9. Zimri was one of King Elah’s officers. Zimri commanded half of Elah’s chariots, but Zimri plotted against Elah. King Elah was in Tirzah, drinking and getting drunk at Arza’s home. Arza was the man in charge of the palace at Tirzah.
10. Zimri went into the house and killed King Elah. Then Zimri became the new king of Israel after Elah. This was during the 27th year that Asa was king in Judah.
11. After Zimri became the new king, he killed all of Baasha’s family and friends. He did not let any male in Baasha’s family live.
12. So Zimri destroyed Baasha’s family just as the Lord said he would when he spoke against Baasha through the prophet Jehu.
13. This happened because of all the sins of Baasha and his son, Elah. They sinned and they caused the Israelites to sin. They worshiped worthless idols, and this made the Lord angry.
14. The rest of what that Elah did is written in the book, The History of the Kings of Israel.
15. Zimri became king of Israel during the 27th year that Asa was king of Judah. Zimri ruled in Tirzah only seven days. This is what happened: The army of Israel was at Gibbethon, which was under Philistine control.
16. Omri was the commander of the army of Israel. The men in the camp heard that Zimri had made secret plans against the king and killed him. So in the camp all the soldiers made Omri the new king.
17. Then Omri and all the soldiers of Israel left Gibbethon and went to Tirzah. They surrounded the city and attacked it.
18. When Zimri saw the city had been captured, he ran to the palace fortress, but the soldiers burned it down with him still in it.