fortified, and Zimri not having force enough to defend it against such an army: that he went into the palace of the king's house; into the innermost and most splendid, as well as the strongest part of it: and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and he died; that he might not fall into the hands of his rival, who he might fear would use him ill, and that he might not enjoy the royal palace; though Kimchi thinks that Omri set fire to the palace, and burnt it over the head of Zimri, in which he perished; and this sense the text will bear.