23 In the thirty-first e year of Asa king of Judah , Omri became king over Israel and reigned twelve e years ; he reigned six years at Tirzah . 24 He bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver ; and he built on the hill , and named e the city which he built Samaria , after the name of Shemer , the owner of the hill . 25 Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord , and acted more wickedly than all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat and in his sins which he made Israel sin , provoking the Lord God of Israel with their idols . 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did and his might which he showed , are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles e of the Kings of Israel ? 28 So Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria ; and Ahab his son became king in his place .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 16:23-28
Commentary on 1 Kings 16:15-28
(Read 1 Kings 16:15-28)
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.