Bible Strands
1 Kings 16:18
When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down upon himself. So he died
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Zimri stands as the ruling king while Omri’s forces besiege and capture the royal city of Tirzah. The narrative records his final actions as the enemy closes in on the royal citadel.
The words — The Hebrew כִּרְאוֹת (kir'ot) means "when he saw," and נִלְכְּדָה (nilke'dah) translates "it was captured," marking Zimri’s retreat as a direct reaction to the city’s fall.
The thread — This account parallels other biblical figures who chose self-destruction over enemy capture, including Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), and Abimelech (Judges 9:54).
Why it lands — The text states plainly that Zimri entered the palace citadel and burned it down upon himself, ending his life. The surrounding narrative attributes this outcome to his continuation of Jeroboam’s sinful pattern, which caused Israel to sin (1 Kings 16:19).
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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,
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 17:23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
- 1 Samuel 31:4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
- Judges 9:54 He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
- Job 2:9 Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!”
- Matthew 27:5 So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.