Zimri (King of Israel)

Zimri was the commander of half the chariots of King Elah. He murdered his master, seized the throne of Israel, and killed every male of Baasha's house. His reign lasted just seven days. When the army besieging Gibbethon heard what he had done, they made their commander Omri king and marched on Tirzah. Seeing the city taken, Zimri went into the palace of the king's house, set it on fire over himself, and died. His name became a byword for treachery: years later Jezebel greeted Jehu with the taunt, 'Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?'

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Biography

Occupation: Chariot commander; King of Israel
Era: Divided Kingdom
Nationality: Israelite

Old Testament Divided Kingdom King Villain 1 Kings

Did You Know?

Zimri's seven-day reign is the shortest of any king of Israel or Judah recorded in Scripture.

Though he ruled only a week, Scripture still judges him for 'walking in the way of Jeroboam' (1 Kings 16:19).

He is a different man from Zimri the son of Salu, the Simeonite prince slain by Phinehas (Numbers 25:14).

Key Chapters

1 Kings 16 Kings of Israel 6 min read Zimri's coup fulfillls the prophecy against Baasha's house, yet he is no less gu... 2 Kings 9 Jehu Anointed King 7 min read Jezebel uses Zimri's name as an insult, comparing Jehu to the traitor who killed...

Key Passages

Zimri Kills Elah

1 Kings 16:9-12

Zimri's coup fulfillls the prophecy against Baasha's house, yet he is no less guilty for the blood he sheds.

A⁹nd his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.

¹⁰ And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. ¹¹ And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends. ¹² Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 16 →

Seven Days in Tirzah

1 Kings 16:15-20

The army refuses to accept him, and his reign ends in flames within a week.

I¹⁵n the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

¹⁶ And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp. ¹⁷ And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. ¹⁸ And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died, ¹⁹ For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin. ²⁰ Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 16 →

Had Zimri Peace?

2 Kings 9:30-31

Jezebel uses Zimri's name as an insult, comparing Jehu to the traitor who killed his king and did not live long to enjoy it.

A³⁰nd when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

³¹ And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?

Read full chapter: 2 Kings 9 →