Reuben first — 'for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph,' and the balance is stated plainly: 'For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came he who is the prince; but the birthright was Joseph’s.' Gad in Gilead and Bashan; the war of the two-and-a-half tribes against the Hagrites, won because 'they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him' — 'because the war was of God.' But the eastern tribes end the way the north ended: 'they broke faith with the God of their fathers,' and the kings of Assyria carry them away 'to this day.' Then, without a seam, the chapter turns to the line of the high priests — Aaron to Zadok and onward, ending at the same cliff: 'and Jehozadak went into captivity, when Hashem carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel—for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s couch, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel, yet not so that he was to be reckoned in the genealogy as first-born.
verse value 4679
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 81 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "firstborn·of·Israel" (בְּכֽוֹר־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮, 9 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "firstborn·of·Israel" (בְּכֽוֹר־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮), "and·in·his·defiling" (וּֽבְחַלְּלוֹ֙), "couch·of" (יְצוּעֵ֣י). The root בן appears 3 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "his·father" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles); "for" (root כי, 69x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root בכרה ("his·birthright") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 3 words.
Rashi
And the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel Now if you ask: since he was the firstborn, why did the kingship not emanate from him? He was indeed the firstborn, but when he desecrated his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph. Now if you ask, if so, why did the sons of Joseph not reign? He therefore says, “but not to be reckoned in the genealogy as the first born,” [i.e., the sons of Joseph were not meant] to take the share of the kingship, but only the birthright, because Judah was the most fit to reign even if Reuben had not defiled the birthright and it had not been taken from him.
Ralbag
but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s couch — Meaning, that he lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine; his birthright was given to Joseph, who thereby received two portions in the inheritance of the land. We have already explained, in our commentary on the words of the Torah, just what benefit this actually was to the sons of Joseph, for the inheritance of the land was apportioned by headcount, so that one might think there was no benefit to Joseph in this. yet not so that he was to be reckoned in the genealogy as first-born — For according to the genealogical record, Reuben remains the first-born.
Metzudat David
'For he was the first-born' — meaning, although he was the firstborn, and it would therefore have been proper to mention his lineage first... 'Forasmuch as he defiled' — but when he defiled and disgraced his father's couch, confusing matters so that Jacob would no longer regularly be found with Bilhah, the birthright was thereupon taken from him and given to Joseph, so that Joseph would receive a double portion as a firstborn does, his sons being divided into two tribes. 'Yet not so that he was to be reckoned in the genealogy as first-born' — not that Joseph was to be reckoned as firstborn in every respect, such that the monarchy, too, should issue from him.
Metzudat Zion
Defiled (vechalelo) - From the language of profanity and disgrace. Couch (yetzu'ai) - The bedding of the bed, as in "upon the couch of my bed" (Psalms 132:3).
Malbim
for he was the first-born — This explains the phrase “the first-born of Israel”: he was the first-born because he was born first. As for the birthright being given to the sons of Joseph, that meant only that he would take a double portion — which is why two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, descended from him — but not that the status of firstborn for genealogical purposes passed to him, for with regard to genealogy Reuben remained the first-born, since he was born first. In the midrash there is a dispute about this between Rabbi Levi and Rabbi Simon: one said that the line is traced to Joseph and not to Reuben, and the other said that it is not traced to Joseph but rather to Reuben. According to the first view, the meaning is that the birthright was given to the sons of Joseph and was no longer reckoned to Reuben — that is, Reuben was no longer to be counted as having the birthright. Rashi explained in accordance with the second view, saying that although the birthright was given to Joseph, it was not given to him for genealogical reckoning, nor with respect to the kingship reaching him.
For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came he who is the prince; but the birthright was Joseph’s—
verse value 955
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֤י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·to·a·leader" (וּלְנָגִ֖יד, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: for, Judah. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "he·prevailed" (גָּבַ֣ר), "in·his·brothers" (בְּאֶחָ֔יו), "and·to·a·leader" (וּלְנָגִ֖יד). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·his·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "for" (root כי, 69x in I Chronicles); "Judah" (root יהודה, 20x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root גבר ("he·prevailed") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root נגיד ("and·to·a·leader") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 2 words. Full calculation: כִּ֤י [for] (30) + יְהוּדָה֙ [Judah] (30) + גָּבַ֣ר [he·prevailed] (205) + בְּאֶחָ֔יו [in·his·brothers] (27) + וּלְנָגִ֖יד [and·to·a·leader] (103) + מִמֶּ֑נּוּ [from·him] (136) + וְהַבְּכֹרָ֖ה [and·the·birthright] (238) + לְיוֹסֵֽף [to·Joseph] (186) = 955.
Rashi
Because Judah prevailed over his brothers as it says (Gen. 49:9): “Judah is a lion’s cub.” and the one appointed as prince was to be from him the kingship emanated from him, and for this reason the king was called נָגִיד, since he is the one who leads [the people] out and brings them in [the Aramaic root נגד means to pull or lead.] And the birthright and the throne were taken from Reuben, and the throne was given to Judah, as it is written: “Because Judah prevailed over his brothers”; but the share of the birthright was given to Joseph, to his two sons.
Metzudat David
'For Judah prevailed above his brethren' — in the matter of the monarchy, Judah prevailed over all his brothers. 'And of him came he who is the prince' — meaning, Jacob declared that the one appointed ruler and king over Israel would come from him. 'But the birthright was Joseph's' — in the matter of the division of the tribes' inheritance, the birthright was given to Joseph alone; and it is as though Scripture said: since nothing further of Reuben's distinction remained to relate, it stopped his account here, and gave precedence to Judah out of honor for the monarchy.
Malbim
For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came he who is the prince — the verb “prevailed” serves both clauses: he prevailed over Joseph in becoming the prince. The letter lamed [in “to be prince”] means: with respect to leadership and kingship he prevailed over him [Joseph], but only the birthright — whose law entitles its holder to a double portion — remained with Joseph. (By way of homiletical exposition, I explained elsewhere that the Patriarchs themselves were in doubt as to whether they were governed by the law given to the descendants of Noah or by the law of Israel, as is elaborated in Parashat Derachim. Had they been governed by the law of Israel, the birthright would have gone to Joseph, because Rachel's betrothal — whom Jacob betrothed with money, in the form of his labor — preceded Leah's betrothal, and the marriage to Leah, who was the sister of his wife, would then have been improper. But if they were governed by the law given to the descendants of Noah, under which betrothal by money does not apply, then Leah's marriage would have preceded, and the birthright would have gone to Reuben. And because he defiled his father's couch — for which there is no remedy except according to the law of Israel, under which relations with one's father's concubine are permitted, since a man may marry a woman who was raped or seduced by his father, and the same applies to his father's concubine, who was with him without formal betrothal — this was his own remedy: that they took the birthright from him, to show that they were judged by the law of Israel, and that he had not sinned with his father's wife.)
the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.
verse value 1927
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֥י, 3 letters) and the longest is "Reuben" (רְאוּבֵ֖ן, 5 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·Pallu" (וּפַלּ֖וּא). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles); "firstborn·of" (root בכור, 24x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: בְּנֵ֥י [sons·of] (62) + רְאוּבֵ֖ן [Reuben] (259) + בְּכ֣וֹר [firstborn·of] (228) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + חֲנ֥וֹךְ [Hanoch] (84) + וּפַלּ֖וּא [and·Pallu] (123) + חֶצְר֥וֹן [Hezron] (354) + וְכַרְמִֽי [and·Carmi] (276) = 1927.
Rashi
The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel He now commences as before.
The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son;
verse value 1140
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֖י, 3 letters) and the longest is "Shemaiah" (שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 58: his·son, his·son, his·son. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Gog" (גּ֥וֹג). The root בן appears 4 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Joel', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 6 words. Full calculation: בְּנֵ֖י [sons·of] (62) + יוֹאֵ֑ל [Joel] (47) + שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה [Shemaiah] (425) + בְנ֛וֹ [his·son] (58) + גּ֥וֹג [Gog] (12) + בְּנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + שִׁמְעִ֥י [Shimei] (420) + בְנֽוֹ [his·son] (58) = 1140.
Rashi
The sons of Joel He enumerates various generations.
Ralbag
The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son — Now, Joel was apparently descended from Reuben, though it is not specified how.
Metzudat David
'Shemaiah his son,' etc. — every name listed here follows in a single chain, one son after his father.
Malbim
The sons of Joel — he was one of the chieftains, from whom the chieftainship began and continued generation after generation by inheritance until Beerah, who was the last chieftain at the time of the exile by the king of Assyria, in the days of Pekah son of Remaliah.
Verse structure: 6 words, 20 letters. The shortest word is "his·son" (בְנ֛וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "Micah" (מִיכָ֥ה, 4 letters). Words sharing gematria 58: his·son, his·son, his·son. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Reaiah" (רְאָיָ֥ה). The root בן appears 3 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "his·son" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root מיכה ("Micah") in I Chronicles. Full calculation: מִיכָ֥ה [Micah] (75) + בְנ֛וֹ [his·son] (58) + רְאָיָ֥ה [Reaiah] (216) + בְנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + בַּ֥עַל [Baal] (102) + בְּנֽוֹ [his·son] (58) = 567.
Beerah his son, whom Tillegath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive; he was prince of the Reubenites.
verse value 3327
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 44 letters. The shortest word is "his·son" (בְנ֔וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·the·Reubenites" (לָרֽאוּבֵנִֽי, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, Assyria. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Beerah" (בְּאֵרָ֣ה), "he·exiled" (הֶגְלָ֔ה), "pilneser" (פִּלְנְאֶ֖סֶר). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "his·son" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "king·of" (root מלך, 91x in I Chronicles); "that" (root אשר, 77x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root גלה ("he·exiled") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root ראובני ("to·the·Reubenites") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Assyria', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: בְּאֵרָ֣ה [Beerah] (208) + בְנ֔וֹ [his·son] (58) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + הֶגְלָ֔ה [he·exiled] (43) + תִּלְּגַ֥ת [Tillegath-] (833) + פִּלְנְאֶ֖סֶר [pilneser] (421) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king·of] (90) + אַשֻּׁ֑ר [Assyria] (501) + ה֥וּא [he] (12) + נָשִׂ֖יא [a·prince] (361) + לָרֽאוּבֵנִֽי [to·the·Reubenites] (299) = 3327.
Rashi
whom Tillegath Pilneser exiled He preceded Sannecherib, and this was their sequence: Pul was [king] when Menahem the son of Gadi was crowned (II Kings 15:19f.), and (ibid. verse 29): “...in the days of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Tiglath Pileser the king of Assyria came,” and in the days of Hoshea the son of Elah, Shalmaneser the king of Assyria came (ibid. 17:3), and in the days of Hezekiah was Sannecherib (ibid. 18:13), but our Rabbis explained (Sanh. 94a) that Pul and all the rest of them are identical with Sannecherib. he was the prince of the Reubenites at the time that Tiglath Pileser exiled him.
Ralbag
whom Tillegath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive — This was the first exile, in which the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh were exiled, as we explained in our commentary on the Book of Kings.
Metzudat David
'Whom Tillegath-pilneser... carried away captive' — meaning, at the time Tillegath-pilneser exiled him, he was then serving as prince of the Reubenites.
And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief Jeiel, and Zechariah,
verse value 3421
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "the·chief" (הָרֹ֥אשׁ, 4 letters) and the longest is "to·his·families" (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "to·his·families" (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו), "in·being·reckoned·genealogically" (בְּהִתְיַחֵ֖שׂ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·his·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "the·chief" (root ראש, 73x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root יעיאל ("Jeiel") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root זכריהו ("and·Zechariah") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·their·generations', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְאֶחָיו֙ [and·his·brothers] (31) + לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו [to·his·families] (874) + בְּהִתְיַחֵ֖שׂ [in·being·reckoned·genealogically] (725) + לְתֹלְדוֹתָ֑ם [to·their·generations] (910) + הָרֹ֥אשׁ [the·chief] (506) + יְעִיאֵ֖ל [Jeiel] (121) + וּזְכַרְיָֽהוּ [and·Zechariah] (254) = 3421.
Rashi
tracing their genealogy to their generations; the heads were Jeiel and Zechariah The meaning is: I traced only part of the genealogy of Reuben, but the main part of his genealogy is in the chronicles of the kings of Israel. Jeiel and Zechariah were the heads, through whom their genealogy was completed.
Metzudat David
'And his brethren' — the acquaintances and associates of Beerah. 'By their families,' etc. — meaning, when each was traced by family according to the order of their generations, it became apparent that Jeiel was the head of them all, with Zechariah after him, because their forefathers were men of higher standing than the forefathers of all the rest.
Malbim
And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned — meaning at the time they were registered genealogically, which was in the days of Jeroboam and in the days of Jotham, as will be stated in verse 17; at that time the head of the families was Jeiel, and Zechariah.
and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even to Nebo and Baal-meon;
verse value 2089
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 46 letters. The shortest word is "he" (ה֚וּא, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Joel" (בֶּן־יוֹאֵ֑ל, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 108: and·Bela, and·Baal-. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·Bela" (וּבֶ֙לַע֙), "son·of·Azaz" (בֶּן־עָזָ֔ז), "son·of·Shema" (בֶּן־שֶׁ֖מַע). The root בן appears 3 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Azaz" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "he" (root הוא, 50x in I Chronicles); "dwelling" (root ישב, 44x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Joel', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 6 words. Full calculation: וּבֶ֙לַע֙ [and·Bela] (108) + בֶּן־עָזָ֔ז [son·of·Azaz] (136) + בֶּן־שֶׁ֖מַע [son·of·Shema] (462) + בֶּן־יוֹאֵ֑ל [son·of·Joel] (99) + ה֚וּא [he] (12) + יוֹשֵׁ֣ב [dwelling] (318) + בַּעֲרֹעֵ֔ר [in·Aroer] (542) + וְעַד־נְב֖וֹ [and·unto·Nebo] (138) + וּבַ֥עַל [and·Baal-] (108) + מְעֽוֹן [meon] (166) = 2089.
Rashi
and until Nebo and Baal Meon For in the ancient days, before they came into Israel’s hands, they were called Nebo and Baal Meon after their pagan deities, (lit. their abominations), for it was the custom of the heathens to call their pagan deities after their cities until that day. But when they came into Israel’s hands, they changed their names, as it is written (Num. 32:38): “Nebo and Baal Meon their names being changed,” i.e., Israel changed their names, but Sibmah, since it was not named for their pagan deities, they did not change its name. In Megillah (unknown) it is explained that Nebo and Baal Meon are names of pagan deities.
Metzudat David
'Who dwelt' — his offspring dwelt within the territory of Aroer. 'Even to Nebo' — this indicates the breadth [of the territory], from north to south.
Malbim
the son of Shema, the son of Joel — he is Shimei son of Gog, Gog being the grandson of Joel mentioned in verse 4. who dwelt in Aroer — Now, besides the fact that all this seems superfluous, since the inheritance of Reuben and the inheritance of Gad had already been stated in the Torah and in the Book of Joshua, so what does it teach us here — beyond that, the commentators were puzzled, for Aroer was in the territory of Gad, and they built it, as is explicit in Parashat Mattot (Numbers 32:34); so how can it say that Reuben dwelt there? Likewise what is said in verse 11, that the sons of Gad dwelt in the land of Bashan, is equally puzzling, for Bashan belonged to the inheritance of the sons of Manasseh, as is explicit in Deuteronomy (3:13). It therefore appears that the author of this book is informing us of something new: that in the days of Saul, when they fought against the Hagrites and expanded their border eastward (as stated in verse 10), they then made a different division among themselves — the sons of Gad gave the sons of Reuben Aroer, which had been part of their own portion, because the sons of Reuben could not spread out much beyond their border on account of the Euphrates River, as it says (verse 9), “and eastward he dwelt even to the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates.” Therefore the sons of Gad gave them Aroer. And the sons of Manasseh spread out beyond their border to Senir — for at first their border reached only to the beginning of Mount Hermon; afterward, as they multiplied, they extended their border out toward Damascus, spreading further eastward, until — since they had expanded beyond their border more toward Gilead (for the main part of Gilead belonged to the sons of Manasseh, as it says (Deuteronomy 3:15), “and to Machir I gave Gilead,” and the Hagrites were east of Gilead, as it says in verse 10, “and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east of Gilead”) — most of the new conquest fell to the sons of Manasseh. Therefore the sons of Manasseh gave their portion in Bashan to the sons of Gad, and the sons of Gad gave part of their portion to the sons of Reuben. This is the novel point our author teaches us here. And although it says that Reuben, too, dwelt in the east as far as the entrance of the wilderness, because their livestock had multiplied in the land of Gilead, this was not enough according to the new division, so each had to give part of his portion to the other, to equalize their inheritances according to the new conquest they had made.
and eastward he dwelt even to the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates; because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.
verse value 2910
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 49 letters. The shortest word is "because" (כִּ֧י, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·the·river" (לְמִן־הַנָּהָ֖ר, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "unto·to·come" (עַד־לְב֣וֹא), "from·the·river" (לְמִן־הַנָּהָ֖ר), "Euphrates" (פְּרָ֑ת). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "because" (root כי, 69x in I Chronicles); "unto·to·come" (root בוא, 62x in I Chronicles); "he·dwelt" (root ישב, 44x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root מדבר ("wilderness") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root מקנה ("their·cattle") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Euphrates', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְלַמִּזְרָ֗ח [and·to·the·east] (291) + יָשַׁב֙ [he·dwelt] (312) + עַד־לְב֣וֹא [unto·to·come] (113) + מִדְבָּ֔רָה [wilderness] (251) + לְמִן־הַנָּהָ֖ר [from·the·river] (380) + פְּרָ֑ת [Euphrates] (680) + כִּ֧י [because] (30) + מִקְנֵיהֶ֛ם [their·cattle] (245) + רָב֖וּ [were·multiplied] (208) + בְּאֶ֥רֶץ [in·the·land·of] (293) + גִּלְעָֽד [Gilead] (107) = 2910.
