1 Kings 16:8

ELAH SUCCEEDED BAASHA; BUT ZIMRI MURDERED HIM

"In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and reigned two years. And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah: and Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he smote all the house of Baasha: he left him not a single man-child, neither of his kinsfolk, nor of his friends. Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned, and wherewith they made Israel to sin, to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities. Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"

"In the twenty and sixth year ... in the twenty and seventh year" (1 Kings 16:8,10). From this it is dear that Elah's reign was actually somewhat less than two years.

"Zimri ... conspired against him" (1 Kings 16:9). "Zimri did that to Baasha's son only that which Baasha had done before him. Baasha was hoist by his own petard. As for Elah, he was a dissolute and pusillanimous prince."[7]

"He was drinking himself drunk ... in the house of Arza" (1 Kings 16:9). This was certainly conduct, "unworthy of royalty, demonstrating the despicable character of Elah."[8] He should have been with his troops in battle. The Arza who was mentioned here had charge of the palace at Tirzah and was very likely a co-conspirator with Zimri.

"Zimri went in and smote him ... and reigned in his stead" (1 Kings 16:10). "In Zimri the third dynasty in Israel came to the throne, if indeed a line that ruled only seven days should be dignified with a title such as dynasty."[9] "Zimri was a professional soldier, perhaps not even an Israelite, since he is not identified with any tribe."[10] The short reign of this monarch, which lasted only seven days, is the shortest reign of any of the kings.