ZIMRI:
- 1. Son of Zerah and grandson of Judah (I Chron. ii. 6), identical with Zabdi (Jos. vii. 1).
- 2. Son of Salu, a prince of the Simeonites. In the wilderness the Israelites were smitten at Shittim for worshiping Baal-peor, and while they were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle, Zimri took a Midianite woman named Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, in the presence of Moses and all the people. Thereupon Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, seized a javelin, went into Zimri's tent, and slew the guilty pair (Num. xxv. 6-14).
- 3. Son of Jehoadah or Jarah (I Chron. viii. 36, ix. 42). He was a Benjamite and a descendant of Saul.
- 4. King of Israel for seven days; originally the captain of half the chariots of King Elah. He gained the throne by the murder of his master as Elah was reveling in the house of Arza, his steward, at Tirzah. In the midst of the festivity Zimri killed the king and all the house of Baasha, the predecessor of Elah; but when the army, then engaged in the siege of the Philistine town of Gibbethon, heard of the assassination, it immediately proclaimed its general Omri king. He marched at once against Tirzah and took the city, whereupon Zimri retreated to the royal palace, set it on fire, and perished in the flames (I Kings xvi. 9-20).
- 5. In Jer. xxv. 25 "kings of Zimri" are mentioned together with Elamitic and Median sovereigns. This Zimri may be identical with Zimran, a son of Abraham by Keturah (Gen. xxv. 2).
E. G. H. B. P.
