Zimri

8Asa was king of Judah. In his twenty-sixth year, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel. He ruled from Tirzah for two years.

In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.

NoteIsrael had split into two countries with two kings. The north was called Israel. The south was called Judah. Writers marked time by saying which year of the other king's rule it was.

9One of Elah's own officers turned against him. His name was Zimri, and he led half the king's chariots. Elah was in Tirzah at the house of Arza, who ran the palace. Elah was there getting drunk.

And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.

NoteA chariot was a small cart pulled by horses. Soldiers rode in chariots to fight. Zimri was in charge of half the king's chariots.

10Zimri walked in, struck Elah down, and killed him. This was in Asa's twenty-seventh year as king of Judah. Then Zimri became king in Elah's place.

And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.

11As soon as Zimri sat on the throne, he killed Baasha's whole family. He did not leave one man alive, not a relative and not a friend.

And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.

NoteA new king sometimes killed the old king's whole family. He did it so no relative could grow up and take the throne back.

12So Zimri destroyed Baasha's whole family. This happened just as the LORD had said through the prophet Jehu.

Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,

13It happened because of the sins of Baasha and his son Elah. They sinned, and they led Israel to sin too. They made the LORD, the God of Israel, angry with their worthless idols.

For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.

NoteAn idol is a statue people bowed down to and called a god. The word "vanities" in the King James means things that are empty and cannot help anyone.

14The other things Elah did are written down. They are in the book called the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

15In Asa's twenty-seventh year as king of Judah, Zimri ruled in Tirzah for seven days. Israel's army was camped outside the Philistine town of Gibbethon.

In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.

NoteThe Philistines were a people who lived near the sea, next to Israel. The two often fought each other. Israel's army was camped at Gibbethon to take it from them.

16The soldiers in the camp heard the news. Zimri had made a secret plan and had killed the king. So that very day, all Israel made Omri their king. Omri was the commander of the army.

And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.

17Omri and all the Israelites left Gibbethon. They marched to Tirzah and surrounded the city.

And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

NoteTo surround a city means to sit outside its walls and wait. No food or help can get in. In time the people inside give up.

18Zimri saw that the city had been taken. So he went into the strong part of the palace. He set the palace on fire around himself, and he died there.

And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,

NoteCities had walls, and palaces had one strong tower inside. It was the last safe place when enemies got in.

19This happened because of the sins Zimri had done. He did evil in the LORD's sight. He lived the same bad way Jeroboam did, and he led Israel to sin.

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.

20The other things Zimri did, and the plan he made against the king, are written down. They are in the book called the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

30Jehu came to Jezreel, and Jezebel heard about it. She painted around her eyes and fixed her hair. Then she looked down from a window.

And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.

NoteWomen then put dark paint around their eyes. Jezebel dressed herself up like a queen to meet Jehu.

31Jehu came in through the gate. Jezebel called down, "Do you come in peace, Zimri, you who killed your master?"

And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?

NoteZimri was a soldier long before this. He killed his king and took the throne. He ruled only seven days before he died. Calling Jehu "Zimri" was meant as an insult.

32Jehu looked up at the window and called out, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three palace servants looked down at him.

And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.

NoteThe King James word here is "eunuchs." They were men who worked inside the king's house. They often looked after the queen's rooms.

33Jehu shouted, "Throw her down!" So they threw her down. Her blood splashed on the wall and on the horses. The horses trampled her.

And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.