For the week ending 30 November 2002 / 25 Kislev 5763
Omri - The Power Behind the Throne
A secular perspective of history explains every rise to leadership in terms of military power, politics or popularity. This narrow view ignores the Divine power behind the throne Who ultimately determines who will sit upon it and for what reason.
A case in point is that of Omri, who ruled the Kingdom of Israel for seven years. Omri was not of royal lineage, only an army general. Neither was his piety very commendable. But he had one thing going for him. He proved to be a "settler" of the highest order by purchasing a hill in Shomron upon which he built a new city (Melachim I 16:24). For adding a city to Eretz Yisrael he was rewarded by Heaven with the position of king.