Zimri’s Reign over Israel

¹⁵ In the twenty-seventh year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Zimri became king over Israel; he ruled for seven days in Tirzah. Zimri’s revolt took place while the army was deployed^[a] in Gibbethon, which was in Philistine territory. ¹⁶ While deployed there, the army received this report:^[b] “Zimri has conspired against the king and assassinated him.”^[c] So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day in the camp. ¹⁷ Omri and all Israel went up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. ¹⁸ When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he went into the fortified area of the royal palace. He set the palace on fire and died in the flames.^{[d] 19} This happened because of the sins he committed. He did evil in the sight of^[e] the Lord and followed in Jeroboam’s footsteps and encouraged Israel to continue sinning.^[f]

²⁰ The rest of the events of Zimri’s reign, including the details of his revolt, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.^[g]