Topical Bible: Kings: Who Reigned Over Israel: Zimri

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Zimri was the fifth king of the northern kingdom of Israel, known for his brief and tumultuous reign. His account is primarily recorded in the First Book of Kings, specifically in 1 Kings 16:9-20. Zimri's rise to power and subsequent downfall are marked by intrigue, betrayal, and divine judgment, reflecting the turbulent period of the divided monarchy in Israel.

Background and Rise to Power

Zimri served as a commander of half the chariots under King Elah, the son of Baasha. His opportunity for ascension came during a time of internal strife and dissatisfaction with the ruling house. While Elah was in Tirzah, indulging in drunkenness at the house of Arza, the palace steward, Zimri seized the moment to execute a coup. The Berean Standard Bible recounts this event: "Zimri entered, struck Elah down, and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned in his place" (1 Kings 16:10).

Reign and Actions

Zimri's reign lasted only seven days, making it one of the shortest in the history of the Israelite monarchy. Upon taking the throne, Zimri immediately sought to secure his position by eliminating the entire house of Baasha, fulfilling the prophecy spoken by the prophet Jehu against Baasha's lineage. The BSB states, "As soon as he began to reign and was seated on the throne, Zimri struck down the entire house of Baasha. He did not leave a single male, whether a relative or a friend" (1 Kings 16:11).

Downfall and Death

Despite his swift actions, Zimri's hold on power was tenuous. News of his coup and regicide quickly spread, leading to a backlash among the people and the military. The army, which was besieging Gibbethon, a Philistine city, proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, as king over Israel. Omri and his forces marched to Tirzah to confront Zimri.

Realizing his untenable position, Zimri retreated to the citadel of the royal palace. In a final act of defiance and despair, he set the palace on fire around him, choosing death over capture. The BSB records, "When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died" (1 Kings 16:18).

Legacy

Zimri's brief reign is often remembered as a cautionary tale of ambition and the consequences of sin. His actions fulfilled the divine judgment against the house of Baasha, yet his own demise was swift and ignominious. The narrative of Zimri serves as a reflection on the instability and moral decline that characterized the northern kingdom of Israel during this period. His account is a testament to the biblical theme that those who rise to power through treachery and violence often meet a similar fate.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 16:11,12,15,20
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 urinates against a wall, neither of his kinfolks, nor of his friends.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Record of Two Kings
... over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria ... of Israel to
anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.'-1 KINGS xvi.23 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the record of two kings.htm

How Zerah, King of the Ethiopians, was Beaten by Asa; and How Asa ...
... for Omri's ruling had beaten Tibni, Omri reigned over all the ... years; six of these
years he reigned in the ... was no way different from those kings that reigned ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 12 how zerah king.htm

The Divided Kingdom.
... Reigned IS years and died ... During this time the kings of Judah cherished the hope
that they would regain ... (1) Jehovah rules not only in Israel but over all peoples ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiii the divided kingdom.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Became More Wicked Than All The Kings That Had ... CHAPTER 7. How Athaliah Reigned Over
Jerusalem For Five [Six ... An Expedition Against The People Of Israel And The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

Appendices
... the last king but one of the Kassite dynasty, and not rather one of the unknown
kings of the ... ISRAEL. ... 2. My father reigned over Moab thirty years, and I reigned. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/appendices.htm

The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
... immediate predecessor of Nabubaliddin, who reigned at Babylon ... was Damascus which
held sway over those territories ... he respected, and its kings, also suzerains ...
/.../chapter ithe assyrian revival and.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... A perpetual terror reigned wherever they were accustomed to ... bezek said, Threescore
and ten kings, having their ... very spot where they had triumphed over the sons ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... the labours of the attacking force were not yet over. ... The petty kings who shared
with Assyria the possession ... Barzur, son of Panammu I., had reigned there since ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm