1 Kings 16:17

And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

And Omri {H6018} went up {H5927} from Gibbethon {H1405}, and all Israel {H3478} with him, and they besieged {H6696} Tirzah {H8656}.

'Omri and all Isra'el with him withdrew from Gib'ton and besieged Tirtzah.

Then Omri and all the Israelites marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.

And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

Commentary

Context of 1 Kings 16:17

This verse is situated in a highly turbulent period of the Northern Kingdom of Israel's history, marked by rapid successions and violent coups. King Elah has just been assassinated by his chariot commander, Zimri, who then reigned for only seven days (1 Kings 16:15). Omri, the commander of Israel's army, was besieging the Philistine city of Gibbethon when news of Zimri's treason reached the troops. Upon hearing this, "all Israel" (referring to the army and likely general popular sentiment) immediately proclaimed Omri king. Verse 17 describes Omri's swift and decisive military action as he abandons the siege at Gibbethon to confront the usurper Zimri directly in the capital city.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Political Instability and Violence: The immediate context highlights the extreme political instability in the Northern Kingdom, where power was frequently seized through assassination and military might rather than divine appointment or peaceful succession. This period is a stark contrast to the more stable (though not perfect) Davidic dynasty in Judah.
  • Military Power as a Path to Leadership: Omri's ascent to the throne is a clear demonstration of military strength dictating leadership. He was chosen by the army, and his first act as proclaimed king was a military campaign against the sitting ruler.
  • Retribution for Treason: Omri's immediate march on Tirzah signifies swift retribution against Zimri for his act of regicide and usurpation. The narrative emphasizes the immediate consequences for those who seize power through unlawful means.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "went up from Gibbethon" (Hebrew: וַיַּעַל עָמְרִי מִגִּבְּתוֹן - wayya'al Omri migGibbetôn) indicates a military advance or movement. "Besieged Tirzah" (וַיָּצֻרוּ עַל־תִּרְצָה - wayyāṣûrû ‘al-Tirtsâ) describes the classic military tactic of surrounding a city to cut off supplies and force its surrender, which was a common method of warfare in the ancient Near East.

Practical Application

This verse, while historical, serves as a powerful reminder of the destructive nature of ambition unchecked by divine principles. It illustrates how the pursuit of power through violence and deceit often leads to cycles of instability and further bloodshed. For believers, it underscores the importance of righteous leadership and the consequences of a society that departs from God's established order. The tumultuous events foreshadow Omri's own reign, which, though militarily successful (including his move to build Samaria, 1 Kings 16:24), was marked by continued spiritual decline, as detailed in subsequent verses.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 18:9

    ¶ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which [was] the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.

  • 2 Kings 18:12

    Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, [and] all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear [them], nor do [them].

  • Judges 9:50

    ¶ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

  • Luke 19:43

    For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

  • Luke 19:44

    And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

  • 2 Kings 25:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, [that] Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

  • 2 Kings 25:4

    And the city was broken up, and all the men of war [fled] by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which [is] by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees [were] against the city round about:) and [the king] went the way toward the plain.
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