Bible Strands
1 Kings 16:23
In the thirty-first year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records a chronological marker for Omri’s accession to the throne of Israel, situating it against the established reign of Asa over Judah. This historical note follows the conclusion of Omri’s civil war with Tibni.
The words — The Hebrew phrase בִּשְׁנַת שָׁלֹשִׁים וְאַחַת (bi-shnat shaloshim ve-achat) literally means “in the thirty-first year,” while מָלַךְ (ma.lakh) denotes the action “he became king.”
The thread — This regnal dating formula appears in 1 Kings 16:8 and 1 Kings 16:29 to synchronize the timelines of Israel’s northern kings with Judah’s southern monarchy.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to track the political timeline of divided Israel against Judah’s reign. It establishes a fixed historical anchor for Omri’s rule without offering theological commentary on his actions.
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
In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 15:21 When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and withdrew to Tirzah.
- 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.
- 2 Chronicles 22:2 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri.