Omri (Hebrew:"The Lord is my life") is a king of Israel, successful military campaigner and first in the line of Omride kings that includes Ahab, Ahaziah and Joram.

He was "commander of the army" of king Elah when Zimri murdered Elah and made himself king.

Instead, the troops at Gibbethon chose Omri as king, and he led them to Tirzah where they trapped Zimri in the royal palace.

Zimri set fire to the palace and died after a reign of only seven days.

(1 Kings 16:15-18) Although Zimri was eliminated, "half of the people" supported Tibni in opposition to Omri.

(1 Kings 16:21-22) It took Omri four years to subdue Tibni and at last proclaim himself undisputed king of Israel.

(1 Kings 16:15 and 16:23) For the first six years, his capital is in Tirzah, after which he builds a new capital of the kingdom in Samaria, on a hill he bought from Shemer.

(1 Kings 16:23-24) Omri became king of Israel in the 31st year of Asa, king of Judah and reigned for 12 years, 6 years of which were in Tirzah.

(1 Kings 16:23) The biblical reference to the period of rivalry with Tibni is from the 27th year of Asa (1 Kings 16:15) to the 31st year.

(16:23) William F. Albright has dated his reign to 876 – 869 BC, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates of 888 BC to 880 BC for his rivalry with Tibni and 880 – 874 BC for his sole reign.