1 Kings 16 22

1 Kings 16:22 kjv

But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.

1 Kings 16:22 nkjv

But the people who followed Omri prevailed over the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri reigned.

1 Kings 16:22 niv

But Omri's followers proved stronger than those of Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

1 Kings 16:22 esv

But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king.

1 Kings 16:22 nlt

But Omri's supporters defeated the supporters of Tibni. So Tibni was killed, and Omri became the next king.

1 Kings 16 verses

1 Kings 16 22 Meaning

1 Kings 16:22 describes the pivotal moment when the prolonged civil conflict over the throne of the northern kingdom of Israel concluded. Following a period of great political instability marked by rapid successions and assassinations, two claimants, Omri and Tibni, vied for power. This verse details that the faction supporting Omri ultimately overpowered Tibni and his supporters, leading to Tibni's death and securing Omri's kingship over all Israel. This event solidified Omri's reign and initiated a new and powerful, albeit religiously corrupt, dynasty in the northern kingdom.

1 Kings 16 22 Context

The book of 1 Kings narrates the history of Israel from the reign of Solomon through the division of the kingdom and the subsequent reigns of kings in both Judah (southern kingdom) and Israel (northern kingdom). Chapter 16 focuses heavily on the turbulent history of the northern kingdom, Israel, immediately following the brief and violent reign of Zimri (only seven days, 1 Kgs 16:15). Prior to Zimri, there had been successive assassinations of kings Nadab, Baasha, and Elah, demonstrating a deep pattern of instability and rejection of YHWH's covenant (1 Kgs 15-16).

Verse 21 immediately preceding 16:22 reveals the kingdom's internal division: "Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts; half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri." This sets the stage for a period of civil war lasting for approximately four years. The political chaos was directly linked to the religious apostasy that began under Jeroboam I (1 Kgs 12:26-30). Unlike the stable Davidic dynasty in Judah, Israel lacked a covenant promise for its kingship, making it vulnerable to power struggles. The outcome described in 1 Kings 16:22, Omri's victory, ushers in the Omride dynasty, known for its political strength and economic prosperity, but also for reaching unprecedented depths of idolatry, particularly under Omri's son Ahab and his queen Jezebel, inviting direct prophetic confrontation from Elijah.

1 Kings 16 22 Word analysis

• But the people of Israel:
  • "But": Introduces a contrast to the preceding division (1 Kgs 16:21), signifying a turning point where one side prevails.
  • "the people of Israel" (עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל, `am Yisra'el): Refers specifically to the citizens of the northern kingdom, the ten tribes. Their collective action in making a king, not appointed by divine oracle or prophetic word, underscores the state of their rebellion and self-will, starkly contrasting with the covenantal appointment of the Davidic kings in Judah. This suggests a secular process of choosing a ruler based on military or political power, rather than divine approval.
• prevailed against Tibni:
  • "prevailed" (חָזַק, khazaq): This Hebrew root means "to be strong, firm, hard," but also "to grow strong, overcome, prevail, defeat." It implies more than just winning a single battle; it signifies gaining the definitive upper hand, consolidating power, and crushing opposition. It speaks to a determined effort and decisive victory that eliminated any further challenge from Tibni's faction. The means of prevailing would have been through military force and popular support (of his faction).
  • "against Tibni the son of Ginath": Identifies Omri's rival. The brief mention of Tibni in the biblical text suggests his defeat was decisive, and his historical significance quickly diminished, reflecting a temporary, ineffective resistance compared to Omri's enduring power. The meaning of "Tibni" (תִּבְנִי) is related to "straw" (תֶּבֶן, teben), possibly an ironic foreshadowing of his ephemeral power and ultimately broken resistance, much like straw.
• to make Omri king:
  • "to make Omri king": The goal of their prevailing was the establishment of Omri as the undisputed monarch. This act represents the popular acclamation and political legitimacy (within their societal structures) given to Omri by the dominant faction among the northern tribes. His rise to power, however, is juxtaposed in the wider narrative with his character and future actions being explicitly judged as "more evil than all who were before him" (1 Kgs 16:25).
• so Tibni died:
  • "so Tibni died": This simple declarative sentence confirms the absolute end of Tibni's challenge and his physical elimination. In the context of Ancient Near Eastern power struggles, the death of a rival was a common, often necessary, consequence for securing the throne, emphasizing the brutal nature of political ascendancy in the absence of stable, divinely sanctioned succession.
• and Omri reigned:
  • "and Omri reigned": Signifies the culmination of the conflict. This marks the commencement of his official and consolidated reign over the entire northern kingdom. This reign, despite its internal stability and international recognition, would be tragically marked by profound religious apostasy under Omri himself and particularly under his son Ahab, laying the groundwork for much of the subsequent narrative in 1 & 2 Kings concerning prophetic confrontations and divine judgment.

1 Kings 16 22 Bonus section

• Archaeological Confirmation: Omri is one of the few Israelite kings attested outside the biblical text. The Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone), dating to the 9th century BCE, mentions the "house of Omri," indicating his and his dynasty's significant political and military influence in the region, recognized by contemporary surrounding nations. This external confirmation lends historical weight to the biblical account of Omri's power.
• Foundation of Samaria: A significant act of Omri, mentioned in the very next verse (1 Kgs 16:24), is the purchase and establishment of Samaria as his new capital. This strategically chosen, defensible city became the center of the northern kingdom for centuries, solidifying Omri's reign and further distinguishing his kingdom from the old, divinely significant capital of Jerusalem in Judah.
• Wicked Legacy: While 1 Kgs 16:22 details his political triumph, Omri's legacy, particularly through his son Ahab, marked the zenith of state-sponsored idolatry in Israel. The phrase "statutes of Omri" is later used in Mic 6:16 as a shorthand for the deep spiritual corruption that plagued Israel. This underlines that military and political success, in biblical theology, does not equate to divine approval or righteousness.

1 Kings 16 22 Commentary

1 Kings 16:22 is a concise but deeply significant verse. It marks the decisive resolution of a period of severe internal turmoil in the northern kingdom of Israel, establishing the reign of Omri. The "people of Israel" actively participating in the power struggle and ultimately affirming Omri highlights the fluid and unstable nature of kingship in the Northern Kingdom, contrasting sharply with the divine covenant underpinning the Davidic monarchy in Judah. Omri's victory, rooted in military might and political maneuvering, ushers in a dynasty characterized by both political strength— evidenced later by external Assyrian records referencing "the house of Omri"— and profound spiritual wickedness. The narrator's brevity concerning Tibni's defeat and death underscores Omri's decisive ascendancy and the biblical author's focus on the lineage and actions of the ruling kings of Israel. This verse, therefore, serves as a crucial transition point, stabilizing the throne through secular means but setting the stage for deeper spiritual decline and prophetic confrontation.