ditty 7
Ditty 7
7. Choose a king from the North. Summarize his reign and the evaluation of it. What could have he done different in order to have a positive evaluation from God?
King Omri succeeded his throne after his rival mate Tibni who ruled for 7 days died and this made Omri the official King ruling from 885-874 BC. Omri ruled for three years and his dynasty has lasted for three generations. During his time of reign, Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents. Also, Omri had a political alliance to the Phoenicians where during this time it was a mutual benefit for both of them in economic progress comparing to Judah who has been isolated. Israel has built trade routes to larger consumers further south and east, and from supplying Phoenicia with grain and olive. But still he did evil in the eyes of the Lord and done more overly than Jeroboam, Provoking the Lord God of Israel with their idols.
Omri have performed well because he is a diplomatic politician that has lead Israel in a good economic status. Omri could have not provoked the anger of God by letting this Phoenician influence them to worship Baal and the practice molech sacrifices. This act of Omri was a disastrous to the spiritual health of the Israelites. This has influenced his son Ahab to do more than what he has done that Ahab did more than all who were before him. Evaluating his good diplomatic character has led Israel to good economic status BUT Omri should have not compromised his spiritual dignity. He could maintain good business with the Phoenicians BUT have a resistant Spirit to the influence of the Phoenician. He MUST NOT HAS allowed the infiltration of the influence of the Phoenician King in their business. We can see that Omri was seduced by the good economic offer of the Phoenician King and also their gods that probably the Phoenicians are expert influencers of Baal worship which is included in their Diplomatic alliances.
Source: History of Israel by Kaiser
Bible (1 kings)
