Zimri Reigns Seven Days, Then Burns the Palace Down Around Himself

Zimri, commander of half the Israelite chariots, assassinates King Elah while he is drunk at the house of his steward. Zimri immediately seizes the throne and kills every male of Baasha's royal house — fulfilling the curse pronounced by the prophet Jehu. His reign lasts seven days. When the army in the field hears what happened, they make their general Omri king instead. Omri marches on Tirzah, the capital. Zimri, seeing the city taken, goes into the inner palace and sets the palace on fire over himself. He dies in the flames.