Zimri

Biblical Account

Zimri appears in Numbers 25. While Israel was encamped at Shittim, east of the Jordan, the people committed whoredom with the women of Moab and bowed down to their god, Baal-peor (the Baal of Mount Peor) (Numbers 25:1-3). God's anger was kindled and a plague broke out, and Moses commanded the judges to put to death those who had joined themselves to Baal-peor.

While the people were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, an Israelite man brought a Midianite woman to his brethren in the sight of Moses and the whole congregation. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron, took a javelin, followed the man into the tent, and thrust both of them through, and the plague was stayed (Numbers 25:6-8). Those who died in the plague are recorded as numbering twenty-four thousand (Numbers 25:9).

The text then identifies the man as "Zimri, the son of Salu," a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. The woman who died with him was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, head over a chief house in Midian (Numbers 25:14-15). Zur appears again later as one of the five kings of Midian slain in the war against Midian (Numbers 31:8).

Significance Within Scripture

The account of Zimri forms the background to Phinehas's receiving the "covenant of peace" and the promise of an everlasting priesthood (Numbers 25:12-13). Psalm 106:28-31 also recalls the Baal-peor incident and the action of Phinehas. Numbers 31:16 records that the affair arose from the counsel of Balaam.

The New Testament does not mention Zimri by name. However, 1 Corinthians 10:8 refers to this incident, stating that twenty-three thousand fell in one day, and Revelation 2:14 mentions Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel.

Interpretations and Debates

• Number of the dead: Interpreters differ on why Numbers gives twenty-four thousand while 1 Corinthians gives twenty-three thousand. Some, noting the phrase "in one day," distinguish between the total and the number who died in a single day; others regard the figures as round numbers.
• Zimri's act: Some interpret the "tent" mentioned in the text as a private tent, while others take it to be a cultic site associated with the idolatry of Baal-peor. In either case, many interpreters read the episode as a leader publicly defying the community's repentance.
• The tribe of Simeon: Some interpreters link this incident to the sharp decline in Simeon's population between the first census (Numbers 1:23) and the second (Numbers 26:14), although the text does not explicitly give this explanation.
• Extrabiblical traditions: Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews includes a speech in which Zimri argues against Moses, and some rabbinic sources are reported to identify him with Shelumiel, the leader of Simeon mentioned in Numbers 1:6. These details are not found in the biblical text.

In the Korean Church

Zimri is seldom treated on his own; he is more often mentioned in sermons on the zeal of Phinehas, in expository preaching on Numbers, and in sermons warning against sexual immorality and idolatry.

Others of the Same Name

• Zimri, king of Israel: He killed King Elah and reigned seven days in Tirzah; when besieged by Omri, he set the king's house on fire and died (1 Kings 16:9-20). Jezebel likened Jehu to him, saying, "Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?" (2 Kings 9:31).
• The same name also appears among the descendants of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:6) and the descendants of Saul (1 Chronicles 8:36).