Bible Strands
1 Kings 16:21
At that time the people of Israel were divided: Half of the people supported Tibni son of Ginath as king, and half supported Omri.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative addresses the northern kingdom during the immediate aftermath of Zimri’s death, documenting the sudden political fracture that erupts as rival factions claim the throne.
The words — The Hebrew יֵחָלֵק (ye.cha.Lek) literally means “it was divided,” paired with חֲצִי (cha.Tzi) for “half,” establishing that the population split evenly between two rival claimants rather than rallying behind a single leader.
The thread — This pattern of fractured loyalty and rapid royal turnover recurs in the surrounding narrative, where Baasha overthrows Nadab (1 Kings 15:28) and Elah succeeds Baasha (1 Kings 16:8), highlighting a systemic collapse of dynastic stability in the northern kingdom.
Why it lands — The account records a concrete civil war triggered by a contested succession, demonstrating that political legitimacy in Israel at this stage rested on military strength rather than covenantal continuity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 15:25 In the second year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Nadab son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned two years.
- 1 Kings 15:28 In the third year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Baasha killed Nadab and reigned in his place.
- 1 Kings 16:8 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.
- 1 Kings 16:29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.
- Proverbs 28:2 A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.
- Isaiah 9:18 For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets, which roll upward in billows of smoke.
- Isaiah 19:2 “So I will incite Egyptian against Egyptian; brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.
- Matthew 12:25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
- 1 Corinthians 1:12 What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
- Ephesians 4:3 and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.