Tibni
“Intelligent; or straw-like”
Summary
Son of Ginath who competed with Omri for the throne of Israel after Zimri's death, leading to a four-year civil war that ended with Tibni's death.
☩The Succession Crisis
After Zimri burned himself in his palace following only seven days as king, the kingdom of Israel was divided. Half the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, while the other half supported Omri, the commander of the army. Omri had the backing of the military forces who had been besieging Tirzah, while Tibni was probably supported by the people of that royal city.
☩The Four-Year Struggle
The contest between the rival factions lasted four years, from approximately 926 to 922 BC. The biblical record is remarkably brief: 'The people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath; so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.' The Septuagint adds that Tibni was aided by his brother Joram, though Josephus does not confirm this tradition.
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Tibni," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. X (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Tibni," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. V (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Tibni," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).