AMRI (Hebrew 'Omri'; Septuagint 'Αμβρί). - 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 (I Kings 16:16-28).
He was perhaps of the tribe of Issachar, like the kings Baasha and Elah, of whom he was general; some consider him of non-Israelite origin (R. Kittel). He was head of the army, which, at the siege of Gibbethon, proclaimed him king. As soon as he learned of the ferocious usurpation of Zimri, a subordinate commander of the troops and the murderer of Elah and his family, A. marched against him and, having conquered Tirzah, saw him perish amid the flames of the royal palace after a reign of barely seven days. Half of the people, however, recognized as king a certain Tibni, son of Ginath, probably an Ephraimite. After four years of civil war and anarchy, Tibni died, perhaps assassinated, and A. reigned over all Israel.
An active and shrewd organizer as well as a valiant soldier, he made the kingdom of Israel powerful and respected — it may be called his second founding — and the Assyrian inscriptions (of Adad-nirari III, Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon) later called it mât Humri "land of A." or bît 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. built for himself the capital Samaria (v.), an impregnable fortress, which became for the kingdom a center of cohesion and political unity, as David had done for Jerusalem; he settled there after having reigned 6 years at Tirzah.
From the stele of Mesha we know that he dominated Moab, occupying its district of Madaba (lines 7-8). He imposed a tribute on the Moabite king (II Kings 3:4). Less successfully A. fought against the Arameans; he had in fact to give them certain cities and to grant their merchants streets in the capital itself (I Kings 20:34). With Ethbaal, king of Tyre, he soon formed a profitable and stable alliance, sealed by the marriage between Ahab (v.) and Jezebel, their children. He initiated friendly relations with the kingdom of Judah.
Indifferent to religious matters, the policy of A. opened a wide field to the idolatrous syncretism (I Kings 16:25-26) that spread, despite the opposition of Elijah and numerous prophet-preachers, under the son of A., Ahab.