Melachim Alef 16:9

9 And his eved (official) Zimri, captain of half his chariots, plotted a kesher against him, while Elah was in Tirtzah, drinking himself shikkor in the bais Artza, who was in charge of the Bais (palace) in Tirtzah.

Melachim Alef 16:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 16:9

And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots
His military chariots; there were two captains of them, and this was one of them; so the Targum,

``one of the two masters or captains of the chariots:''

conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in
the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah;
who had the charge of his wine and other liquors, to which he was addicted beyond measure; and this was a fit opportunity for Zimri to fall upon him, and slay him, when he was drunk, and off his guard, and his army at the same time was besieging Gibbethon, ( 1 Kings 16:15 ) so that there was a very great likeness in what befell the family of Baasha, to that of the family of Jeroboam; for as the son of the one, and of the other, reigned but two years, so they were both slain by their servants, and both at a time when Gibbethon was besieged; the Targum takes this Arza to be the temple of an idol so called, near the royal palace.

Melachim Alef 16:9 In-Context

7 And also by the yad HaNavi Yehu Ben Chanani came the Devar Hashem against Ba’asha, and against his Bais, even for all ra’ah that he did in the eyes of Hashem, in provoking Him to anger by the ma’aseh (work) of his hands, in becoming like the Bais Yarov‘am; and because he struck it.

8 In the twenty and sixth year of Asa Melech Yehudah began Elah Ben Ba’asha to reign as Melech over Yisroel in Tirtzah, reigning two years.

9 And his eved (official) Zimri, captain of half his chariots, plotted a kesher against him, while Elah was in Tirtzah, drinking himself shikkor in the bais Artza, who was in charge of the Bais (palace) in Tirtzah.

10 And Zimri went in and struck him down, killed him, in the 27th year of Asa Melech Yehudah, and reigned as Melech in his place.

11 And it came to pass, when he began to reign as king, as soon as he sat on his kisse, that he slaughtered kol Bais Ba’asha; he spared him not one mashtin b’kir (one urinating against a wall, i.e., one male), not go’alim (redeemers) of his nor re’a of his.