01_Dubovský_321_346 28/10/14 10:32 Pagina 323 WHY DID THE NORTHERN KINGDOM FALL? 323 even though maintaining the three verbs in wayyiqtol, is quite flex- ible and other details can be added to it (see below). Keeping in mind the flexibility of this formula we can add two other coups d’état that took place in the Northern Kingdom: the conspiracy of Baasha against Nadab (1 Kgs 15,27-28) and the con- spiracy of Zimri against Elah (1 Kgs 16,9-10). Besides these six coups d’état two other changes of dynasties should be mentioned to complete the picture of the dynastic succession in the Northern Kingdom: the ascent of Omri and the conspiracy of Jehu (2 Kings 9–10). The former describes the moments following immediately after Zimri’s coup d’état (1 Kgs 16,15-22) 5. The usurper Zimri, probably because he was unable to face Philistine military pressure, lost the support of the people who proclaimed king Omri com- mander of the army 6. Omri besieged Tirzah, and Zimri, finding himself locked in the keep of Tirzah, burnt himself to death. After Zimri’s death the kingdom was split between Tibni and Omri. The people following Omri overcame the people of Tibni and we learn that Tibni died 7. Omri being already proclaimed king became the founder of a new dynasty. Even though Omri’s ascension to the throne bears several signs of a coup d’état, there are several reasons to conclude that the ancient scribes did not classify it as a coup d’é- tat. First, Omri was made king by the people (1 Kgs 16,16). Con- trary to the fixed formula the verb in this case is in hiphil plural Wklim.Y:w: and it is not followed by a prepositional phrase as in other cases of the coup d’état wyT'x.T; PN %l{m.YIw:. Second, his attack on Zimri’s seat Tirzah took place after Omri became king and therefore could be considered as one of the “heroic deeds” of the new king. Third, the description of the reign of his rival Tibni contains no reg- nal résumé 8 to introduce and to conclude the narrative on Tibni. I see the omission of both regnal résumés as a sign that the reader should not consider the short reign of Tibni to be the start of a new 5 M. COGAN, 1 Kings. A New Translation with Introduction and Commen- tary (AB 10; New York 2001) 418. 6 A.F. RAINEY – J. UZZIEL, The Sacred Bridge. Carta’s Atlas of the Biblical World (Jerusalem 2006) 195-199. 7 Tibni’s death is described as “he died”, which could also mean by a natural death. 8 B.O. LONG, I Kings. With an Introduction to Historical Literature (FOTL 9; Grand Rapids, MI 1984) 259.