Metzudat David
'And eastward he dwelt' — toward the east they settled as far as the entrance to the wilderness, from the Euphrates River and beyond; and even though the Euphrates is the eastern border of the Land of Israel, they spread out even further, because their livestock had multiplied too much for them to remain within the land of Gilead, the place having grown too cramped for them.
Malbim
and eastward — east of Gilead, for their inheritance was in the eastern part of the Land of Israel, and they spread out from the eastern edge of their inheritance to the wilderness; and the Euphrates River is at the edge of the border of the Land of Israel (Joshua 1:4).
And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.
verse value 2565
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "they·made" (עָשׂ֤וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·the·Hagrites" (עִם־הַֽהַגְרִאִ֔ים, 9 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "with·the·Hagrites" (עִם־הַֽהַגְרִאִ֔ים), "in·their·tents" (בְּאׇ֣הֳלֵיהֶ֔ם), "upon·all·the·face·of" (עַֽל־כׇּל־פְּנֵ֖י). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon·all·the·face·of" (root פנים, 63x in I Chronicles); "and·they·dwelt" (root ישב, 44x in I Chronicles); "in·their·hand" (root יד, 42x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root מלחמה ("war") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root הגרי ("with·the·Hagrites") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·their·hand', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: וּבִימֵ֣י [and·in·days·of] (68) + שָׁא֗וּל [Saul] (337) + עָשׂ֤וּ [they·made] (376) + מִלְחָמָה֙ [war] (123) + עִם־הַֽהַגְרִאִ֔ים [with·the·Hagrites] (374) + וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ [and·they·fell] (132) + בְּיָדָ֑ם [in·their·hand] (56) + וַיֵּֽשְׁבוּ֙ [and·they·dwelt] (324) + בְּאׇ֣הֳלֵיהֶ֔ם [in·their·tents] (93) + עַֽל־כׇּל־פְּנֵ֖י [upon·all·the·face·of] (290) + מִזְרָ֥ח [east] (255) + לַגִּלְעָֽד [of·Gilead] (137) = 2565.
Rashi
with the Hagarites with the Ishmaelites, and by their mother’s name he calls them Hagarites, because they were the sons of Hagar. and they dwelt in their tents for it is the custom of the Arabs to dwell in tents.
Ralbag
the Hagrites — They are the sons of Hagar, meaning, the sons of Ishmael.
Metzudat David
'In their tents' — the tents of the Hagrites. 'Throughout all the land east of' — throughout the entire eastern region facing Gilead.
Metzudat Zion
The Hagrites (haHagrim) - They are the sons of Ishmael, called by this name after Hagar, his mother.
Malbim
And in the days of Saul — all this happened in the days of Saul, when they fought against the Hagrites, who dwelt east of Gilead; they conquered them and dwelt in their tents, and it was then that the division among them changed.
And the sons of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan to Salcah:
verse value 1359
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "they·dwelt" (יָ֥שְׁב֛וּ, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·sons·of·Gad" (וּבְנֵי־גָ֣ד, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·sons·of·Gad" (וּבְנֵי־גָ֣ד), "over·against·them" (לְנֶגְדָּ֗ם), "Bashan" (הַבָּשָׁ֖ן). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·sons·of·Gad" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "they·dwelt" (root ישב, 44x in I Chronicles); "in·the·land·of" (root ארץ, 37x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root נגד ("over·against·them") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root בשן ("Bashan") in I Chronicles. Full calculation: וּבְנֵי־גָ֣ד [and·sons·of·Gad] (75) + לְנֶגְדָּ֗ם [over·against·them] (127) + יָ֥שְׁב֛וּ [they·dwelt] (318) + בְּאֶ֥רֶץ [in·the·land·of] (293) + הַבָּשָׁ֖ן [Bashan] (357) + עַד־סַלְכָֽה [to·Salcah] (189) = 1359.
Rashi
And the sons of Gad dwelt opposite them alongside them, like (Gen. 33:12): “...and I will go alongside you (לְנֶגְדֶּךָ).”
Metzudat Zion
Over against them (lenegdam) - On the same level as them; similarly, "and I will go alongside you" (Genesis 33).
Malbim
And the sons of Gad dwelt over against them — they, too, spread out beyond their border eastward into Gilead, and they were also given, from the land of Manasseh, a portion in Bashan as far as Salcah.
Joel the chief, and Shapham the second, and Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan;
verse value 2274
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 30 letters. The shortest word is "Joel" (יוֹאֵ֣ל, 4 letters) and the longest is "the·second" (הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "the·second" (הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה), "and·Janai" (וְיַעְנַ֥י). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·chief" (root ראש, 73x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root משנה ("the·second") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·second', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: יוֹאֵ֣ל [Joel] (47) + הָרֹ֔אשׁ [the·chief] (506) + וְשָׁפָ֖ם [and·Shapham] (426) + הַמִּשְׁנֶ֑ה [the·second] (400) + וְיַעְנַ֥י [and·Janai] (146) + וְשָׁפָ֖ט [and·Shaphat] (395) + בַּבָּשָֽׁן [in·Bashan] (354) = 2274.
Metzudat David
'In Bashan' — these four were the leaders in Bashan.
Metzudat Zion
The second (hamishneh) - Second to him in rank.
Malbim
Joel – At that time Joel was head of the tribe; he is the same Joel mentioned in verse 4, from whom the chieftainship descended, generation after generation, down to Beerah. Shapham the second – He was second-in-command to him. Joel was head of the tribe, etc., as above on verse 4, and Shapham was second to him. As for what is said in verse 7, “and his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned” – that took place in the days of Jotham, when they were registered, and at that time the head was Jeiel. It appears that Jeiel was not a tribal chief, since Scripture lists the tribal chiefs only down to Beerah, so he must have been merely a family head – unless one says that in tracing the line from Beerah to Joel, Scripture skipped over Jeiel or Bela. and Janai, and Shaphat – These were chieftains in Bashan, where the Gadites had newly spread out; and according to our Sages, of blessed memory (Pesachim 68a), this Shaphat is the father of the prophet Elisha.
and their brethren of their fathers’ houses: Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zia, and Eber, seven.
verse value 3007
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "to·house·of" (לְבֵ֣ית, 4 letters) and the longest is "their·fathers" (אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·Jorai" (וְיוֹרַ֧י), "and·Jacan" (וְיַעְכָּ֛ן), "and·Zia" (וְזִ֥יעַ). The root שבע appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "and·their·brothers" (root אח, 95x in I Chronicles); "their·fathers" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root מיכאל ("Michael") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root שלם ("and·Meshullam") in I Chronicles. 7 of the verse's 11 words begin with the letter ו. Full calculation: וַאֲחֵיהֶ֞ם [and·their·brothers] (70) + לְבֵ֣ית [to·house·of] (442) + אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם [their·fathers] (464) + מִיכָאֵ֡ל [Michael] (101) + וּמְשֻׁלָּ֡ם [and·Meshullam] (416) + וְ֠שֶׁ֠בַע [and·Sheba] (378) + וְיוֹרַ֧י [and·Jorai] (232) + וְיַעְכָּ֛ן [and·Jacan] (156) + וְזִ֥יעַ [and·Zia] (93) + וָעֵ֖בֶר [and·Eber] (278) + שִׁבְעָֽה [seven] (377) = 3007.
Rashi
And their brothers to the house of their fathers in the place of their genealogy. Michael and Meshullam These were the heads of their fathers of that genealogy, for they all traced their genealogy in the days of Jotham the king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the king of Israel.
Metzudat David
'And their brethren' — their acquaintances and companions, who were heads of their fathers' houses: Michael, etc.
