Zimri זִמְרִי
King of Israel, reigned seven days
Who is Zimri in the Bible?
Zimri was a commander of half of Israel's chariots who assassinated King Elah and seized the throne around 876 BC, as recorded in 1 Kings 16:9-10. He murdered not only Elah but also all the members of Elah's family, fulfilling a divine prophecy against the house of Baasha, Elah's father. However, Zimri's reign lasted only seven days, as the Israelite army quickly rejected his rule and proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, as king instead (1 Kings 16:15-16). When Omri marched to the capital city of Tirzah and besieged it, Zimri saw that his position was hopeless and set the royal citadel on fire, perishing in the flames (1 Kings 16:18). Zimri's brief and violent reign exemplifies the political instability and divine judgment that characterized the northern kingdom of Israel during this period.
Biography
Zimri was a short-lived king of Israel who reigned for only seven days. He was originally a commander of half of the chariots in the army of Elah, king of Israel. While Elah was drinking himself into a stupor at the house of Arza, his steward, Zimri conspired against him and assassinated him. Zimri then proclaimed himself king and killed all the members of Elah's family, fulfilling the prophecy against the house of Baasha, Elah's father. However, when the army of Israel, which was besieging Gibbethon, heard of Zimri's actions, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, as king. Omri marched to Tirzah, the capital city, and besieged it. When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and set it on fire, killing himself. Zimri's brief reign was marked by treachery and violence, and he is remembered as one of the wicked kings of Israel. The story of Zimri's rise and fall illustrates the political instability and moral decline that characterized the northern kingdom of Israel during this period.
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Kings 5 verses
- 1 Kings 16:9
"However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza the steward of his household there, Elah’s servant Zimri, the commander of half his chariots, conspired against him."
- 1 Kings 16:10
"So in the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri went in, struck Elah down, and killed him. And Zimri reigned in his place."
- 1 Kings 16:12
"So Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, according to the word that the LORD had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet."
- 1 Kings 16:15
"In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri reigned in Tirzah for seven days. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines,"
- 1 Kings 16:16
"and the people in the camp heard that Zimri had conspired against the king and struck him down. So there in the camp that very day, all Israel proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel."
2 Kings 1 verse
- 2 Kings 9:31
"And as Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, O Zimri, murderer of your master?”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | זִמְרִי |