Person
Zimri זמרי
king of Israel for seven days
Zimri was captain of half the chariots under Elah. Having killed the king and the whole house of Baasha, he became king in Tirzah — and reigned seven days.
The army before Gibbethon heard of the plot and that same day proclaimed Omri, its commander, king. Omri broke off the siege, came to Tirzah and took the city. «And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire, and died» (1 Kings 16:18). His name became a byword: forty years later Jezebel would greet Jehu with «is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?»
On the timeline
Sources
Tanakh
- Melachim I (1 Kings) 16:9–20 — the seven-day reign and the burning of the palace over himself
- Melachim II (2 Kings) 9:31 — «is it peace, Zimri?» — his name as a reproach to a regicide
Basis: stated in the Tanakh.