Malbim
and their brethren – The heads of the other families; hence it says “of their fathers’ houses,” meaning heads of the ancestral houses. For the word “chief” in the preceding verse applies to three names: Janai and Shaphat were chiefs in Bashan, and their brethren were Michael and Meshullam and the rest. It is explained in the portions of Vayigash and Pinchas that Gad consisted of seven families, and therefore seven heads are counted here.
These were the sons of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jehishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;
verse value 1852
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 55 letters. Notable word values: "these" (אֵ֣לֶּה) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "these" (אֵ֣לֶּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Michael" (בֶּן־מִיכָאֵ֛ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 276: son·of·Huri, son·of·Jaroah. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Abihail" (אֲבִיחַ֗יִל), "son·of·Huri" (בֶּן־חוּרִ֡י), "son·of·Jaroah" (בֶּן־יָ֠ר֠וֹחַ). The root בן appears 8 times in this verse. 3 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "these" (root אלה, 89x in I Chronicles). 8 of the verse's 10 words begin with the letter ב. Full calculation: אֵ֣לֶּה [these] (36) + בְּנֵ֣י [sons·of] (62) + אֲבִיחַ֗יִל [Abihail] (61) + בֶּן־חוּרִ֡י [son·of·Huri] (276) + בֶּן־יָ֠ר֠וֹחַ [son·of·Jaroah] (276) + בֶּן־גִּלְעָ֧ד [son·of·Gilead] (159) + בֶּן־מִיכָאֵ֛ל [son·of·Michael] (153) + בֶּן־יְשִׁישַׁ֥י [son·of·Jehishai] (682) + בֶּן־יַחְדּ֖וֹ [son·of·Jahdo] (80) + בֶּן־בּֽוּז [son·of·Buz] (67) = 1852.
Malbim
These – The seven heads just listed were the descendants of Abihail son of Huri, etc., down to son of Buz; and then, “Ahi,” etc., son of Guni. Since Ahi himself was head of their fathers’ house, Scripture writes “Ahi” as its own clause, to show that the words “head of their fathers’ house” refer back to Ahi, not to Guni – following Radak’s interpretation.
Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers’ houses.
verse value 1701
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "Ahi" (אֲחִי֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Abdiel" (בֶּן־עַבְדִּיאֵ֣ל, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "son·of·Abdiel" (בֶּן־עַבְדִּיאֵ֣ל), "son·of·Guni" (בֶּן־גּוּנִ֔י). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Abdiel" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "to·house·of" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "their·fathers" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: אֲחִי֙ [Ahi] (19) + בֶּן־עַבְדִּיאֵ֣ל [son·of·Abdiel] (169) + בֶּן־גּוּנִ֔י [son·of·Guni] (121) + רֹ֖אשׁ [head] (501) + לְבֵ֥ית [to·house·of] (442) + אֲבוֹתָֽם [their·fathers] (449) = 1701.
Metzudat David
'Chief,' etc. — he was head of the fathers' house of the men who were with him.
And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in its towns, and in all the open lands of the plain, upon their borders.
verse value 3472
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "in·Bashan" (בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·in·all·open·lands·of" (וּבְכׇֽל־מִגְרְשֵׁ֥י, 9 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·in·its·towns" (וּבִבְנֹתֶ֑יהָ), "and·in·all·open·lands·of" (וּבְכׇֽל־מִגְרְשֵׁ֥י), "the·plain" (שָׁר֖וֹן). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·dwelt" (root ישב, 44x in I Chronicles); "and·in·all·open·lands·of" (root מגרש, 44x in I Chronicles); "and·in·its·towns" (root בת, 23x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root מגרש ("and·in·all·open·lands·of") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·in·its·towns', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיֵּ֥שְׁב֛וּ [and·they·dwelt] (324) + בַּגִּלְעָ֥ד [in·Gilead] (109) + בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן [in·Bashan] (354) + וּבִבְנֹתֶ֑יהָ [and·in·its·towns] (475) + וּבְכׇֽל־מִגְרְשֵׁ֥י [and·in·all·open·lands·of] (611) + שָׁר֖וֹן [the·plain] (556) + עַל־תּוֹצְאוֹתָֽם [upon·their·borders] (1043) = 3472.
Metzudat David
'Upon their borders' — equivalent to 'unto their borders,' meaning, to the very ends of their territories.
Metzudat Zion
And in its towns (uvivnoteha) - The villages adjoining it. Open lands (migreshei) - These are the houses standing outside the city walls, which appear as though they had been driven out of the city.
Malbim
And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan – This was the portion that the sons of Manasseh gave them out of their own share, as stated above. and in all the open lands of the plain – They also broadened their territory outward into the plain; hence it says “upon their borders,” meaning the area where they went out beyond their original border, through what they conquered from the Hagrites.
All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.
verse value 2478
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "all·of·them" (כֻּלָּם֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Judah" (מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֑ה, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Jeroboam" (יָרׇבְעָ֥ם), "king·of·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל). The root יום appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of·Judah" (root מלך, 91x in I Chronicles); "all·of·them" (root כל, 81x in I Chronicles); "in·days·of" (root יום, 39x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'king·of·Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: כֻּלָּם֙ [all·of·them] (90) + הִתְיַחְשׂ֔וּ [were·reckoned] (729) + בִּימֵ֖י [in·days·of] (62) + יוֹתָ֣ם [Jotham] (456) + מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֑ה [king·of·Judah] (120) + וּבִימֵ֖י [and·in·days·of] (68) + יָרׇבְעָ֥ם [Jeroboam] (322) + מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [king·of·Israel] (631) = 2478.
Metzudat David
'All these were reckoned by genealogies' — they investigated to determine the order of their generations, in the days of Jotham, when he was acting as ruler from the time his father Uzziah was stricken [with tzaraat], though he did not become king until after the days of Jeroboam — only after Jeroboam's death, as is stated in II Kings.
Malbim
All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel – Now, according to what is stated in Kings and in Chronicles, Jotham became king nearly forty years after the death of Jeroboam. On this basis, calculations were sought to show that Jotham already reigned while his father was a leper, and this gives rise to many difficulties. It appears, simply, that they were registered by genealogy on two separate occasions: once in the days of Jeroboam, and once in the days of Jotham. I have already explained (on II Kings, and on Hosea chapter 1) that when Joash, king of Israel, conquered Amaziah, king of Judah, the kings of Judah became subject to the kings of Israel, and this continued even through the reign of Uzziah, until two years before he was afflicted – at which point Uzziah grew strong and reigned as an independent kingdom in its own right. But until that time, the entire kingdom was called by the name of Jeroboam; for this reason it says, regarding Hosea and Amos, that they prophesied “in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel,” as stated there. So too here it says that they were registered “in the days of Jeroboam,” meaning at the time that Jeroboam still reigned over the general kingdom and Judah was under him. And it is explained (II Kings 14:25) that Jeroboam restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah; and until his time Aram had been ruling over Israel, and the Arameans had spread over the territory of the Reubenites and the Gadites across the Jordan. In the days of Jeroboam, the Reubenites and Gad returned to their territory, and it was then that they registered by their families and organized their military camps of able men. This continued until the days of Jotham, for when Jotham reigned, Pekah son of Remaliah reigned over Israel, and then Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, came and exiled them, as will be stated, and their genealogical record was cut off. Scripture now explains how they were registered at that time.
The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, as many as were valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skillful in war, were forty-four thousand seven hundred and threescore, who were able to go forth to war.
verse value 6097
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 101 letters. Verse gematria: 6097 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "shield" (מָגֵ֤ן, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Reuben" (בְּנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֨ן, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 111: thousand, goers·out·of. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "sons·of·Reuben" (בְּנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֨ן), "and·Gadites" (וְגָדִ֜י), "tribe·of·Manasseh" (שֵֽׁבֶט־מְנַשֶּׁה֮). The root ארבע appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·Reuben" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "thousand" (root אלף, 77x in I Chronicles); "forty" (root ארבע, 41x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root גדי ("and·Gadites") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root חיל ("from·sons·of·strength") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'war', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 7 words.
Rashi
The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of men of valor, etc. That is to say: they all gathered and made war with the Hagarites.
Metzudat David
'As many as were valiant men' — meaning, men assembled themselves from among the valiant men, etc. 'Who were able to go forth to war' — those fit to go out in the army for battle.
Metzudat Zion
And treading [the bow] (vedorchei) - The practice was to tread with the foot upon the bow, to draw it fully, in order to shoot far. Skillful (ulemudei) - An expression of habituation and training, as in "and it learned to catch prey" (Ezekiel 19:3).
