1 Kings 16:21

Omri Becomes King of Israel

21 The people of Israel divided up into two groups. Half of them wanted Tibni to be king. He was the son of Ginath. The other half wanted Omri.

1 Kings 16:21 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 16:21

Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts
About the succession in the kingdom:

half the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king:
these were the friends of Zimri, or however such who did not like that the army should impose a king upon them; who this Tibni was is not said:

and half followed Omri;
the general of the army, perhaps the whole of that.

1 Kings 16:21 In-Context

19 because of the sins he had committed. He had done what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He had lived the way Jeroboam had lived. He had sinned as Jeroboam had sinned. Jeroboam had also caused Israel to commit the same sins.

20 The other events of Zimri's rule are written down. The way he turned against King Elah and killed him is written down. All of those things are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.

21 The people of Israel divided up into two groups. Half of them wanted Tibni to be king. He was the son of Ginath. The other half wanted Omri.

22 But Omri's followers were stronger than those of Tibni, the son of Ginath. So Tibni died. And Omri began to rule.

23 Omri became king of Israel. It was in the 31st year that Asa was king of Judah. Omri ruled for 12 years. He ruled in Tirzah for six of those years.