1 Kings 16:16

16 When they got the report, "Zimri has conspired against the king and killed him," right there in the camp they made Omri, commander of the army, king.

1 Kings 16:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 16:16

And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath
conspired, and hath also slain the king
Tidings came to the army of what he had done, which was displeasing to them:

wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over
Israel that day in the camp;
that is, all Israel that were in the army proclaimed Omri, their general, king; just as the Roman army declared Vespasian, their general, emperor of Rome, and as several of the emperors were chosen.

1 Kings 16:16 In-Context

14 The rest of Elah's life, what he said and did, is written in The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.
15 Zimri was king in Tirzah for all of seven days during the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Asa king of Judah. The Israelite army was on maneuvers near the Philistine town of Gibbethon at the time.
16 When they got the report, "Zimri has conspired against the king and killed him," right there in the camp they made Omri, commander of the army, king.
17 Omri and the army immediately left Gibbethon and attacked Tirzah.
18 When Zimri saw that he was surrounded and as good as dead, he entered the palace citadel, set the place on fire, and died.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.