# Zimri

> king of Israel, with a reign of seven days; chariot commander who murdered king Elah, and succeeded him, but was overthrown by the army

**Wikidata**: [Q313230](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313230)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimri_(king))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/zimri

## Summary
Zimri was a king of Israel with an extremely brief reign of only seven days. He was a chariot commander who murdered King Elah and succeeded him before being overthrown by the army, making his rule one of the shortest in Israelite history.

## Biography
- Born: -1000-01-01T00:00:00Z (exact birthplace not specified)
- Nationality: Israel
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Brief reign as king of Israel after murdering King Elah
- Employer(s): Kingdom of Israel
- Field(s): Military leadership, monarchy

## Contributions
Zimri's contribution to history is defined by his exceptionally short reign as king of Israel, lasting only seven days. He achieved power by assassinating King Elah while Elah was drunk in Tirzah, then became king immediately afterward. His rule ended when the army, led by Omri, besieged the city and Zimri committed suicide by setting his palace on fire rather than falling into enemy hands.

## FAQs
**How long was Zimri's reign as king of Israel?**
Zimri's reign lasted only seven days, making it one of the shortest reigns in Israelite history. His brief rule ended when the army besieged his residence in Tirzah and he chose death by self-immolation over capture.

**How did Zimri become king of Israel?**
Zimri became king by assassinating the reigning monarch, King Elah. He was serving as chariot commander when he took advantage of Elah being drunk in Tirzah to murder him and seize the throne.

**What happened after Zimri became king?**
Zimri's rule was immediately challenged when the army, led by Omri, besieged the city of Tirzah where Zimri had taken refuge. Faced with no escape, Zimri retreated to the palace's upper rooms, set it on fire, and died in the flames rather than surrendering.

**How did Zimri die?**
Zimri died by suicide through self-immolation. When the army besieged his palace in Tirzah, he chose death by fire rather than falling into the hands of his enemies or being taken prisoner.

## Why They Matter
Zimri's brief reign, while historically insignificant in terms of lasting impact, is significant as a dramatic example of political instability during the divided monarchy period of ancient Israel. His story illustrates the fragility of power in that era and the rapid turnover of rulers, as well as the brutal methods of succession. His case became a biblical cautionary tale about the instability and violence that characterized certain periods in Israel's monarchy. Without Zimri's brief and dramatic reign, our understanding of the political turbulence during the transition from the Omride dynasty might be less complete.

## Notable For
• Holding one of the shortest reigns in Israelite history, lasting only seven days
• Being a chariot commander who assassinated a sitting king to seize power
• Committing suicide by self-immolation rather than face capture
• Succeeding King Elah through murder
• Ruling during a period of extreme political instability in ancient Israel

## Body
### Early Life and Rise to Power
Zimri was a chariot commander in the Israelite army when he assassinated King Elah. Elah had been drinking in the citadel of Tirzah, which presented Zimri with an opportunity to strike. The exact circumstances of Zimri's early life and career as a chariot commander are not recorded in the available source material, but his position as chariot commander clearly gave him access to the king and the military authority necessary to carry out the assassination.

### Reign as King
Zimri's reign as king of Israel was exceptionally brief, lasting only seven days. He seized power after murdering King Elah in Tirzah. According to the biblical account, Zimri "conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah, his master, and assassinated him in his palace, along with Argob and Arieh, and with his own hand killed him. Then on the twenty-seventh day of the second month of the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri became king instead, though he had reigned in Tirzah only seven days." (1 Kings 16:15-16)

### Fall and Death
Zimri's rule was immediately challenged when news of his regicide spread. The army, which had been besieging the Philistine town of Gibbethon, learned of Zimri's actions and made Omri, the commander of the army, king instead. Omri then marched with the entire army to Tirzah to besiege Zimri. Faced with no escape and unwilling to be captured, Zimri retreated to the citadel of the royal palace, set it on fire, and died in the flames. His suicide effectively ended his short reign.

### Historical Context
Zimri's brief rule occurred during a turbulent period in the history of the Kingdom of Israel, which existed approximately 930-720 BCE. This was the era of the divided monarchy, following the split of the united kingdom of Israel under Solomon's successors. Zimri's assassination of Elah and subsequent suicide represent the violent and unstable nature of political succession during this period, setting a precedent for future power struggles in the northern kingdom.

### Legacy
Zimri's historical significance lies primarily in his extremely short reign and the dramatic circumstances surrounding his rise and fall. His story serves as a biblical example of the political instability and violence that characterized certain periods in Israel's monarchy. While he ruled for only seven days, his actions and their aftermath were significant enough to be recorded in the biblical books of Kings and Chronicles. His name became synonymous with brief, ill-fated reigns in Israelite history.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Virtual International Authority File