The Divided Kingdom

This came about because of the sins he committed in doing what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, in living as Yarov'am had lived, and in sinning by making Isra'el sin.

Other activities of Zimri and his conspiracy are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

At this point the people of Isra'el divided into two factions. Half of the people went after Tivni the son of Ginat to make him king, while the other half followed 'Omri.

But the faction supporting 'Omri won out over that of Tivni the son of Ginat; so Tivni died, and 'Omri became king.

It was in the thirty-first year of Asa king of Y'hudah that 'Omri began his reign over Isra'el, and he ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirtzah.

He bought Mount Shomron from Shemer for 132 pounds of silver. On the mountain he built a city, which he named Shomron after Shemer, who had owned the mountain.

'Omri did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, outdoing all his predecessors in wickedness;

for he lived entirely in the manner of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, committing the sins with which he made Isra'el sin, thereby angering ADONAI the God of Isra'el with their worthless idols.

Other activities of 'Omri and the power he demonstrated are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

Then 'Omri slept with his ancestors and was buried in Shomron, and Ach'av his son became king in his place.

It was in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Y'hudah that Ach'av the son of 'Omri began his rule over Isra'el; Ach'av the son of 'Omri ruled twenty-two years over Isra'el in Shomron.

Ach'av the son of 'Omri did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective, outdoing all his predecessors [in wickedness].

But then, as if it had been a trifling thing for him to commit the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, he took as his wife Izevel the daughter of Etba'al king of the Tzidonim, and went and served Ba'al and worshipped him.

He erected an altar for Ba'al in the house of Ba'al, which he had built in Shomron.

Ach'av also set up the asherah; indeed, Ach'av did more to anger ADONAI the God of Isra'el, than all the kings of Isra'el preceding him.

It was during his time that Hi'el of Beit-El rebuilt Yericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of his firstborn son Aviram and erected its gates at the cost of his youngest son S'guv. This was in keeping with the word of ADONAI spoken through Y'hoshua the son of Nun.

Eliyahu from Tishbe, an inhabitant of Gil'ad, said to Ach'av, "As ADONAI the God of Isra'el lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither rain nor dew in the years ahead unless I say so."

Then the word of ADONAI came to him:

"Leave here, turn to the east, and hide in Vadi K'rit near the Yarden.

You are to drink from the stream, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."

So he went and acted according to the word of ADONAI- he went and lived in Vadi K'rit near the Yarden.

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the stream.

After a while the stream dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

Then this word of ADONAI came to him:

"Get up; go to Tzarfat, a village in Tzidon; and live there. I have ordered a widow there to provide for you."