AMRI (Heb. ‘Omri’; Septuagint ‘Αμβρί’). — Sixth king of Israel (884–873 B.C.), founder of the fourth dynasty, he ascended the throne in the 27th year of Asa, king of Judah (I Reg. 16:16–28).
Perhaps he belonged to the tribe of Issachar, like the kings Baasha and Elah, under whom he served as general; some consider him to have been of non-Israelite origin (R. Kittel). He was commander of the army, which, during the siege of Gibbethon, proclaimed him king. As soon as he learned of the savage usurpation of Zimri, a subordinate commander who had killed Elah and his family, A. marched against him and, after capturing Tirzah, saw him perish amid the flames of the royal palace, after a reign of barely seven days. Half the people, however, recognized a certain Tibni, son of Ginath, probably an Ephraimite, as king. After four years of civil war and anarchy, Tibni died, perhaps assassinated, and A. reigned over all Israel.
An active and sagacious organizer, as well as a valiant soldier, he made the kingdom of Israel powerful and respected. He may be called its second founder; the Assyrian inscriptions (of Adad-nirari III, Tiglath-pileser III, and Sargon) later called it mât Humri, “land of A.,” or bīt Humri, “house of A.”; Jehu, who extinguished the dynasty of A., is called mât Humri, “son of A.,” on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III. A. SAMALIA (v.), an impregnable fortress that became the kingdom’s center of cohesion and political unity, just as David had made Jerusalem; he settled there after having reigned six years at Tirzah.
From the stele of Mesha we know that he ruled Moab, occupying the district of Madaba (lines 7–8). He imposed a tribute on the Moabite king (II Reg. 3:4). Less successfully, A. fought against the Arameans; he was in fact forced to surrender certain cities to them and grant their merchants trading quarters in the capital itself (I Reg. 20:34). He immediately forged 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 (I Reg. 16:25–26), which spread, despite the opposition of Elijah and numerous prophetic preachers, under A.’s son, Ahab.