1 Kings 16:18

18 When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned down the royal palace over himself. He died

1 Kings 16:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 16:18

And it came to pass, that when Zimri saw that the city was
taken
That Omri, and the army with him, had got into it, being a place not much fortified, and Zimri not having force enough to defend it against such an army:

that he went into the palace of the king's house;
into the innermost and most splendid, as well as the strongest part of it:

and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and he died;
that he might not fall into the hands of his rival, who he might fear would use him ill, and that he might not enjoy the royal palace; though Kimchi thinks that Omri set fire to the palace, and burnt it over the head of Zimri, in which he perished; and this sense the text will bear.

1 Kings 16:18 In-Context

16 When the encamped troops heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king, then all Israel made Omri, the army commander, king over Israel that very day in the camp.

17 Omri along with all Israel marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.

18 When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned down the royal palace over himself. He died

19 because of his sin he committed by doing what was evil in the Lord's sight and by following the example of Jeroboam and the sin he caused Israel to commit.

20 The rest of the events of Zimri's [reign], along with the conspiracy that he instigated, are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.