OMRI  , in the

Bible, the first great king of Israel after the separation of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, who flourished in the early part of the 9th century B.C . The ONAGRACEAE dynasty of Jeroboam had been exterminated by Baasha (see Asa) at a revolt when the army was besieging the Philistines at Gibbethon, an unidentified Danite site . A quarter of a century later, Baasha's son Elah, after a reign of two years, was slain by Zimri, captain of the chariots, in a drinking bout, and again the royal family were put to the sword . Meanwhile, the general Omri, who was at Gibbethon, was promptly elected king by the army, and Zimri himself in a short while' met his death in the royal city of Tirzah . However, fresh disturbance was caused by Tibni ben Ginath (perhaps of Naphtali), and Israel was divided into rival factions . Ultimately Tibni and his brother Joram (1 Kings xvi . 22, LXX.) were overcome, and Omri remained in sole possession of the throne . The compiler of the biblical narratives takes little interest in Omri's work (x Kings xvi . 15-28), and records briefly his purchase of Samaria, which became the capital of his dynasty (see SAMARIA) . The inscription of Mesha throws welcome light upon his conquest of Moab (q.v.); the position of Israel during the reign of Omri's son Ahab (q.v.) bears testimony to the success of the father; and the fact that the land continued to be known to the Assyrians down to the time of Sargon as " house of Omri " indicates the reputation which this little-known king enjoyed . (S . A .