Malbim
The sons of Reuben, etc. – That is, all of them were registered: the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. as many as were valiant men – That is, their fighting men were registered, each man by his division, according to his father’s house, and there were found men bearing shield and sword, forty-four thousand. This lasted all the years from Jeroboam until Jotham, and the registration took place when those who went out to the army were counted according to their musters – just as in the wilderness, all who went out to the army in Israel were counted and registered by their fathers’ houses.
And they made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab.
verse value 1644
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 35 letters. The shortest word is "and·they·made" (וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ, 5 letters) and the longest is "with·the·Hagrites" (עִם־הַהַגְרִיאִ֑ים, 10 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·made" (וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ), "with·the·Hagrites" (עִם־הַהַגְרִיאִ֑ים), "and·Jetur" (וִיט֥וּר). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·made" (root עשה, 39x in I Chronicles); "war" (root מלחמה, 31x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·the·Hagrites', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ [and·they·made] (392) + מִלְחָמָ֖ה [war] (123) + עִם־הַהַגְרִיאִ֑ים [with·the·Hagrites] (384) + וִיט֥וּר [and·Jetur] (231) + וְנָפִ֖ישׁ [and·Naphish] (446) + וְנוֹדָֽב [and·Nodab] (68) = 1644.
Rashi
and Jetur and Naphish They were sons of Ishmael (Gen. 25:14).
Ralbag
And they made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur — Meaning, with the sons of Hagar: Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab; and the vav of ‘and Jetur’ is superfluous.
Metzudat Zion
With Jetur, etc. - They too were among the sons of Ishmael.
Malbim
And they made war with the Hagrites – This was a different war from the one they fought in the days of Saul mentioned above, when they took over the Hagrites’ tents and the Hagrites resettled further away from them. Afterward, in the days of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, the hand of the king of Aram overpowered them and made them “like dust for threshing” (as stated in II Kings 13:7, and also 13:14), and then the Hagrites returned and resettled in their place. In the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, the Reubenites and Gad grew strong again and fought a second war with the Hagrites, and at that time the nations of Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab – who are descendants of Ishmael, kinsmen of the descendants of Hagar – joined the Hagrites as well.
And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him.
verse value 3141
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 72 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֠י, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·Hagrites" (הַֽהַגְרִיאִ֔ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 56: in·their·hand, and·all. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·were·helped" (וַיֵּעָזְר֣וּ), "and·they·were·given" (וַיִּנָּתְנ֤וּ), "the·Hagrites" (הַֽהַגְרִיאִ֔ים). 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·God" (root אלהים, 117x in I Chronicles); "and·all" (root כל, 81x in I Chronicles); "for" (root כי, 69x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root על ("against·them") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'that·with·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Rashi
And they were assisted against them for the Lord helped them. and the Hagarites and all who were with them other nations [that came] to their aid. and He accepted their prayers וְנַעְתּוֹר, similar to if וַיֵּעָתֵר לוֹ accepted his prayer (Gen. 25:21).
Metzudat David
'And they were helped against them' — they were helped by Hashem to overpower them. 'And all who were with them' — meaning, all who were with them, assisting them. 'And He was entreated of them' — He accepted the outpouring of their prayer.
Metzudat Zion
And He was entreated (vayei'ater) - An expression of abundance, as in "the thick cloud of incense" (Ezekiel 8).
Malbim
And they were helped against them – Jeroboam assisted them in this war, for he was victorious in it, as it is written (II Kings 14:28), that he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah; and the Hagrites were delivered into their hands because they cried out to God at that time and trusted in Him.
And they took away their cattle: of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand; and of souls of men a hundred thousand.
verse value 3468
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 68 letters. The shortest word is "thousand" (אֶ֙לֶף֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·asses" (וַחֲמוֹרִ֖ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 111: thousand, thousand, thousand. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "their·camels" (גְּֽמַלֵּיהֶ֞ם), "and·asses" (וַחֲמוֹרִ֖ים), "and·soul·of" (וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ). The root אלף appears 4 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "thousand" (root אלף, 77x in I Chronicles); "two·hundred" (root מאה, 40x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root גמל ("their·camels") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root נפש ("and·soul·of") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'two·thousand', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 4 words.
Metzudat David
'Their cattle' — first Scripture states it in general terms, and then goes on to specify: their camels, etc.
Metzudat Zion
And they took away (vayishbu) - From the language of captivity.
Malbim
And they took away their cattle – because many were slain, for the war was from God, as it is stated in Kings (ibid.), “for Hashem saw the affliction of His people.” and they dwelt in their stead until the exile – This happened in the days of Jotham, when the king of Assyria exiled them; hence it says that they were registered in the days of Jotham, meaning that up until his time they continued to be registered by their armies.
For there fell many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their stead until the captivity.
verse value 2159
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "because" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "for·slain" (כִּֽי־חֲלָלִ֤ים, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "for·slain" (כִּֽי־חֲלָלִ֤ים), "from·God" (מֵהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים), "until·the·captivity" (עַד־הַגֹּלָֽה). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "from·God" (root אלהים, 117x in I Chronicles); "because" (root כי, 69x in I Chronicles); "and·they·dwelt" (root ישב, 44x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·war', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words. Full calculation: כִּֽי־חֲלָלִ֤ים [for·slain] (148) + רַבִּים֙ [many] (252) + נָפָ֔לוּ [they·fell] (166) + כִּ֥י [because] (30) + מֵהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים [from·God] (131) + הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה [the·war] (128) + וַיֵּשְׁב֥וּ [and·they·dwelt] (324) + תַחְתֵּיהֶ֖ם [in·their·stead] (863) + עַד־הַגֹּלָֽה [until·the·captivity] (117) = 2159.
Metzudat David
'For there fell many slain' — as if to say: one should not wonder how it was possible for forty-four thousand seven hundred sixty men to take a hundred thousand captive; for since many of the Hagrites fell slain — because the victory in that war came from Hashem and through His help — the fear of the Jews therefore fell upon them, and they surrendered themselves into captivity. 'In their stead' — in the place of the Hagrites.
And the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land, from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and mount Hermon, where they increased.
verse value 3704
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "half" (חֲצִי֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·mount·Hermon" (וְהַר־חֶרְמ֖וֹן, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "from·Bashan" (מִבָּשָׁ֞ן), "Hermon" (חֶרְמ֛וֹן), "and·Senir" (וּשְׂנִ֥יר). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "they·dwelt" (root ישב, 44x in I Chronicles); "in·the·land" (root ארץ, 37x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root שבט ("tribe·of") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·land', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וּבְנֵ֗י [and·sons·of] (68) + חֲצִי֙ [half] (108) + שֵׁ֣בֶט [tribe·of] (311) + מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה [Manasseh] (395) + יָשְׁב֖וּ [they·dwelt] (318) + בָּאָ֑רֶץ [in·the·land] (293) + מִבָּשָׁ֞ן [from·Bashan] (392) + עַד־בַּ֧עַל [to·Baal-] (176) + חֶרְמ֛וֹן [Hermon] (304) + וּשְׂנִ֥יר [and·Senir] (566) + וְהַר־חֶרְמ֖וֹן [and·mount·Hermon] (515) + הֵ֥מָּה [they] (50) + רָבֽוּ [they·increased] (208) = 3704.
Metzudat David
'Dwelt in the land' — they returned from the war and dwelt in their own land; but they spread out from Bashan to Baal-hermon, etc., because they had multiplied and the place where they had dwelt at first had grown too cramped for them, and so they spread out to dwell in the territory of their brethren who had moved on from there to the territory of the Hagrites.
Malbim
And the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh – I have already explained in verse 8 that they added to their previous territory. they increased – That is, in proportion, they increased more than their brethren the Reubenites and the Gadites, and therefore they spread out further.
And these were the heads of their fathers’ houses: Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses.
verse value 6169
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 93 letters. The shortest word is "valor" (חַ֔יִל, 3 letters) and the longest is "house·of·their·fathers" (בֵית־אֲבוֹתָ֑ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 42: and·these, and·Hodaviah. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "house·of·their·fathers" (בֵית־אֲבוֹתָ֑ם), "and·Ishi" (וְיִשְׁעִ֡י), "and·Azriel" (וְ֠עַזְרִיאֵ֠ל). The root ראש appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "house·of·their·fathers" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "their·fathers" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles); "and·these" (root אלה, 89x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root אליאל ("and·Eliel") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root ירמיה ("and·Jeremiah") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'house·of·their·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 15 words.
Metzudat David
'Famous men' — meaning, they were known by name on account of their great importance.
Metzudat Zion
And Epher (ve'Efer) - The vav [conjunction] is extraneous; or perhaps his name was indeed spelled with a vav, and there are many similar cases.
