And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him
A friend of his, as Josephus F17 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.