 14:17 | "So Jeroboam’s wife arose...and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold...the child died." | Tirzah as the royal residence and capital |
| 2 Chron 13:4 | "Then Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim in the hill country of Ephraim..." | Mention of 'going up' to a significant location |
| Isa 1:8 | "And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city." | Biblical imagery of a besieged city |
| Amos 6:1 | "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria..." | Samaria becomes capital, illustrating consequences of leadership |
| Hosea 8:4 | "They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not." | Illegitimate kingship lacking divine approval |
| Ps 2:2 | "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed..." | Earthly power struggles often oppose divine will |
| Prov 28:15 | "Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people." | Reflects the instability of rule through might |
| Eccl 9:11 | "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong...but time and chance happen to them all." | Instability and unexpected turns in leadership struggles |
1 Kings 16 verses
1 Kings 16 17 Meaning
1 Kings 16:17 states that after Omri, the commander of the army, was proclaimed king by all Israel's forces at Gibbethon, he immediately led his entire military contingent from their current siege of Gibbethon. Their new objective was to march against Tirzah, the capital city, and lay siege to it. This action directly challenged Zimri, who had just usurped the throne by assassinating King Elah.
1 Kings 16 17 Context
1 Kings chapter 16 depicts a particularly chaotic period for the Northern Kingdom of Israel, characterized by rapid successions, regicides, and shifting loyalties among its leaders and military. Following Jeroboam's initial establishment of a new dynasty and cult, his successors struggle to maintain power. The narrative progresses through Nadab (Jeroboam's son), who is assassinated by Baasha (1 Ki 15:27). Baasha reigns and later his son Elah becomes king. At the very moment Israel's army, under commander Omri, is besieging the Philistine city of Gibbethon, King Elah is assassinated by Zimri, a chariot commander (1 Ki 16:9-10). Zimri's reign is short-lived; when the army at Gibbethon learns of Elah's murder and Zimri's usurpation, they reject Zimri and proclaim Omri as their new king (1 Ki 16:16). Verse 17 directly describes Omri's immediate, decisive response to this acclamation: abandoning the siege of Gibbethon to swiftly move on the capital, Tirzah, where Zimri resided, initiating a civil conflict for the throne.
1 Kings 16 17 Word analysis
- So: Hebrew:
וַיַּעַל(wa-yyaʿal), 'And he went up.' The "so" acts as a transitional conjunction, indicating a direct consequence or continuation of the preceding event, namely Omri's proclamation as king. - Omri: Hebrew:
עָמְרִי(Omri), meaning "bundle" or "servant of Yah." He was a military commander chosen by the Israelite army at Gibbethon. His actions here signify his leadership and resolve to secure his newly proclaimed kingship against the usurper Zimri. Omri would go on to establish a significant dynasty, though steeped in idolatry, profoundly influencing Israelite history. - went up: Hebrew:
וַיַּעַל(wa-yyaʿal). This verb often signifies movement to a higher elevation, which Tirzah likely was. In a military context, "going up" often implies launching a campaign, an advance, or moving with military force toward a target, underscoring Omri's aggressive and strategic initiative. - from Gibbethon: Hebrew:
מִגִּבְעָתוֹן(mi-Gibʿathôn). Gibbethon was a Philistine city in the territory of Dan, which the Israelite army had been besieging (1 Ki 15:27, 16:15). Omri's decision to abandon this siege underscores the urgent and higher priority of securing internal power over external conflict at this critical juncture. - and all Israel with him: Hebrew:
וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עִמּוֹ(wə-khāl-yiśrā’ēl ʿimmô). This phrase emphasizes the overwhelming support and legitimacy Omri received from the organized military force of the Northern Kingdom. It was not a fragmented rebellion but a unified movement of the main army, indicating widespread rejection of Zimri and commitment to Omri. This 'Israel' refers to the Israelite forces, representative of the entire northern kingdom. - and they besieged: Hebrew:
וַיָּצֻרוּ(wa-yyāṣurū). A strong military term meaning "to lay siege," "to encamp against with hostile intent," or "to surround." It implies a concerted military action designed to capture a fortified location, signifying a full-scale assault on Tirzah to dislodge Zimri. - Tirzah: Hebrew:
תִּרְצָה(Tirṣah), meaning "pleasantness." It was the beautiful capital of the Northern Kingdom from the time of Jeroboam I (1 Ki 14:17, 15:21, 16:6, 16:8, 16:9, 16:15). Its strategic and symbolic importance as the seat of royal power made it Omri's immediate and necessary target.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- So Omri went up from Gibbethon: This highlights Omri's decisive action and the shift in Israel's military focus from external warfare to resolving internal political chaos. It portrays him as a pragmatic leader prioritizing stability within the kingdom.
- and all Israel with him: This emphasizes the military's collective endorsement and overwhelming numerical superiority backing Omri, demonstrating the authority and breadth of his immediate claim to kingship compared to Zimri's isolated position.
- and they besieged Tirzah: This phrase encapsulates the military confrontation that ensued, demonstrating the chosen method for resolving the power vacuum and asserting Omri's sovereignty. The siege indicates a serious, comprehensive military campaign to secure the capital and establish the new regime.
1 Kings 16 17 Bonus section
- The emphasis on "all Israel with him" indicates a significant degree of consensus among the military command, contrasting sharply with Zimri's isolated position as a mere assassin with no broad support base.
- This verse indirectly sets up Omri's eventual abandonment of Tirzah as capital in favor of the newly constructed Samaria (1 Ki 16:24). The siege of Tirzah, and Zimri's burning of its palace (1 Ki 16:18), likely contributed to Omri's decision to seek a more defensible and strategic location for his new seat of power, solidifying his dynastic claim away from the old, troubled capital.
- Omri's ability to mobilize "all Israel" (the army) so swiftly showcases his charisma and military acumen, traits essential for survival and dominance in a volatile political landscape where kings were made and unmade by force.
1 Kings 16 17 Commentary
1 Kings 16:17 encapsulates a pivotal moment in the Northern Kingdom's early history, marking a decisive turning point in a period plagued by chronic political instability. Upon being proclaimed king by the united army at Gibbethon, Omri acted with speed and strategic insight. His immediate withdrawal from an external war against the Philistines to confront Zimri in Tirzah demonstrated a keen understanding that consolidating internal power was paramount. This rapid redirection of forces, backed by "all Israel" (referring to the military), underscored the overwhelming consensus for Omri and the profound rejection of Zimri's short, blood-soaked reign. The act of besieging Tirzah wasn't just a military maneuver; it was a clear statement of legitimate intent, leading to the collapse of Zimri's rule and paving the way for the Omride dynasty, which, despite its wickedness in God's eyes, brought a measure of stability and influence to Israel for several generations. The verse thus sets the stage for a new, powerful, and influential chapter in Israel's history.