Israel's King Elah
8 In the twenty-sixth year of Judah's King Asa, Elah son of Baasha became king over Israel in Tirzah; [he reigned] two years.
9
His servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him while Elah was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the household at Tirzah.
10
In the twenty-seventh year of Judah's King Asa, Zimri went in, struck Elah down, and killed him. Then Zimri became king in his place.
11
When he became king, as soon as he was seated on his throne, Zimri struck down the entire house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male, whether of his kinsmen or his friends.
12
So Zimri exterminated the entire house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet,
13
because of all the sins of Baasha and the sins of his son Elah, which they committed and caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols.
14
The rest of the events of Elah's [reign], along with all his accomplishments, are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.
Israel's King Zimri
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Judah's King Asa, Zimri became king for seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines.
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.
21
At that time the people of Israel were split in half: half the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.
22
However, the people who followed Omri proved stronger than those who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.