Daily Tanach Tuesday Sefer Melachim 1 Chapter 16: The reign of Zimri

* The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer

1.      The very short reign of Zimri and the ensuing civil war culminating in his death and the rule of Omri:

  • The reign of Zimri for only seven days: Zimri became king in the twenty seventh year of reign of Asa, the king of Judah. Zimri reigned for seven days in Tirzah while the people were encamped around Givson, which was in the land of the Philistines.
  • Part of the Jewish people coronate Omri as king: The people who were encamped in Givson heard that Zimri had rebelled and assassinated Elah. So they all went ahead and pronounced Omri the commander-in-chief of the army, as king of Israel on that day in the camp.
  • The civil war: Omri and all of Israel went up from Givon and besieged Tirzah. When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the inner chamber of the king’s palace. Omri then set the palace on fire and burnt Zimri within the king’s palace, and he died. This occurred as a result of his sins which he sinned and caused Israel to sin, following the path of Yeravam.
  • The legacy of Zimri: The remainder of the events of Zimri and his rebellion, are written in the book of Chronicles of the kings of Israel.

 

2.      The kingdom of Israel splits in two and is then reunited:

  • The two kings: At that point the kingdom of Israel split in two. Half of the people followed after Tivni the son of Ginas, and proclaimed him king, and the other half followed after Omri [and proclaimed him king].
  • Tivni is killed and the kingdom unites: The people who followed Omri overpowered those who followed Tivni, after Tivni died [by assassination[1]] Omri reigned [over all the Jewish people[2]].

[1] See Rashi 16:22

[2] See Radak 16:22

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