Lexical Definition

‎זִמְרִי‎ Zimrîy (zim-ree') Zimri ^N:N-M-P
from ‎זָמַר‎; musical

Zimri.

• § Zimri = "my music"
• Zimri, the name of five Israelites, and of an Arabian tribe

n pr m
1) the son of Salu, a Simeonite chieftain, slain by Phinehas with the Midianitish princess Cozbi
2) 5th king of the northern kingdom, murderer of the king, Elah, who reigned for 7 days before he killed himself by setting the palace on fire and was replaced by the general of the army, Omri
3) one of the five sons of Zerah and grandson of Judah
4) son of Jehoadah and descendant of Saul
5) an obscure name mentioned in connection with 'the mingled people' in Jeremiah; may be same as 'Zimran'

Extended Information

• A king of the Kingdom of Israel, living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.9

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. ‎זִמְרִי‎ proper name, masculine ᵐ5 Ζαμβρ(ε)ι —

1. a Simeonite Num 25:14 (P).

2. grandson of Judah 2Chr 2:6* (app. = ‎זַבְדִּי‎ Josh 7:1 q. v.)

3. king of Israel before Omri 1Kgs 16:9; 1Kgs 16:10; 1Kgs 16:12; 1Kgs 16:15; 1Kgs 16:16; 1Kgs 16:18; 1Kgs 16:20; 2Kgs 9:31.

4. a Benjamite 1Chr 8:36 (twice in verse) = 1Chr 9:42 (twice in verse).

II. ‎זִמְרִי‎ proper name, of a people or patr., only ‎׳‎‎מַלְכֵי ז‎ Jer 25:25 (+ ‎מלכי עֵילָם‎ and ‎מלכי מָדָ֑י‎); = Σεμβρῖται in Ethiopia (Strabo^{xvii, i. 786}) ? compare Gf; omitted by ᵐ5; interpolation according to Kue Gie.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • King of N. Israel • King of Israel, reigned seven days

King living at the time of Divided Monarchy

Zimri, a commander of half of Israel's chariots, became king after assassinating Elah, but his reign lasted only seven days (1Ki.16.9,10,12,15,16,18,20; 2Ki.9.31).

• A king of Northern Israel, living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.16.9;
• only referred to as Zimri זִמְרִי.

Zimri was a short-lived king of Israel who reigned for only seven days. He was originally a commander of half of the chariots in the army of Elah, king of Israel. While Elah was drinking himself into a stupor at the house of Arza, his steward, Zimri conspired against him and assassinated him. Zimri then proclaimed himself king and killed all the members of Elah's family, fulfilling the prophecy against the house of Baasha, Elah's father. However, when the army of Israel, which was besieging Gibbethon, heard of Zimri's actions, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, as king. Omri marched to Tirzah, the capital city, and besieged it. When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house and set it on fire, killing himself. Zimri's brief reign was marked by treachery and violence, and he is remembered as one of the wicked kings of Israel. The story of Zimri's rise and fall illustrates the political instability and moral decline that characterized the northern kingdom of Israel during this period.

All entries for Zimri: זִמְרִי