1 Kings 16:8–20

Israel’s King Elah

⁸In the twenty-sixth year of Judah’s King Asa, Elah son of Baasha became king over Israel and reigned in Tirzah ^dtwo years.

⁹His servant Zimri, ^ecommander of half his chariots, conspired against him while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk ^fin the house of Arza, who was in charge of the household ^gat Tirzah. ¹⁰In the twenty-seventh year of Judah’s King Asa, Zimri went in, struck Elah down, killing him. Then Zimri became king in his place. ^h

¹¹When he became king, as soon as he was seated on his throne, Zimri struck down the entire house of Baasha. He did not leave a single male, ^ijincluding his kinsmen and his friends. ¹²So Zimri destroyed the entire house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet. ^k13This happened because of all the sins of Baasha and those of his son Elah, which they committed and caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel ^lwith their worthless idols. ^m

¹⁴The rest of the events of Elah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ⁿ

Israel’s King Zimri

¹⁵In the twenty-seventh year of Judah’s King Asa, Zimri became king for seven days in Tirzah. ^oNow the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines. ^p16When these troops heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king, then all Israel made Omri, the army commander, king over Israel that very day in the camp. ¹⁷Omri along with all Israel marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah. ^q18When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down over himself. He died ¹⁹because of the sin he committed by doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight and by following the example of Jeroboam and the sin he caused Israel to commit. ^r

²⁰The rest of the events of Zimri’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he instigated, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.