Ginat is known from the Bible solely as the father of Tibni, who competed with Omri for royal power in the northern kingdom of Israel after King Elah's death. Ginat himself played no direct role in the biblical accounts, but his son Tibni was supported by a portion of the people in the ensuing struggle for power.
After Zimri committed suicide, the people of Israel were divided into two factions. Half followed Tibni, son of Ginat, while the other half followed Omri.
King Elah, son of Baasha, was killed by his servant Zimri, who seized power in Tirzah. This created the chaos that led to the civil war in which Tibni, son of Ginat, was involved.
9His servant Zimri, commander of half the chariots, conspired against him while Elah was in Tirzah, getting drunk in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the palace at Tirzah.
15In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. The troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.
16When the encamped troops heard that Zimri had conspired and had struck down the king, all Israel in the camp made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day.
After Tibni's death, Omri became the sole king of Israel and founded a new dynasty. Gibbethon is thus indirectly mentioned in connection with this important shift of power.
24He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he built up the hill and named the city he built Samaria, after Shemer, the owner of the hill.