16:21 Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: {i} half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.
(i) That is, the people who were not at the siege of Gibbethon: for there they had chosen Omri.
16:21 Were divided - Fell into a civil war: yet neither this, nor any other of God's dreadful judgments could win them to repentance.
16:15-28 When men forsake God, they will be left to plague one another. Proud aspiring men ruin one another. Omri struggled with Tibni some years. Though we do not always understand the rules by which God governs nations and individuals in his providence, we may learn useful lessons from the history before us. When tyrants succeed each other, and massacres, conspiracies, and civil wars, we may be sure the Lord has a controversy with the people for their sins; they are loudly called to repent and reform. Omri made himself infamous by his wickedness. Many wicked men have been men of might and renown; have built cities, and their names are found in history; but they have no name in the book of life.
