Zimri King of Israel

2022-10-31

Zimri, the servant of Elah, became king after he slew his drunken master. He fulfilled the prophecy of Jehu son of Hanani by slaying all the men of Baasha’s family (1 Kings 16:12). Though the Lord allowed Zimri to fulfill his will, Zimri’s actions were of his own volition for his own advancement. He does not seem to have any real following when he did this treachery.

The traitor Zimri was the shortest reigning king of Israel, with his rule lasting seven days. The people were not with him, so they took the captain of the host Omri and made him king instead. In response, the traitor burned the king’s house down around himself and died.

His treacherous reign was short and evil. He “died, For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin” (1 Kings 16:18-19). He is only mentioned elsewhere in Scripture in Jezebel’s final words: “Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?” (2 Kings 9:31). The context was that Jehu the son of Nimshi had just overthrown the king of Israel and Judah, but unlike Zimri, this was the Lord’s command.

Unless it was directed by the Lord, treason was met with justice, such as in the case of Joash’s servants (2 Chronicles 25:3). Since the New Testament, there is no time where any Christian would be directed by the Lord to overthrow the government, for our kingdom is not of this world. “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36). We have seen in our own times failed attempts to overthrow the government. Any movement that suggests treason, revolution, or violence is something we must avoid.

This story also shows the chaos and wickedness of the northern kingdom. Unlike Judah, which had the continuous Davidic dynasty, new dynasties were often short-lived, and kings followed the ways of Jeroboam at best.

This is a part of the Kings of Israel series. To go back to the table of contents, proceed here.