And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him,.... A friend of his, as Josephus q calls him, encouraged by the dissatisfaction of the people to him:
and smote him before the people, and slew him; in a public manner, the people consenting to it, and approving of it, not liking Zachariah to be their king;
and reigned in his stead; though but a very short time.
q Antiqu. l. 9. c. 11. sect. 1.