Omrides

The term Omrides or the House of Omri refers to Omri and his descendants (particularly Ahab), who were according to the Bible, as well as a number of archaeological remains, kings of ancient Israel. In the Bible, Omride rulers include Omri, Ahab, and Ahab's sons Ahaziah and Jehoram, all kings of Israel, and Ahab's daughter (or perhaps sister) Athaliah, who became queen of Judah. Archaeological references to the house are found in the Mesha Stele, the Tel Dan Stele, and the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III.

Biblical account

The Bible generally portrays the Omrides unfavorably, stressing their apostasy from the religion of Yahweh in favor of Baal. It devotes little attention to Omri aside from noting his establishment of the dynasty and foundation of Israel's new capital of Samaria. In contrast, his son Ahab is the subject of an extended narrative focusing on his troubled relations with the prophets Elijah and Elisha. He is depicted as a weak personality allowing himself to be led by his strong-willed wife Jezebel of Tyre, who advocates Baal worship. Note is also made of the dynasty's diplomacy, which connected it by marriage to Tyre and Judah and brought about a rapprochement with the latter after a long series of wars. The Biblical account of the later Omrides concerns the revolt of Moab, their conflict with Damascus over Ramoth-Gilead, the dynasty's extinction in Israel at the hands of Jehu, and Athaliah's usurpation of the throne of Judah on the death of her son King Ahaziah.

Historicity

Israel Finkelstein's The Bible Unearthed presents a very different picture of the Omrides, making them responsible for the great empire, magnificent palaces, wealth, and peace in Israel and Judah that the Bible credits to the much earlier kings David and Solomon. According to Finkelstein, the reason for this discrepancy is the religious bias of the Biblical authors against the Omrides for their polytheist views and support of elements of the Canaanite religion.^[3]

Finkelstein maintains that the writers of the Book of Kings may have omitted possible widespread public construction both Omri and his son Ahab commissioned during their reigns. Finkelstein and his student Norma Franklin have identified monumental construction at Samaria, Jezreel, Megiddo and Hazor similar in design and build.

Archaeological evidence

The Mesha Stele bears an inscription of about 840 BCE by Mesha, ruler of Moab, in which Mesha boasts of his victories over "Omri king of Israel" and his son, who had been "oppressing" Moab. It is also notable as the most extensive inscription ever recovered that refers to ancient Israel (the "House of Omri").

Though the Bible claims that Jehu destroyed the House of Omri in about 841 BCE, killing the surviving members in a coup, the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser, an archaeological remain dating from times contemporary with Jehu, names Jehu as a "son of Omri."^{[4] [5]}

However the reference to "son of Omri" in the Black Obelisk in the expression "Jehu son of Omri" may be a reference to the "House of Omri", which is believed to have been the Assyrian name for the Kingdom of Israel. Assyrian kings frequently referred to Omri's successors as belonging to the "House of Omri" (Bit Hu-um-ri-a).^[6]

References