The pronouns he, himself, and his in the first half of this verse all refer to Zimri. The pronouns him and his in the second half of the verse refer to Baasha.
When he began to reign may be translated “As soon as he began to reign” (see the comments on the nearly identical Hebrew construction in 1 Kgs 15.29). The immediacy of Zimri’s actions against the family of Baasha is highlighted by the addition of the words as soon as he had seated himself on his throne (literally “as to sit him on the throne”). The use in English of the reflexive verb form, seated himself, correctly reflects the Hebrew grammar with its emphasis on the fact that Zimri took power by illegitimate means.
House of Baasha refers to his family (see verse 3).
A single male is literally “one who urinates against a wall.” See the comments on this idiom in 1 Kgs 14.10.
Kinsmen is literally “redeemer.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible says “guarantor.” It was the responsibility of the closest relative to buy back the land of a relative who had to sell the property because of financial difficulties (Lev 25.25). This kinsman was also responsible for taking revenge by killing the person who killed his relative (Num 35.16-28; Deut 19.4-13). The translation kinsmen or “relative” (Good News Translation) in this context fails to express the full sense of the Hebrew. By killing all of the “redeemers,” Zimri was making sure that there was no one left among Baasha’s relatives who would be able to take revenge.
Translators should make sure this meaning is clear. One way is to explain this in a footnote, such as the one in Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, which says “The Hebrew word translated relatives means avenger, because the relatives were to carry out the ‘blood vengeance’ (see Numbers 35.12).” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible also has a helpful footnote that may serve as a model. It reads “One of the duties of the guarantor was to undertake the responsibility of ‘blood vengeance’; see Num 35.12.”
A better solution, however, is to express this meaning in the text itself, rather than to depend upon a footnote. A possible translation for the last half of the verse is “he did not leave a single male, not a relative to avenge his death nor any of his friends.”
The Hebrew noun rendered friends is singular, but it should be understood in this context in a plural sense as most translations do.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .