Omri and Ahab, Evil Multiplies
[ READ ] 1 Kings 16:15–34
Zimri Reigns in Israel
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, 16 and the troops who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired, and he has killed the king.” Therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire and died, 19 because of his sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and for his sin which he committed, making Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy that he made, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
Omri Reigns in Israel
21 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. 22 But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.
25 Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the sins that he made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger by their idols. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 28 And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
Ahab Reigns in Israel
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. 31 And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, 16 and the troops who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired, and he has killed the king.” Therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire and died, 19 because of his sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the Lord, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and for his sin which he committed, making Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy that he made, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
Omri Reigns in Israel
21 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. 22 But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.
25 Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him. 26 For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in the sins that he made Israel to sin, provoking the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger by their idols. 27 Now the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 28 And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
Ahab Reigns in Israel
29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. 31 And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
This passage is difficult to read. History remembers these kings (and many more) as evil. They followed in the path of the first king in the Northern Kingdom, Jeroboam.
Jeroboam basically set up a counterfeit religion after the kingdoms divided. (See 1 Kings 12:26-32) He set up new places of worship and worshiped golden calves there. He said that anyone could be a priest. And the feasts and festivals did not celebrate and remember God’s faithfulness, but sacrificed to the calves.
The first king started this practice because he was afraid that the people would go back to Judah. Out of fear he chose to make his own god, one he could control. His line was cut off. More kings followed this path. Their lines also were cut off.
We see the line cut off again as Zimri and Omri and Tibni struggle for power. We see Omri come out on top, but only to take Jeroboam’s well greased slippery slope of deceit and fear to maintain power.
Ahab escalates the evil.
These men were leading a nation. They were supposed to be good shepherds. Their beliefs, their ways, their choices were not just affecting themselves but setting a standard for all the people in the Northern Kingdom. Each king had an opportunity to choose a better way for himself and his people. God sent prophets and guides like Jeremiah. He says in 6:16 that this better way was available.
16 Thus says the LORD:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Though we may not be leading a nation. We all have spaces where we lead. The choices we make affect not only ourselves but all who are placed under our leadership. What choices are we making? Are we choosing the good way? If not, why not?
- Kim Williams
Jeroboam basically set up a counterfeit religion after the kingdoms divided. (See 1 Kings 12:26-32) He set up new places of worship and worshiped golden calves there. He said that anyone could be a priest. And the feasts and festivals did not celebrate and remember God’s faithfulness, but sacrificed to the calves.
The first king started this practice because he was afraid that the people would go back to Judah. Out of fear he chose to make his own god, one he could control. His line was cut off. More kings followed this path. Their lines also were cut off.
We see the line cut off again as Zimri and Omri and Tibni struggle for power. We see Omri come out on top, but only to take Jeroboam’s well greased slippery slope of deceit and fear to maintain power.
Ahab escalates the evil.
These men were leading a nation. They were supposed to be good shepherds. Their beliefs, their ways, their choices were not just affecting themselves but setting a standard for all the people in the Northern Kingdom. Each king had an opportunity to choose a better way for himself and his people. God sent prophets and guides like Jeremiah. He says in 6:16 that this better way was available.
16 Thus says the LORD:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Though we may not be leading a nation. We all have spaces where we lead. The choices we make affect not only ourselves but all who are placed under our leadership. What choices are we making? Are we choosing the good way? If not, why not?
- Kim Williams
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ As you read the passage, was there a section that stood out to you? What was it that made it stand out from the rest of the passage?
+ Notice how many times the reign of Asa, King of Judah is mentioned. Does this surprise you? Why might the author have included it?
+ In verses 25 and 30 what is said of both Omri and Ahab? What additional sins do we see that Ahab committed? Verses 30b-33
+ As you read the passage, was there a section that stood out to you? What was it that made it stand out from the rest of the passage?
+ Notice how many times the reign of Asa, King of Judah is mentioned. Does this surprise you? Why might the author have included it?
+ In verses 25 and 30 what is said of both Omri and Ahab? What additional sins do we see that Ahab committed? Verses 30b-33
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What might it look like to see one’s sins listed in black and white for all to see? How might we be remembered by a biographer? How could a choice to turn from one sin today change the story?
+ What beliefs/practices might need to be challenged in your day-to-day life? Who or what do you worship? (Look at how you spend your time, talents, and resources)
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ What might it look like to see one’s sins listed in black and white for all to see? How might we be remembered by a biographer? How could a choice to turn from one sin today change the story?
+ What beliefs/practices might need to be challenged in your day-to-day life? Who or what do you worship? (Look at how you spend your time, talents, and resources)
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Dear Jesus, You alone are the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. You alone are the sovereign God! We confess that often we, like Omri and Ahab, want to be lord, we want to be king. We want things our way and we can use various means to get it. You tell us again and again that you have made a way, a good way. You tell us that you alone are Truth and that as we walk in it we will have life. Thank you for providing this way. Give us courage to choose the path to You for our sake and the sake of those we lead.
+ Pray with me:
Dear Jesus, You alone are the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. You alone are the sovereign God! We confess that often we, like Omri and Ahab, want to be lord, we want to be king. We want things our way and we can use various means to get it. You tell us again and again that you have made a way, a good way. You tell us that you alone are Truth and that as we walk in it we will have life. Thank you for providing this way. Give us courage to choose the path to You for our sake and the sake of those we lead.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What one idea resonated with you that you will reflect on today? What does God say about that idea in other places in Scripture? Is there an applicable verse that you could pray for yourself and others this week?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
+ What one idea resonated with you that you will reflect on today? What does God say about that idea in other places in Scripture? Is there an applicable verse that you could pray for yourself and others this week?
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