Melachim Alef 16:18

18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the Ir was taken, that he went into the armon (palace, castle) of the Bais HaMelech, and he burned the Bais HaMelech over him with eish, and died.

Melachim Alef 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.

Melachim Alef 16:18 In-Context

16 And the army that was encamped heard say, Zimri hath plotted a kesher, and hath also slain HaMelech; wherefore kol Yisroel made Omri, the Sar Tzava, Melech over Yisroel that day in the machaneh.

17 And Omri withdrew from Gibeton, and kol Yisroel with him, and they laid siege to Tirtzah.

18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the Ir was taken, that he went into the armon (palace, castle) of the Bais HaMelech, and he burned the Bais HaMelech over him with eish, and died.

19 For his chattot which he sinned in doing rah (evil) in the eyes of Hashem, in walking in the derech Yarov‘am, and in his chattat which he did, to make Yisroel to sin.

20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his kesher that he plotted, are they not written in the Sefer Divrei HaYamim L’Malkhei Yisroel?