This mount, or rather mountain range, has four summits or peaks: (1) the
“Galilee” peak, so called from a tradition that the angels stood here when
they spoke to the disciples (Acts 1:11); (2) the “Mount of Ascension,”
the supposed site of that event, which was, however, somewhere probably
nearer Bethany (Luke 24:51, 52); (3) the “Prophets,” from the catacombs
on its side, called “the prophets’ tombs;” and (4) the “Mount of
Corruption,” so called because of the “high places” erected there by
Solomon for the idolatrous worship of his foreign wives (1 Kings 11:7; 2
Kings 23:13; Vulg., “Mount of Offence”).
- OLYMPAS a Roman Christian whom Paul salutes (Romans 16:15).
- OMAR eloquent, the son of Eliphaz, who was Esau’s eldest son (Genesis
36:11-15). - OMEGA (Revelation 1:8), the last letter in the Greek alphabet. (See A.)
- OMER a handful, one-tenth of an ephah=half a gallon dry measure
(Exodus 16:22, 32, 33, 36)=“tenth deal.” - OMRI servant of Jehovah. When Elah was murdered by Zimri at Tirzah
(1 Kings 16:15-27), Omri, his captain, was made king (B.C. 931). For four
years there was continued opposition to his reign, Tibni, another claimant
to the throne, leading the opposing party; but at the close of that period all
his rivals were defeated, and he became king of Israel, “Tibni died and
Omri reigned” (B.C. 927). By his vigour and power he gained great
eminence and consolidated the kingdom. He fixed his dynasty on the
throne so firmly that it continued during four succeeding reigns. Tirza was
for six years the seat of his government. He then removed the capital to
Samaria (q.v.), where he died, and was succeeded by his son Ahab. “He
wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were
before him.”
Beth-omri, “the house” or “city of Omri,” is the name usually found on
Assyrian inscriptions for Samaria. In the stele of Mesha (the “Moabite
stone”), which was erected in Moab about twenty or thirty years after
Omri’s death, it is recorded that Omri oppressed Moab till Mesha
delivered the land: “Omri, king of Israel, oppressed Moab many days, for
Chemosh was angry with his land. His son succeeded him, and he also
said, I will oppress Moab” (comp. 2 Kings 1:1; 3:4, 5). The “Moabite