240 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

and marched against Tirzah, their own capital city,
where Zimri was. Omri soon made himself master of
the city, and Zimri took refuge in the palace. He saw
that he could not long defend it, yet he was unwilling
to give it up; so he set fire to it, and was himself con-
sumed in the flames. Thus Zimri, after reigning only
seven days, died the death of a coward.

Marianne. Then Omri would get the kingdom all to
himself ?

Grandfather. No; the Israelites were divided; half
of them chose Tibni for their king, and the other half
took arms in defence of Omri as their sovereign. Civil
war continued for four years, when the death of Tibni
settled the matter, and Omri remained sole sovereign.

Marianne. And was he a good king ?

Grandfather. No. We are told that he did worse
than all that were before him. Although his reign was
longer than those of Zimri and Tibni, yet it was a short
one. He reigned only seven years after the death of
Tibni, and was succeeded by his son Ahab, who went a
degree farther in wickedness than even Omri himself had
done. He was led by Jezebel, his wicked queen, to
worship Baal, whom her countrymen served as a god.
In the fourth year of his reign Asa, king of Judah, died,
and was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat, who followed
the good example of his father ; he made it his endeavour
to serve God and to do good to his subjects.

George. Did he and Ahab fight against each other ?

Grandfather. No, they were only too good friends.