Malbim
And these were the heads of their fathers’ houses – These, too, are seven heads of ancestral houses, corresponding to the families of the sons of Machir, which numbered seven families, as it is written (Numbers 26:29), “of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites,” etc. And the vav of “and Epher” is part of the root of the name itself, as stated above (2:18).
And they broke faith with the God of their fathers, and went astray after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.
verse value 2599
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 56 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "after" (אַֽחֲרֵי֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "that·destroyed" (אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁמִ֥יד, 8 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·broke·faith" (וַיִּֽמְעֲל֔וּ), "in·the·God·of" (בֵּאלֹהֵ֖י), "and·they·went·astray" (וַיִּזְנ֗וּ). The root אלהים appears 3 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·the·God·of" (root אלהים, 117x in I Chronicles); "their·fathers" (root אב, 95x in I Chronicles); "peoples·of·the·land" (root עם, 63x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'their·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיִּֽמְעֲל֔וּ [and·they·broke·faith] (162) + בֵּאלֹהֵ֖י [in·the·God·of] (48) + אֲבֹתֵיהֶ֑ם [their·fathers] (458) + וַיִּזְנ֗וּ [and·they·went·astray] (79) + אַֽחֲרֵי֙ [after] (219) + אֱלֹהֵ֣י [the·gods·of] (46) + עַמֵּֽי־הָאָ֔רֶץ [peoples·of·the·land] (416) + אֲשֶׁר־הִשְׁמִ֥יד [that·destroyed] (860) + אֱלֹהִ֖ים [God] (86) + מִפְּנֵיהֶֽם [before·them] (225) = 2599.
Rashi
and they strayed after the gods of the peoples of the land whom God had destroyed from before them The meaning is, they went astray after the gods of the peoples of the land. And which people? [Those] whom God had destroyed from before them [Israel], whose god could not help them [the pagans]. And they [Israel] did not ponder the matter, [reasoning] that since He destroyed them [the pagans] from before them [Israel], and it [their god] could not help them, it would certainly not be able to help us.
Metzudat David
'Whom God destroyed,' etc. — as if to say: they ought to have understood — if these were truly gods, why did they not save their own people?
And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tillegath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, to this day.
verse value 7021
Insights
Verse structure: 26 words, 115 letters. The shortest word is "to" (עַ֖ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Assyria" (מֶלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֗וּר, 7 letters). 15 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·stirred·up" (וַיָּ֩עַר֩), "spirit·of" (אֶת־ר֣וּחַ), "Pul" (פּ֣וּל). The root רוח appears 2 times in this verse. 24 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·God·of" (root אלהים, 117x in I Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 94x in I Chronicles); "king·of" (root מלך, 91x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root עור ("and·he·stirred·up") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root רוח ("spirit·of") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Manasseh', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 9 words.
Ralbag
the spirit of Pul king of Assyria — He is Tillegath-pilneser, mentioned previously, and he is Sennacherib; and he had yet other names besides. and Hara, and to the river of Gozan — Now, the rest of the Ten Tribes were exiled to these same places as well, except that in place of Hara there were cities of Media.
Metzudat David
'And to the river of Gozan' — that is, [a place] near the river Gozan. 'To this day' — meaning, they remain there still, for they did not return at the building of the Second Temple.
Metzudat Zion
Stirred up (vaya'ar) - From the language of arousal. The spirit of Pul - The will of Pul.
Malbim
'And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria' — Pul came against them in the days of Menahem son of Gadi (II Kings 15:19), though the text there does not say that he exiled Israel. Tillegath-pilneser (or Tiglath-pileser) came in the days of Pekah, and "took Ijon," etc., "and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria" (ibid. v. 20). From the words "and Gilead" it appears that he exiled those dwelling across the Jordan together with Zebulun and Naphtali; and from the words (Isaiah 8:23), "In the former time He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, ... by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations," it appears that he first exiled Zebulun and Naphtali, who dwelt by the seaside, then those across the Jordan, and then all of Galilee of the nations, in the final exile that took place in the days of Hoshea son of Elah — so it is in Seder Olam, and so I explain at length in my commentary there. Now Midrash Eichah Rabbati (Petichta 5) asks: how were they exiled? Rabbi says the tribe of Reuben was exiled first; Rabbi Nehemiah says Zebulun and Naphtali were exiled first. And the verse here supports the view of Rabbi, since Pul preceded Tiglath-pileser. However, from the wording "the spirit of Pul" and "the spirit of Tiglath," it appears that the exile of the tribes across the Jordan came about through both of them, and this reconciles the two views: some of them were exiled by Pul, when he came in the days of Menahem son of Gadi, and some of them were exiled by Tiglath-pileser in the days of Pekah, at the time he exiled Zebulun and Naphtali, or afterward. It thus appears that the tribe of Reuben and part of Gad were exiled by Pul, while the rest of the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh who dwelt in Gilead were exiled afterward — which is why it is said that Tiglath-pileser took Gilead. This also explains what is stated (in verse 23), "and the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land" — meaning that they remained dwelling there even after Reuben and part of Gad were exiled; they remained and multiplied in the land until Tiglath-pileser came and exiled Gilead. And as for what our Sages say in Arachin (32b), that once Reuben and Gad were exiled the yovel (Jubilee) ceased — this is because Reuben and part of Gad were exiled first, in the days of Pul, so that not all of the land's inhabitants were dwelling upon it 'To this day' — [meaning] that they had not returned from the exile by the days of Ezra.
Verse structure: 5 words, 19 letters. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֖י, 3 letters) and the longest is "Gershon" (גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן, 5 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Gershon" (גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles); "Levi" (root לוי, 46x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root קהת ("Kohath") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root מררי ("and·Merari") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Levi', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 3 words. Full calculation: בְּנֵ֖י [sons·of] (62) + לֵוִ֑י [Levi] (46) + גֵּרְשׁ֕וֹן [Gershon] (559) + קְהָ֖ת [Kohath] (505) + וּמְרָרִֽי [and·Merari] (456) = 1628.
And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.
verse value 1624
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "Kohath" (קְהָ֑ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Hebron" (וְחֶבְר֖וֹן, 6 letters). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root עמרם ("Amram") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root יצהר ("Izhar") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Kohath', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 4 words. Full calculation: וּבְנֵ֖י [and·sons·of] (68) + קְהָ֑ת [Kohath] (505) + עַמְרָ֣ם [Amram] (350) + יִצְהָ֔ר [Izhar] (305) + וְחֶבְר֖וֹן [and·Hebron] (272) + וְעֻזִּיאֵֽל [and·Uzziel] (124) = 1624.
Metzudat David
'And the sons of Kohath' — out of honor for Moses and Aaron, Scripture lists Kohath's line before Gershon's.
And the children of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
verse value 2697
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 50 letters. The shortest word is "Nadab" (נָדָב֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Abihu" (וַאֲבִיה֔וּא, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 256: Aaron, Aaron. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·Miriam" (וּמִרְיָ֑ם). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·sons·of" (root בן, 665x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root אהרן ("Aaron") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root משה ("and·Moses") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Miriam', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: וּבְנֵ֣י [and·sons·of] (68) + עַמְרָ֔ם [Amram] (350) + אַהֲרֹ֥ן [Aaron] (256) + וּמֹשֶׁ֖ה [and·Moses] (351) + וּמִרְיָ֑ם [and·Miriam] (296) + וּבְנֵ֣י [and·sons·of] (68) + אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן [Aaron] (256) + נָדָב֙ [Nadab] (56) + וַאֲבִיה֔וּא [and·Abihu] (31) + אֶלְעָזָ֖ר [Eleazar] (308) + וְאִיתָמָֽר [and·Ithamar] (657) = 2697.
Verse structure: 6 words, 34 letters. The shortest word is "begot" (הֹלִ֥יד, 4 letters) and the longest is "Abishua" (אֶת־אֲבִישֽׁוּעַ, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Phinehas" (אֶת־פִּֽינְחָ֔ס), "Abishua" (אֶת־אֲבִישֽׁוּעַ). The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root פינחס ("Phinehas") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root אבישוע ("Abishua") in I Chronicles. Full calculation: אֶלְעָזָר֙ [Eleazar] (308) + הוֹלִ֣יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־פִּֽינְחָ֔ס [Phinehas] (609) + פִּֽינְחָ֖ס [Phinehas] (208) + הֹלִ֥יד [begot] (49) + אֶת־אֲבִישֽׁוּעַ [Abishua] (790) = 2019.
Malbim
'Eleazar begot Phinehas' — [the verse] lists the lineage of the sons of Eleazar down to Jehozadak, who went into exile with Zedekiah. The commentators assumed that everyone counted here served as Kohen Gadol (High Priest), and on this basis they raised many difficulties; but the truth speaks for itself, that the list here does not enumerate the Kohanim Gedolim at all. For in Seder Olam Zuta, and likewise in Yosippon, eighteen Kohanim Gedolim are counted from Ahimaaz son of Zadok onward — namely, Ahimaaz, Azariah, Jehoahaz, Joarib, Jehoshaphat, Jehoiada, Pedaiah, Zedekiah, Joel, Jotham, Uriah, Neriah, Hoshea, Shallum, Hilkiah, Azariah, Seraiah, and Jehozadak — and of these, you will find among those listed here only Ahimaaz (who served in the days of Rehoboam) and Azariah (who served in the days of Abijah), together with Shallum, Hilkiah, Azariah, Seraiah, and Jehozadak, who date from the days of Amon onward. This shows that the list here follows only the order of the generations [father to son], not the order of who actually served as High Priest. It also appears that the Azariah counted in Seder Olam as serving in the days of Abijah is Azariah son of Johanan, not Azariah son of Ahimaaz, since it is said of him (verse 36), "he is the one who served as priest in the House that Solomon built" — meaning, not his grandfather, Azariah son of Ahimaaz. However, in the Sifrei Zuta (cited in Yalkut Shimoni, Korach, remez 754), commenting on the verse, "and after him came Azariah, and they stood by Uzziah the king," it says: "Johanan begot Azariah — he is the one who served as priest in the House." And was he the only one to serve as priest? Rather, through him the mitzvah of priesthood was fulfilled. One cannot say that this Azariah was Kohen Gadol in the days of Uzziah, for Seder Olam and Yosippon both write that the Kohen Gadol in the days of Uzziah was named Joel; rather, Azariah was the head priest appointed over the House, for "head priest" is not the same as Kohen Gadol — just as Amariah was head priest in the days of Jehoshaphat (II Chronicles 19:11), and Azariah was head priest of the house of Zadok in the days of Hezekiah (ibid. 31:10); these were heads over the House, not Kohanim Gedolim, for the Kohen Gadol in the days of Uzziah and in the days of Hezekiah was, as Seder Olam makes clear, named Jehoahaz and Neriah, respectively. This, then, is the meaning of "who served as priest in the House of Hashem" — that is, in the affairs of the House. Now the High Priest is called by the title Kohen Gadol, not by the title "head priest," unless the High Priest was also appointed over the House, in which case he is called by both titles — as with Jehoiada, "the head priest" (II Chronicles 24:2). Indeed there were two Kohanim Gedolim in the days of Joash, Jehoiada and Pedaiah, as stated in Seder Olam; and one might say that Jehoiada was unable to continue serving afterward and became only head priest. This also removes the difficulty raised by the verse, "And Jehoiada took for himself two wives" — for at that time he was no longer serving as Kohen Gadol, and so it was permitted for him to take two wives. And what is said of Seraiah, the head priest, is that he was also appointed over the House. Now according to the Sifrei, one might say that the Azariah who was Kohen Gadol in the days of Abijah was Azariah son of Ahimaaz, and that after him none of his line served as Kohen Gadol until Shallum, so that from Shallum's time until the destruction the Kohanim Gedolim were, generation after generation, of the line of Ahimaaz son of Zadok. This bears out the words of our Sages that eighteen Kohanim Gedolim served in the First Temple, for Seder Olam indeed counts eighteen Kohanim Gedolim from Zadok, the father of Ahimaaz, down to Jehozadak, who went into exile and did not serve as Kohen Gadol. Now in the Book of Ezra (7:1), the lineage of Ezra is traced up to Aaron the priest, and there the whole lineage stated here is listed from top to bottom — except that on reaching Amariah and Azariah it says "Azariah son of Meraioth," omitting the names given here between Meraioth (verse 33) and Azariah (verse 37). This is proof for what is said [elsewhere], that Ezra wrote the Book of Ezra after the Book of Chronicles, and therefore he skipped and abbreviated there, relying on what is stated here.
Verse structure: 6 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "and·Bukki" (וּבֻקִּ֖י, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Abishua" (וַאֲבִישׁ֙וּעַ֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: begot, begot. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Bukki" (אֶת־בֻּקִּ֔י), "and·Bukki" (וּבֻקִּ֖י), "Uzzi" (אֶת־עֻזִּֽי). The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root בקי ("Bukki") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root עזי ("Uzzi") in I Chronicles. Full calculation: וַאֲבִישׁ֙וּעַ֙ [and·Abishua] (395) + הוֹלִ֣יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־בֻּקִּ֔י [Bukki] (513) + וּבֻקִּ֖י [and·Bukki] (118) + הוֹלִ֥יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־עֻזִּֽי [Uzzi] (488) = 1624.
and Uzzi begot Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begot Meraioth;
verse value 2127
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 34 letters. The shortest word is "and·Uzzi" (וְעֻזִּי֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "Zerahiah" (אֶת־זְרַֽחְיָ֔ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: begot, begot. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Zerahiah" (אֶת־זְרַֽחְיָ֔ה), "and·Zerahiah" (וּֽזְרַֽחְיָ֖ה), "Meraioth" (אֶת־מְרָיֽוֹת). The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root זרחיה ("Zerahiah") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root מריות ("Meraioth") in I Chronicles. Full calculation: וְעֻזִּי֙ [and·Uzzi] (93) + הוֹלִ֣יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־זְרַֽחְיָ֔ה [Zerahiah] (631) + וּֽזְרַֽחְיָ֖ה [and·Zerahiah] (236) + הוֹלִ֥יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־מְרָיֽוֹת [Meraioth] (1057) = 2127.
Verse structure: 6 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "Meraioth" (מְרָיוֹת֙, 5 letters) and the longest is "Ahitub" (אֶת־אֲחִיטֽוּב, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: begot, begot. The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root אמריה ("Amariah") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root אחיטוב ("Ahitub") in I Chronicles. Full calculation: מְרָיוֹת֙ [Meraioth] (656) + הוֹלִ֣יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־אֲמַרְיָ֔ה [Amariah] (657) + וַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה [and·Amariah] (262) + הוֹלִ֥יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־אֲחִיטֽוּב [Ahitub] (437) = 2122.
Verse structure: 6 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "begot" (הוֹלִ֣יד, 5 letters) and the longest is "Ahimaaz" (אֶת־אֲחִימָֽעַץ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: begot, begot. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Ahimaaz" (אֶת־אֲחִימָֽעַץ). The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root צדוק ("Zadok") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root אחימעץ ("Ahimaaz") in I Chronicles. Full calculation: וַֽאֲחִיטוּב֙ [and·Ahitub] (42) + הוֹלִ֣יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־צָד֔וֹק [Zadok] (601) + וְצָד֖וֹק [and·Zadok] (206) + הוֹלִ֥יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־אֲחִימָֽעַץ [Ahimaaz] (620) = 1579.
Metzudat David
'Zadok' — he was the first High Priest to serve in the Temple, and the priesthood passed from father to son for twelve generations.
and Ahimaaz begot Azariah, and Azariah begot Johanan;
verse value 1851
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 37 letters. The shortest word is "begot" (הוֹלִ֣יד, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Ahimaaz" (וַאֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: begot, begot. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·Ahimaaz" (וַאֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙), "Johanan" (אֶת־יוֹחָנָֽן). The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: וַאֲחִימַ֙עַץ֙ [and·Ahimaaz] (225) + הוֹלִ֣יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־עֲזַרְיָ֔ה [Azariah] (693) + וַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה [and·Azariah] (298) + הוֹלִ֥יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־יוֹחָנָֽן [Johanan] (525) = 1851.
Metzudat David
'Azariah' — possibly this is the Amariah mentioned in II Chronicles 19; see the end of Kings regarding the count of the generations. 'Johanan' — possibly this is the Jehoiada mentioned in II Kings and in II Chronicles.
and Johanan begot Azariah—he it is who executed the priest’s office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem—:
verse value 3401
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 48 letters. The shortest word is "he" (ה֚וּא, 3 letters) and the longest is "Azariah" (אֶת־עֲזַרְיָ֑ה, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "served·as·priest" (כִּהֵ֔ן), "that·built" (אֲשֶׁר־בָּנָ֥ה). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles); "in·the·house" (root בית, 115x in I Chronicles); "that" (root אשר, 77x in I Chronicles). First appearance of the root כהן ("served·as·priest") in I Chronicles. First appearance of the root בנה ("that·built") in I Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Azariah', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיוֹחָנָ֖ן [and·Johanan] (130) + הוֹלִ֣יד [begot] (55) + אֶת־עֲזַרְיָ֑ה [Azariah] (693) + ה֚וּא [he] (12) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + כִּהֵ֔ן [served·as·priest] (75) + בַּבַּ֕יִת [in·the·house] (414) + אֲשֶׁר־בָּנָ֥ה [that·built] (558) + שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה [Solomon] (375) + בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם [in·Jerusalem] (588) = 3401.
