Exhibit 23

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (File Nos. 33-8948, 33-22219, 333-04399 and 333-79199) of
Zenith National Insurance Corp. of our report dated June 4, 1999 relating to the
financial statements and supplemental schedules of The Zenith 401(k) Plan as of
December 31, 1998 and 1997, and for the year ended December 31, 1998, which
appears in this Form 11-K.



PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Los Angeles, California
June 24, 1999