### AMRHEIN, ANDREAS
Founder of the Benedictine Congregation of St. Odilia for Foreign Missions (Benediktiner von St. Ottilien für auswärtige Missionen).
Born at Gunzewile (Switzerland) on 1 Feb. 1844, died at St. Ottilien (Bavaria), the mother-house of the Congregation, on 29 Dec. 1927. He pursued his early studies in his homeland, then went to Italy and Paris to study the fine arts. Having become a Benedictine at Beuron (priest in 1872), he felt called to found a German institute for foreign missions. He visited Mill Hill and Steyl and opened the first house in 1887. The institute was later incorporated into the Benedictine family as a separate congregation.
---
### AMRI (Heb. ‘Omri’; LXX ‘Αμθρές’)
Sixth king of Israel (884–873 B.C.), founder of the fourth dynasty, who ascended the throne in the 27th year of Asa, king of Judah (1 Kings 16:16–28).
Perhaps he was of the tribe of Issachar, like the kings Baasha and Elah, of whom he had been general; some consider him of northern-Israelite origin (R. Kittel). He was commander of the army, which, at the siege of Gibbethon, proclaimed him king. As soon as the fierce usurpation of Zimri, a subordinate officer of the troops who had slain Elah and his household, became known, A. marched against him, captured Tirzah, and saw him perish in the flames of the royal palace after only seven days on the throne. Half the people, however, acknowledged as king a certain Tibni son of Ginath, probably a rival claimant. After four years of civil war and anarchy, Tibni died, perhaps assassinated, and A. ruled over all Israel.
Active and shrewd as an organizer as well as a valiant soldier, he rendered the kingdom of Israel powerful and respected, of which he may be called a second founder. The Assyrian inscriptions (of Adad-nirari III, Tiglath-pileser III, and Sargon) later referred to it as *mât Humri* “land of A.” or *bît Humri* “house of A.”; Jehu, who extinguished A.’s dynasty, is called *mâr Humri*, “son of A.,” on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III. A. built SAMALIA (v.), an impregnable fortress that became the political center of cohesion and unity for the kingdom, as David had done for Jerusalem; he established himself there after ruling for six years at Tirzah.
From the Moabite Stone we learn that he dominated Moab, occupying its district of Medeba (lines 7–8). He imposed tribute on the Moabite king (2 Kings 3:4). Less successfully, A. fought against the Arameans; he was forced to cede them some cities and to grant their merchants access even to the capital (1 Kings 20:34). He soon formed a profitable and lasting alliance with Ethbaal, king of Tyre, sealed by the marriage of their children, Ahab (v.) and Jezebel. He initiated friendly relations with the kingdom of Judah.
Indifferent to religious matters, A.’s policy opened wide scope for idolatrous syncretism (1 Kings 16:25–26), which spread widely despite the opposition of Elah and numerous prophetic preachers, under his son Ahab.