Baasha had remained in power for life, but he was not without his opponents.

The prophet Jehu, the son of Hanani, had foretold the destruction of his dynasty, which comes to pass with the assassination of Baasha's son Elah, who rules only two years before he is assassinated while in a drunken state by Zimri, a chariot commander, who then exterminates all of the members of the house of Baasha.

Reigning for the brief period of seven days, Zimri is besieged in the citadel at Tirzah by Omri, commander of the army.

Finding his position untenable, Zimri sets fire to the palace and perishes.

Omri becomes king only after four years of war with Tibni, another claimant to the throne of Israel.

The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel has moved several times until King Omri in about 875 BCE finally establishes it permanently at Samaria.