Omri

15In Asa's twenty-seventh year as king of Judah, Zimri ruled in Tirzah for seven days. Israel's army was camped outside the Philistine town of Gibbethon.

In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

NoteThe Philistines were a people who lived near the sea, next to Israel. The two often fought each other. Israel's army was camped at Gibbethon to take it from them.

16The soldiers in the camp heard the news. Zimri had made a secret plan and had killed the king. So that very day, all Israel made Omri their king. Omri was the commander of the army.

And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.

17Omri and all the Israelites left Gibbethon. They marched to Tirzah and surrounded the city.

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

NoteTo surround a city means to sit outside its walls and wait. No food or help can get in. In time the people inside give up.

18Zimri saw that the city had been taken. So he went into the strong part of the palace. He set the palace on fire around himself, and he died there.

And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

NoteCities had walls, and palaces had one strong tower inside. It was the last safe place when enemies got in.

19This happened because of the sins Zimri had done. He did evil in the LORD's sight. He lived the same bad way Jeroboam did, and he led Israel to sin.

For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.

20The other things Zimri did, and the plan he made against the king, are written down. They are in the book called the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

21Then the people of Israel split into two groups. Half wanted Tibni, the son of Ginath, to be king. Half wanted Omri.

Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.

22But Omri's side was stronger than Tibni's side. So Tibni died, and Omri became king.

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

23In Asa's thirty-first year as king of Judah, Omri became king of Israel. He ruled twelve years, and six of them were in Tirzah.

In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.

24Omri bought a hill from a man named Shemer. He paid two talents of silver for it. He built a city on the hill. He named the city Samaria, after Shemer, who had owned the hill.

And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.

NoteA talent was a big weight of silver, about seventy-five pounds. Two talents was a lot of money, enough to buy a whole hill.

25But Omri did evil in the LORD's sight. He was worse than every king before him.

But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.

26He lived just the way Jeroboam son of Nebat had lived. He did Jeroboam's sins and led Israel to sin. He made the LORD, the God of Israel, angry with their worthless idols.

For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.

27The other things Omri did, and how strong he was, are written down. They are in the book called the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

28Then Omri died, like his fathers before him. He was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king after him.

So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.

9The voice of the LORD calls out to the city. It is wise to respect his name. Pay attention to the punishment that is coming. Pay attention to the One who sent it.

The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

NoteThe city means Jerusalem, the main city of God's people. In the King James, "the rod" is a stick used for punishing. It stands for the hard time that is coming.

10"You wicked people, are your houses still full of things you got by cheating? Are you still using measuring baskets that are too small? I hate that.

Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?

NotePeople bought grain by filling a basket to measure it. A cheater used a basket smaller than it should be. Then buyers paid full price and got less food.

11Should I call people honest when their scales lie? Should I, when their bags are full of false weights?

Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

NoteThere were no coins yet, so people paid with pieces of silver. The silver was weighed on scales against stone weights. A cheater carried weights that were the wrong size. That way he got more silver than he should.

12The rich people in the city hurt others. The people who live there tell lies. Their mouths are full of tricks.

For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13So I am hitting you hard. I am leaving you empty and ruined because of your sins.

Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

14You will eat, but you will still feel hungry. That empty feeling will stay with you. You will grab things, but you will not keep them. What you do keep, I will hand over to war.

Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

15You will plant seeds, but you will not gather any crop. You will press olives, but you will get no oil to rub on your skin. You will squeeze grapes, but you will drink no wine.

Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

NotePeople rubbed olive oil on their skin, a little like lotion today. It was part of feeling clean and cared for.

16You have kept the rules of King Omri. You do what King Ahab's family did. You follow their advice. So I will leave your land empty. People will laugh at everyone who lives there. You will have to carry the shame of my people."

For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

NoteOmri and Ahab were kings of Israel long before Micah was born. Both of them led the people to worship other gods. Their names became a way of saying "very bad king."