Elah

King of Israel; son of Baasha, who seized the throne of northern Israel after the murder of Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, its first king. Before he had reigned two years a conspiracy was organized against him within his corrupt court at Tirzah, and he was slain by Zimri, "captain of half his chariots, . . . as he was . . . drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house" (1 Kings 16:8-10). Josephus states that Zimri struck his blow when the army, which was the king's defense, was absent fighting at Gibbethon ("Ant." 8:12, § 4). The family of Elah, experiencing the treatment usual in that semibarbarous age, found no mercy at the hands of the conspirators.