1 Kings 16:15-20--Zimri Reigns in Israel

1 Kings 16:15-20
English Standard Version
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Zimri Reigns in Israel
15 In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, 16 and the troops who were encamped heard it said, “Zimri has conspired, and he has killed the king.” Therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17 So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18 And when Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire and died, 19 because of his sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and for his sin which he committed, making Israel to sin. 20 Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy that he made, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

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Zimri took the throne of the northern kingdom of Israel in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Asa of the southern kingdom of Judah.  Zimri only reigned seven days (one week) in Tirzah.  All the armies of Israel heard what Zimri had done to Elah and his family and friends, so Israel made a king for themselves by choosing one of their military commanders (for it seems like they were encamped for war against the Philistines and they wanted a military commander as their king).

Omri, the commander of the army, became king over Israel that day in the camp, and he went up from the encampment at Gibberthon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.  When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went inside the king's house (the royal palace) and set it on fire and died there.  This was the LORD's judgement upon Zimri for his sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the ways of Jeroboam, and for his sin he committed, making Israel sin.  (You'll notice this is a familiar refrain for all the kings of the north)

As with the other kings, we are told that the rest of his acts (they can't be many since he only ruled for seven days) can be found in the Book of Chronicles.  Omri the new king of Israel is the father of Ahab (the husband of Jezebel).  The stage is almost set for the prophet Elijah to come on scene.