Zimri

Zimri (meaning: praiseworthy) is the name of several men in the Old Testament, two of whom are prominent. (1.) A son of Salu of the tribe of Simeon who brazenly brought a Midianite woman into the Israelite camp during the plague at Shittim. Phinehas the priest ran them both through with a spear, ending the plague and earning Phinehas an eternal covenant of priesthood (Num. 25:6–15). (2.) An army officer who murdered King Elah of Israel and seized the throne (1 Kings 16:8–20). His reign lasted only seven days: when the army heard what he had done, they acclaimed Omri as king. Omri besieged Tirzah, and when Zimri saw the city was taken he burned the palace over himself and perished.

Zimri's name became a byword for treachery. When Jehu killed Joram, Jezebel taunted him by calling him "Zimri, murderer of his master" (2 Kings 9:31).