1. The eldest of the five sons of Zerah and grandson of Judah and Tamar (I Chr 2:5-6). He is probably identical with Zabdi (Josh 7:1; 17-18).
2. Son of Salu, prince of a chief house of the Simeonites. According to Numbers chapter 25, while the Israelites were in the wilderness of Shittim, they had intercourse with Moabite women and worshiped Baal-Peor. Incensed, the Lord brought a plague on Israel. He then ordered Moses to hold a public execution of all those who sinned against the Lord, resulting in a slaughter of 24,000 Israelites. This sinful episode was further exacerbated by Zimri, who brought in a Midianite woman named Cozbi, daughter of Zur, in the sight of Moses and all the Israelite congregation, who were then weeping at the entrance of the tabernacle, probably calling for God's forgiveness. Thereupon, Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, seized a lance, followed Zimri into his tent and, in a moment of zeal for the Lord's honor, pierced him along with Cozbi. As a result, the Lord's wrath was turned away from Israel, and both the plague and the slaughter were checked.
3. King of Israel in 882 B.C. Having previously been the commander of half of King Elah's chariotry, Zimri conspired against his master while he was feasting, assassinated him, and seized the throne. He then exterminated the entire house of Baasha, Elah's father, not sparing a single male (I Kgs 16:8-12). However, when Elah's army, which was then besieging Gibbethon of the Philistines, heard of Zimri's coup and the assassination of the king, they proclaimed Omri, their commander-in-chief, king of Israel. Omri at once marched up from Gibbethon and captured the city of Tirzah, the royal residence of those days. In view of the hopeless situation, Zimri retreated to the royal palace and committed suicide by setting it on fire while he was within (I Kgs 16:16-18). Zimri reigned for only seven days. A generation later, Jezebel sarcastically addressed Jehu, the usurper of her son's throne, as "Zimri, murderer of your master" (II Kgs 9:31). Thus Zimri became a symbol of the slave who turns against his master.
4. Son of Jehoaddah (I Chr 8:36) or Jareh (I Chr 9:42) from the tribe of Benjamin.
5. See ZIMRAN.
Concordance
ZIMRI 1:
I Chr 2:6
ZIMRI 2:
Num 25:14
ZIMRI 3:
I Kgs 16:9-10,12, 15-16, 18,20. II Kgs 9:31. I Chr 8:36; 9:42
ZIMRI 4:
I Chr 8:36; 9:42
ZIMRI 5:
Jer 25:25
