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Zimri

Zimri ("praiseworthy"), was king of Israel for seven days. Albright has dated his reign to 876 BC, while Thiele offers the date 885 BC. His story is told in 1 Kings, Chapter 16.

He was a chariot commander who murdered king Elah at Tirzah, and succeeded him as king. However, Zimri reigned only seven days, because the army elected Omri as king, and with their support laid siege to Tirzah. Finding his position untenable, Zimri set fire to the palace and perished.

Omri became king only after four years of fierce war with Tibni, another claimant to the throne of Israel.