Zimri
Summary
The fifth king of Israel, who reigned seven days, the shortest reign of any Israelite king. He killed Elah, but the army chose Omri, who marched on Tirzah; when the city fell, Zimri burned the palace around himself and died.
- Among the passages here, Zimri is first named in 1 Kings 16:9: “However, while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk in the house of Arza…”
- The record places Zimri in Divided Kingdom.
- 14 verses name Zimri, in 5 books.
- 5 moments stand in order on this page, each with its verse.
On this page
Start here
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 16:15→- 5 key events in order
- 14 verses name Zimri, across 5 books
In Scripture
- Verses
- 14
- Books
- 5
Zimri
- Role
- 5th King of Israel
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
- Dates
- 885 BC
- Tribe
- Israel
The life in order
from the events the row records, with the first and last verse that names the person among the passages this page stands on
1Where the passages this page records open
2What the record holds, in its own order
- Assassinated Elah1 Kings 16:9-10However, 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.
- Exterminated Baasha's dynasty1 Kings 16:11-13As soon as Zimri began to reign and was seated on the throne, he struck down the entire household of Baasha. He did not leave a single male, whether a kinsman or friend.
- Army chose Omri instead1 Kings 16:16and the people in the camp heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king. So there in the camp that very day, all Israel proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel.
- Seven-day reign ends in fire1 Kings 16:18When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died
- His name became a byword2 Kings 9:31And as Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, O Zimri, murderer of your master?”
3Where the passages this page records close
Biography
Zimri was commander of half the chariot forces of Israel who conspired against King Elah and killed him while he was drunk. He immediately killed all of Baasha's entire household and every male relative or friend. However, when the army of Israel heard that Zimri had killed the king, they proclaimed their commander Omri as king instead. Omri marched his entire army from Gibbethon to Tirzah, the capital.
When Zimri saw the city was taken, he went into the inner citadel of the royal palace and burned it down around himself — dying in the fire after a reign of only seven days. The narrator adds that he died because of the sins he committed, walking in the way of Jeroboam. His name became a byword for treachery: years later when Jehu came to destroy Joram, Joram's mother Jezebel called him "Zimri, murderer of your master."
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,
What they got right, and what they got wrong
Strengths
Military position and planning, decisive action
Weaknesses
Treachery, murder, ambition without legitimacy; his coup immediately collapsed
Lessons
Ambition without legitimacy is self-defeating. Zimri's coup gave him a throne for seven days and a legacy of infamy. True authority comes through God's appointment, not human violence.
Spiritual significance
Zimri's seven-day reign is a stark illustration that seizing power through treachery produces nothing of lasting value. He obtained the throne through murder and lost it within a week. The way we attain something shapes whether we can keep it.
Zimri in Scripture
Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture, so some of these verses may speak of another person called Zimri. The two marks are drawn from the chapters this page's own references stand in.
Old TestamentNew Testamentsegment width = share of mentions
Old Testament5 books · 14 mentions
Numbers1 mention
1 Kings8 mentions
- 1 Kings 16:9However, 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 16:10So 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 16:11As soon as Zimri began to reign and was seated on the throne, he struck down the entire household of Baasha. He did not leave a single male, whether a kinsman or friend.
- 1 Kings 16:12So Zimri destroyed the entire household of Baasha, according to the word that the LORD had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet.
- 1 Kings 16:15In 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,
3 further mentions in 1 Kings, read them in the book.
2 Kings1 mention
1 Chronicles3 mentions
- 1 Chronicles 2:6The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all.
- 1 Chronicles 8:36Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.
- 1 Chronicles 9:42Ahaz was the father of Jarah; Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri was the father of Moza.
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