In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah, son of Baasha, became king of Israel; he reigned two years in Tirzah. His servant Zimri, captain of the chariots, conspired against him. The king was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, the steward. Zimri went in and struck the king in the twenty-seventh year of Asa, and became king in his place. When he sat on the throne, he attacked all the house of Baasha, leaving nothing left. Thus the word of the Lord was fulfilled. Zimri reigned seven days Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. And when the people in the camp heard that Zimri had made a conspiracy, the people made the Omri, captain of the army, king over Israel. They all went up and besieged Tirzah. But when Zimri realized that he had lost, he burned himself in the tower of the king’s house for the sins which had done. At that time, however, Israel divided into those who followed Tibni and those who followed Omri. The latter were more in number and they killed Tibni, and Omri became king of Israel. He reigned twelve years, including six in Tirzah, and he bought the hill Samaria for two talents of silver, and he built a city on the hill, which he called Samaria, after the name of Shemer, from whom he bought the hill. But Omri turned more people against the Lord than all who came before him. Omri slept with his fathers in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.