1 Kings 16:8-14

Living Bible

⁸ Elah, Baasha’s son, began reigning during the twenty-sixth year of the reign of King Asa of Judah, but he reigned only two years. ⁹ Then General Zimri, who had charge of half the royal chariot troops, plotted against him. One day King Elah was half drunk at the home of Arza, the superintendent of the palace, in the capital city of Tirzah. ¹⁰ Zimri simply walked in and struck him down and killed him. (This occurred during the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Asa of Judah.) Then Zimri declared himself to be the new king of Israel.

¹¹ He immediately killed the entire royal family—leaving not a single male child. He even destroyed distant relatives and friends. ¹² This destruction of the descendants of Baasha was in line with what the Lord had predicted through the prophet Jehu. ¹³ The tragedy occurred because of the sins of Baasha and his son Elah; for they had led Israel into worshiping idols, and the Lord was very angry about it. ¹⁴ The rest of the history of Elah’s reign is written in The Annals of the Kings of Israel.