Rashi
he is the one who served in the Temple that Solomon built Some explain that Azariah was the first Azariah, and from Azariah to Seraiah, who lived at the time of the destruction of the Temple, were eight priests. Accordingly, they emended in Yoma in the first chapter (9a), and in Leviticus Rabbah (21:9), and in Siphre, parashath Phineas (Num. 25:12), that eight high priests served in the First Temple. Some say that there were eighteen. But neither one is a viable theory because Zadok was the first who ministered in the time of Solomon. Moreover, which Amariah was in the days of Jehoshaphat, about whom it is written (II Chron 19:11): “... and behold, Amariah the head priest”? Now he was Amariah the son of Azariah, who lived in the days of Uzziah and in the days of Hezekiah, who was after Jehoshaphat. If you say [that it was] Azariah the father of Seraiah, then where was Hilkiah the High Priest who lived in the days of Josiah? Rather we must count from Zadok, and there were twelve priests from Zadok until Seraiah, and so we find in an exact version of Leviticus Rabbah. Now that which the Scripture writes: “... he was the one who served in the Temple,” is explained in Sefer Yerushalmi (source unknown. Perhaps Sifre Zuta, Korah 18:7 is meant) as follows: Did he alone serve, and did he serve in the days of Solomon? Did not other priests serve as well? But because he risked his life for the sanctity of the Temple by not allowing Uzziah to burn incense, it is said: “he was the one who served in the Temple that Solomon built,” and he was the Azariah who lived in the days of Uzziah (ibid. 26: 17, 20) and in the days of Hezekiah, and Azariah the son of Ahimaaz was Amariah the priest who served in the days of Jehoshaphat, just as Uzziah is called Azariah, as is written (II Ki. 15:1): “In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam etc, Azariah... became king.” And Azariah the son of Ahimaaz was called Zechariah, as it is written (II Chron. 26:5): “And he was wont to seek God in the days of Zechariah who understood the fear of God, etc.”
Ralbag
and Johanan begot Azariah—he it is who executed the priest’s office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem — This is astonishing: at the beginning of Solomon’s reign, Zadok was the priest, as stated in the Book of Kings. How, then, could his son’s son’s son be priest within so short a span of time — no more than ten years? Rather, we find that Azariah son of Zadok was among the officers of Solomon; it appears that he was High Priest after Zadok, and served in the High Priesthood after the building of the House, whether out of the king’s love for him, or because he was more fitting. As for those mentioned afterward, where it says ‘and Azariah begot Amariah,’ etc. — most of them were High Priests, and ten generations of them spanned the entire duration of the First Temple.
Metzudat David
'He it is who executed the priest's office,' etc. — our Sages said: was he the only one to serve as priest? Rather, he gave of himself, risking his life for the service of the House, in that he protested against King Uzziah when he came to offer incense, as is written in II Chronicles.
and Azariah begot Amariah, and Amariah begot Ahitub;
verse value 1759
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "and·he·begot" (וַיּ֥וֹלֶד, 5 letters) and the longest is "Ahitub" (אֶת־אֲחִיטֽוּב, 8 letters). The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Amariah', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיּ֥וֹלֶד [and·he·begot] (56) + עֲזַרְיָ֖ה [Azariah] (292) + אֶת־אֲמַרְיָ֑ה [Amariah] (657) + וַאֲמַרְיָ֖ה [and·Amariah] (262) + הוֹלִ֥יד [he·begot] (55) + אֶת־אֲחִיטֽוּב [Ahitub] (437) = 1759.
Metzudat David
'Amariah' — possibly this is the Uriah mentioned in II Kings 16. 'Ahitub' — possibly this is the Azariah mentioned in II Chronicles 31.
Verse structure: 6 words, 34 letters. The shortest word is "he·begot" (הוֹלִ֣יד, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Ahitub" (וַֽאֲחִיטוּב֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: he·begot, he·begot. The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: וַֽאֲחִיטוּב֙ [and·Ahitub] (42) + הוֹלִ֣יד [he·begot] (55) + אֶת־צָד֔וֹק [Zadok] (601) + וְצָד֖וֹק [and·Zadok] (206) + הוֹלִ֥יד [he·begot] (55) + אֶת־שַׁלּֽוּם [Shallum] (777) = 1736.
Malbim
'And Ahitub begot Zadok' — in accordance with what is stated below (9:11): "Ahitub begot Meraioth, and Meraioth begot Zadok."
and Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah;
verse value 1898
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 35 letters. Verse gematria: 1898 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "and·Shallum" (וְשַׁלּוּם֙, 5 letters) and the longest is "Hilkiah" (אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֔ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: he·begot, he·begot. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Hilkiah" (אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֔ה), "and·Hilkiah" (וְחִלְקִיָּ֖ה). The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: וְשַׁלּוּם֙ [and·Shallum] (382) + הוֹלִ֣יד [he·begot] (55) + אֶת־חִלְקִיָּ֔ה [Hilkiah] (554) + וְחִלְקִיָּ֖ה [and·Hilkiah] (159) + הוֹלִ֥יד [he·begot] (55) + אֶת־עֲזַרְיָֽה [Azariah] (693) = 1898.
Malbim
'Shallum' — [he was] Kohen Gadol in the days of Amon, as stated in Seder Olam, ad loc. And Hilkiah was Kohen Gadol in the days of Josiah, Azariah in the days of Jehoiakim, and Seraiah was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar.
and Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak;
verse value 2461
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 35 letters. The shortest word is "he·begot" (הוֹלִ֣יד, 5 letters) and the longest is "Jehozadak" (אֶת־יְהוֹצָדָֽק, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: he·begot, he·begot. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "Seraiah" (אֶת־שְׂרָיָ֔ה), "Jehozadak" (אֶת־יְהוֹצָדָֽק). The root ילד appears 2 times in this verse. 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·begot" (root ילד, 117x in I Chronicles). Full calculation: וַעֲזַרְיָה֙ [and·Azariah] (298) + הוֹלִ֣יד [he·begot] (55) + אֶת־שְׂרָיָ֔ה [Seraiah] (916) + וּשְׂרָיָ֖ה [and·Seraiah] (521) + הוֹלִ֥יד [he·begot] (55) + אֶת־יְהוֹצָדָֽק [Jehozadak] (616) = 2461.
Metzudat David
'Seraiah' — he was the last High Priest, and he was put to death by Nebuchadnezzar at the time of Zedekiah's exile, as is stated at the end of II Kings and at the end of Jeremiah. 'Jehozadak' — he himself did not serve as High Priest; it was his son Joshua who served at the beginning of the Second Temple.
and Jehozadak went into captivity, when Hashem carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.
verse value 2204
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 45 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "he·went" (הָלַ֔ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "Nebuchadnezzar" (נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּֽר, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Chronicles. Unique to this verse in I Chronicles (hapax): "and·Jehozadak" (וִיהוֹצָדָ֣ק), "when·carrying·away·of" (בְּהַגְל֣וֹת), "Judah" (אֶת־יְהוּדָ֖ה). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 175x in I Chronicles); "by·hand·of" (root יד, 42x in I Chronicles); "and·Jerusalem" (root ירושלם, 24x in I Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 2 words. Full calculation: וִיהוֹצָדָ֣ק [and·Jehozadak] (221) + הָלַ֔ךְ [he·went] (55) + בְּהַגְל֣וֹת [when·carrying·away·of] (446) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + אֶת־יְהוּדָ֖ה [Judah] (431) + וִירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם [and·Jerusalem] (592) + בְּיַ֖ד [by·hand·of] (16) + נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּֽר [Nebuchadnezzar] (417) = 2204.
Rashi
And Jehozadak went when the Lord exiled Judah and Jerusalem And the verse in the Book of Haggai (1:1): “Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the [High] Priest,” does not [mean] that Jehozadak ever served in the high priesthood, for he was exiled to Babylon in the days of Jeconiah, as it is written: “And Jehozadak went when... exiled etc.,” but Joshua his son was the High Priest when they ascended from Babylon during the time of the Second Temple. Now why was Azariah the son of Seraiah the scholar not the High Priest, but [instead] his nephew Joshua the son of Jehozadak? This is the reason: because Joshua ascended with Zerubbabel many days and years before Ezra ascended.
Rashi
Ralbag
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim