1 Kings 16:18 kjv
And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died.
1 Kings 16:18 nkjv
And it happened, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house down upon himself with fire, and died,
1 Kings 16:18 niv
When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died,
1 Kings 16:18 esv
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,
1 Kings 16:18 nlt
When Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the citadel of the palace and burned it down over himself and died in the flames.
1 Kings 16 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 16:2 | "Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam..." | God's divine appointment and warning to Baasha's house, which Zimri would end. |
| 1 Ki 16:3 | "Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house..." | Prophecy against Baasha's house, fulfilled by Zimri's rebellion and swift end. |
| 1 Ki 16:9 | "And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza..." | Zimri's treacherous character and coup. |
| 1 Ki 16:15 | "In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah." | His exceptionally brief reign. |
| 1 Ki 16:19 | "For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did..." | The direct reason for his swift judgment: idol worship. |
| Deut 28:52 | "And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst..." | Echoes the siege leading to a king's demise, a consequence of covenant disobedience. |
| Jg 9:48-49 | "And Abimelech went up to mount Zalmon... he took an axe in his hand... he burned the tower with them..." | A similar instance of a structure being burned with people inside, often as a siege tactic or judgment. |
| Jg 16:30 | "And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords..." | A self-inflicted death by bringing down a structure, though for different purposes (vengeance). |
| 1 Sam 31:4-5 | "Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through... his armourbearer would not... Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it..." | Self-inflicted death to avoid capture and humiliation, common for defeated leaders. |
| 2 Sam 17:23 | "And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and got him home to his house... and hanged himself..." | Another prominent figure who committed suicide out of despair after defeat. |
| Job 2:9 | "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." | Death as a means to escape suffering, illustrating profound despair. |
| Ps 7:15-16 | "He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head..." | The wicked are often entrapped by their own devices, an indirect parallel to Zimri's self-destruction. |
| Ps 9:15-16 | "The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made... The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands." | God's justice in causing the wicked to be caught by their own actions. |
| Prov 28:18 | "Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once." | Illustrates the swift downfall of the perverse, like Zimri. |
| Jer 22:4-5 | "For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David... But if ye will not hear these words... this house shall become a desolation." | Prophecies of judgment on royal houses leading to their destruction, often by fire. |
| Amos 2:5 | "But I will send a fire on Judah's house, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem." | Divine judgment often manifests as destruction by fire, specifically targeting palaces. |
| Heb 10:26-27 | "For if we sin willfully... There remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation..." | The consequence of deliberate rebellion against God, resulting in a terrifying end. |
| Jas 4:14 | "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away." | Reflects on the fleeting nature of life, particularly that of wicked usurpers. |
| 1 Pet 4:17-18 | "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God... and if it first begin with us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" | God's judgment beginning with those who have violated His standards, whether leaders or the general populace. |
| Rev 18:8 | "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her." | The ultimate destruction of a wicked kingdom/city by fire as a divine judgment. |
1 Kings 16 verses
1 Kings 16 18 Meaning
This verse describes the final, desperate act of Zimri, a usurper king of Israel, who reigned for only seven days. Upon realizing that the city of Tirzah, his capital, had fallen to Omri's siege, he retreated into the fortified part of the royal palace. There, he intentionally set fire to the palace with himself inside, dying in the flames. This act signifies the dramatic end of his short, illegitimate reign and the immediate fulfillment of divine judgment upon him for his sins and the sins of the previous dynasty he overthrew.
1 Kings 16 18 Context
1 Kings chapter 16 details the turbulent and sinful reigns of several kings of Israel following Jeroboam, illustrating the rapid succession of ungodly rulers and the swift divine judgment upon their houses for perpetuating idol worship and sin against God. The immediate context shows the usurpation of power by Zimri, who assassinated King Elah (Baasha's son) while he was drunk, thereby fulfilling the prophecy spoken against Baasha's house in 1 Kings 16:2-4. Zimri's reign, however, was exceptionally short, lasting only seven days. Omri, the commander of the army, was proclaimed king by the soldiers upon hearing of Zimri's treachery. Omri immediately marched on Tirzah, the capital city of Israel at that time. Verse 18 marks the culmination of this swift retaliation, where Zimri, faced with unavoidable defeat and the storming of the city, chose a dramatic self-immolation rather than capture and likely public execution. This act also serves as a potent reminder of the fleeting nature of earthly power not established by God and the certain judgment for those who walk in unrighteousness, specifically adhering to the idolatry introduced by Jeroboam.
Historically, the Northern Kingdom of Israel frequently experienced such political instability and regicide due to its rejection of the Davidic covenant and the establishment of illegitimate, idol-worshiping dynasties. The burning of the palace could also be a strategic act to prevent anything valuable from falling into the hands of Omri. The choice of death by fire is particularly gruesome and highlights the utter despair and shame associated with his downfall.
1 Kings 16 18 Word analysis
- Indeed, when Zimri: "Zimri" (זִמְרִי, Zimri) - A captain of half the chariots who orchestrated a coup against King Elah. His name might connect to "song" or "vine," but here he is known for treachery and a seven-day reign. His character foreshadows a swift and inglorious end. The "Indeed, when" emphasizes the immediate consequence of the siege.
- saw: (וַיַּרְא, vayyar') - Implies a recognition of inevitable defeat. He perceives the reality of the situation. This "seeing" leads directly to his decisive, fatal action, indicating his realization of the end.
- that the city: (הָעִיר, ha'ir) - Refers specifically to Tirzah, the capital of the Northern Kingdom at that time (1 Ki 15:21, 1 Ki 16:9). Tirzah's name possibly means "pleasantness," a stark contrast to the violence unfolding within its walls. The taking of the capital signifies complete defeat.
- was taken: (נִלְכְּדָה, nilkədhāh) - From the root lakad, meaning "to capture," "to seize," "to ensnare." The passive voice emphasizes the accomplished fact; Tirzah had fallen. This signals the complete loss of his stronghold and authority.
- he went into the citadel: (אֶל־אַרְמוֹן, 'el-'armōn) - "Citadel" is armon, referring to a fortified palace or a part of the palace that served as a fortress or stronghold. It implies the most secure, defensible part of the king's house. This was his last desperate retreat, a place meant for security becoming his place of demise. In ancient Near Eastern context, royal palaces often had such fortified sections or 'armonim' as a last line of defense.
- of the king's house: (בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ, beit hammèleḵ) - The royal residence, representing the seat of power and authority. By destroying it, Zimri was not just taking his own life but also symbolically eradicating the brief and illegitimate reign that he established there. It's the physical embodiment of the kingdom's sovereignty.
- and burned the king's house over him with fire,: (וַיִּשְׂרֹף עָלָיו אֶת־בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ בָּאֵשׁ, vayyisrof 'alav 'et-beit hammèleḵ ba'esh)
- burned: (וַיִּשְׂרֹף, vayyisrof) - From sarap, meaning "to burn," "to consume with fire." This act is intentional self-immolation, a desperate form of suicide, often chosen by defeated leaders in antiquity to avoid capture, torture, or public humiliation. It demonstrates the depth of his despair and fear of Omri.
- over him: (עָלָיו, 'alav) - Literally "upon him" or "over himself." This indicates he was within the structure, choosing to be consumed by the flames with the palace. This wasn't accidental but a deliberate act.
- with fire: (בָּאֵשׁ, ba'esh) - Explicitly states the means of destruction. Fire is often a symbol of divine judgment or complete destruction in biblical literature.
- and died: (וַיָּמֹת, vayyāmōt) - The concise, unequivocal outcome of his act. His death marks the finality of his short, ill-fated reign and the immediate consequence of God's judgment on unrighteous kingship.
Words-group Analysis:
- "when Zimri saw that the city was taken": This phrase captures the sudden and final moment of realization for Zimri. His defeat was complete; his strategic retreat to the citadel was his last option. This emphasizes the crushing blow of Omri's swift military action.
- "he went into the citadel of the king's house and burned the king's house over him with fire": This is the core action describing Zimri's self-destruction. The "citadel of the king's house" (אֶל־אַרְמוֹן בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ) signifies a place of ultimate royal security turning into a funeral pyre. This act is not just suicide but an ultimate rejection of surrendering his person or his authority, choosing a destructive end on his own terms. It also prevents the spoils of the palace from falling into enemy hands. The use of "with fire" emphasizes the ferocity and totality of the self-inflicted destruction. This desperate choice demonstrates utter despair and shame.
- "and died": The brief and stark conclusion. It underscores the ultimate futility of his usurpation and defiance. It’s the final word on his reign, marking the immediate fulfillment of divine judgment against Baasha's house (via Zimri) and the pattern of destruction inherent in ungodly rule.
1 Kings 16 18 Bonus section
- Polemics against Human Autonomy in Kingship: This verse implicitly contains a polemic against purely human-orchestrated power dynamics. Zimri seized power through conspiracy and assassination (1 Ki 16:9-10) without any divine anointing or prophetic word, unlike David or even Jeroboam. His ignominious and self-inflicted end highlights the futility and destructive nature of such autonomy, showing that lasting kingship ultimately derives from God. It stands in contrast to God's promised eternal dynasty through David (2 Sam 7:16).
- Fulfillment of Prophecy's Pattern: Although not directly prophesied about Zimri himself, his demise is part of the broader prophetic pattern of God swiftly bringing judgment upon wicked dynasties and those who engage in illicit power grabs. This incident is presented immediately after the prophecy against Baasha’s house (1 Ki 16:1-4) which Zimri inadvertently fulfills by annihilating it, only to immediately face his own judgment for his wickedness (1 Ki 16:19). This demonstrates God's consistent execution of His Word, even through sinful human agents.
- Geographical Significance of Tirzah: Tirzah was a significant administrative and royal center prior to the construction of Samaria by Omri (1 Ki 16:23-24). Its destruction by fire, with the king in it, marked the end of an era for that capital, leading Omri to seek a new, more defensible capital in Samaria, which also symbolized a new start, although one still marked by idolatry.
1 Kings 16 18 Commentary
1 Kings 16:18 vividly illustrates the volatility of power and the certainty of divine judgment in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Zimri, who had just violently seized the throne, quickly met his end, encapsulating the tumultuous and often short-lived reigns of ungodly kings during this period. His self-immolation in the palace's citadel is a profound act of despair and a testament to his unwillingness to face capture and the public humiliation of defeat. This was a form of self-judgment, perhaps reflecting the depth of his personal pride and the absolute futility of his usurpation.
The choice of death by fire in the very seat of his short-lived power, the royal palace, serves as a grim metaphor for the destructive nature of ungodly ambition and rebellion against God. The same palace that was meant to be the symbol of his authority became his tomb. This rapid downfall, merely seven days after seizing power, highlights the precariousness of a throne not sanctioned or blessed by God. His fate directly contrasts with David's dynasty, which endured because of God's covenant promise. For the original Israelite audience, this account would have underscored the principle that those who rule wickedly and perpetuate idolatry, especially in the "way of Jeroboam," would face swift and destructive consequences from the Lord. Zimri's burning palace symbolized the burning away of illicit power and the purging of the evil he embodied, setting the stage for the rise of another tumultuous reign.