Omrides
Encyclopedia
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 other archaeological remains, kings of ancient Israel.
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
, a number of scholars believe that Jehu was himself an Omride. This position is due to a number of textual curiosities in the similarity between the Omri family tree and that of Jehu. Another fact that scholars of this persuasion believe supports their position is that the Black Obelisk
of Shalmaneser, an archaeological remain dating from times contemporary with Jehu, names Jehu as a "son of Omri."
Other scholars regard the reference to "son of Omri" in the Black Obelisk in the expression "Jehu son of Omri" as 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).
However, according to Israel Finklestein's
, The Bible Unearthed
the Omrides were the people actually responsible for the great empire, magnificent palaces, wealth, and peace in Israel and Judah that the bible claims were due to the kings David and Solomon. According to him, the reason for this discrepancy is the religious bias of the biblical authors—the Omrides were polytheist
and supported elements of the pan-semitic (i.e. Canaanite
) religion.
Finkelstein maintains that the writer 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. Most archaeologists in Israel, including Amnon Ben-Tor, Amihai Mazar, and Lawrence Stager, reject this theory, claiming that it is contradicted by scientific understandings of strata formulation and the general development of the region.
Omri
Omri was a king of Israel, successful military campaigner and first in the line of Omride kings that included Ahab, Ahaziah and Joram.He was "commander of the army" of king Elah when Zimri murdered Elah and made himself king. Instead, the troops at Gibbethon chose Omri as king, and he led them to...
and his descendants (particularly Ahab
Ahab
Ahab or Ach'av or Achab in Douay-Rheims was king of Israel and the son and successor of Omri according to the Hebrew Bible. His wife was Jezebel....
), who were according to the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, as well as a number of other archaeological remains, kings of ancient Israel.
The Mesha Stele
Mesha Stele
The Mesha Stele is a black basalt stone bearing an inscription by the 9th century BC ruler Mesha of Moab in Jordan....
bears an inscription of about 840 BCE by Mesha
Mesha
King Mesha of Moab was a king of Moabites around the 9th century BC, known most famous for writing the Mesha stela.The books of Samuel record that Moab was conquered by David and retained in the territories of his son Solomon . Later, King Omri of Israel reconquered Moab after Moab was lost...
, ruler of Moab
Moab
Moab is the historical name for a mountainous strip of land in Jordan. The land lies alongside much of the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The existence of the Kingdom of Moab is attested to by numerous archeological findings, most notably the Mesha Stele, which describes the Moabite victory over...
, 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
Jehu
Jehu was a king of Israel. He was the son of Jehoshaphat, and grandson of Nimshi.William F. Albright has dated his reign to 842-815 BC, while E. R. Thiele offers the dates 841-814 BC...
destroyed the House of Omri in about 841 BCE, killing the surviving members in a coup
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
, a number of scholars believe that Jehu was himself an Omride. This position is due to a number of textual curiosities in the similarity between the Omri family tree and that of Jehu. Another fact that scholars of this persuasion believe supports their position is that the Black Obelisk
Black Obelisk
The "Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III" is a black limestone Neo-Assyrian bas-relief sculpture from Nimrud , in northern Iraq, commemorating the deeds of King Shalmaneser III . It is the most complete Assyrian obelisk yet discovered, and is historically significant because it displays the earliest...
of Shalmaneser, an archaeological remain dating from times contemporary with Jehu, names Jehu as a "son of Omri."
Other scholars regard the reference to "son of Omri" in the Black Obelisk in the expression "Jehu son of Omri" as a reference to the "House of Omri", which is believed to have been the Assyrian name for the Kingdom of Israel
Kingdom of Israel
The Kingdom of Israel was, according to the Bible, one of the successor states to the older United Monarchy . It was thought to exist roughly from the 930s BCE until about the 720s BCE, when the kingdom was conquered by the Assyrian Empire...
. Assyrian kings frequently referred to Omri's successors as belonging to the "House of Omri" (Bit Hu-um-ri-a).
However, according to Israel Finklestein's
Israel Finkelstein
Israel Finkelstein is an Israeli archaeologist and academic. He is currently the Jacob M. Alkow Professor of the Archaeology of Israel in the Bronze Age and Iron Ages at Tel Aviv University and is also the co-director of excavations at Megiddo in northern Israel...
, The Bible Unearthed
The Bible Unearthed
The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology's New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts is a 2001 book about the archaeology of Israel and its relationship to the origins of the Hebrew Bible...
the Omrides were the people actually responsible for the great empire, magnificent palaces, wealth, and peace in Israel and Judah that the bible claims were due to the kings David and Solomon. According to him, the reason for this discrepancy is the religious bias of the biblical authors—the Omrides were polytheist
Polytheism
Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals....
and supported elements of the pan-semitic (i.e. Canaanite
Canaanite religion
Canaanite religion is the name for the group of Ancient Semitic religions practiced by the Canaanites living in the ancient Levant from at least the early Bronze Age through the first centuries of the Common Era....
) religion.
Finkelstein maintains that the writer 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
Megiddo (place)
Megiddo is a tell in modern Israel near Megiddo Kibbutz, known for its historical, geographical, and theological importance especially under its Greek name Armageddon. In ancient times Megiddo was an important city-state. Excavations have unearthed 26 layers of ruins, indicated a long period of...
and Hazor
Hazor
Hazor is the name of several places in the biblical and modern Israel:Biblical locations:* Tel Hazor, site of an ancient fortified city in the Upper Galilee, among the most important Caananite towns, and the largest ancient ruin in modern Israel and UNESCO World Heritage Site.* Hazor, A town in...
similar in design and build. Most archaeologists in Israel, including Amnon Ben-Tor, Amihai Mazar, and Lawrence Stager, reject this theory, claiming that it is contradicted by scientific understandings of strata formulation and the general development of the region.