Ela was the fourth king of the northern kingdom of Israel and the son of King Baasha. He reigned for only two years before being killed by his servant Zimri during a drinking feast in Tirzah. His short and unremarkable reign marked the end of Baasha's dynasty.
Zimri, who was commander of half the chariots, conspired against Ela while the king was getting drunk in the house of Arza, the palace administrator at Tirzah.
9His servant Zimri, commander of half the chariots, conspired against him while Elah was in Tirzah, getting drunk in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the palace at Tirzah.
Zimri struck Ela down and took the throne for himself. This happened in the twenty-seventh year of Asa's reign over Judah, after only two years of Ela's rule.
11As soon as he began to reign and was seated on his throne, he struck down the whole house of Baasha. He did not leave him a single male, neither kinsman nor friend.
Fulfillment of the Prophecy Against Baasha's House
Zimri destroyed all of Baasha's house, just as the prophet Jehu had prophesied. This happened because of all the sins that Baasha and his son Elah had committed.
13because of all the sins of Baasha and the sins of his son Elah, which they committed and led Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger with their worthless idols.