Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.
verse value 2556
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 41 letters. Verse gematria: 2556 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "he·reigned" (מָלַ֥ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·Judah" (עַל־יְהוּדָֽה, 7 letters). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·king" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "upon·Judah" (root על, 127x in I Kings); "son·of·Nebat" (root בין, 107x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Nebat', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words. Full calculation: וּבִשְׁנַת֙ [and·in·year·of] (758) + שְׁמֹנֶ֣ה [eight] (395) + עֶשְׂרֵ֔ה [ten] (575) + לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ [to·the·king] (120) + יָרׇבְעָ֣ם [Jeroboam] (322) + בֶּן־נְבָ֑ט [son·of·Nebat] (113) + מָלַ֥ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + אֲבִיָּ֖ם [Abijam] (53) + עַל־יְהוּדָֽה [upon·Judah] (130) = 2556.
Rashi
"And in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam." This was one year after the death of Rehoboam. And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, Asa became king. The third year of Nadab (Abijam) is counted as a year for King Asa, and it is also counted for him.
Radak
"And in the eighteenth year." We do not know why there was a delay of one year before he began to reign, for Rehoboam reigned only seventeen years, and the beginning of the reigns of Rehoboam and Jeroboam was in the same year. And it is possible to explain that Rehoboam entered [the throne] in the eighteenth year, but they did not count it [as part of his reign] because he did not complete it, and they counted it for Jeroboam, according to the rule.
Metzudat David
In the eighteenth year. For Jeroboam and Rehoboam reigned together; and Rehoboam died in the 17th year of his reign. And in the following year Abijam reigned; and it is the 17th to Jeroboam.
Malbim
"King Abijam" – and in Chronicles he is called Abijah. It appears that since Jeroboam also had a son named Abijah, the Israelites referred to Rehoboam's son as "Abijam," with a final mem, which is the plural possessive suffix, meaning "their Abijah," in order to distinguish him from Jeroboam's Abijah.
Three years reigned he in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
verse value 3027
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "three" (שָׁלֹ֣שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "daughter·of·Abishalom" (בַּת־אֲבִישָׁלֽוֹם, 9 letters). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·reigned" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "years" (root שנה, 72x in I Kings); "and·name·of" (root שם, 66x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: שָׁלֹ֣שׁ [three] (630) + שָׁנִ֔ים [years] (400) + מָלַ֖ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם [in·Jerusalem] (588) + וְשֵׁ֣ם [and·name·of] (346) + אִמּ֔וֹ [his·mother] (47) + מַעֲכָ֖ה [Maacah] (135) + בַּת־אֲבִישָׁלֽוֹם [daughter·of·Abishalom] (791) = 3027.
Radak
"And his mother's name was Maacah, daughter of Absalom." This is to inform us that she was an evil woman, as is stated below: "She made a grotesque image for Asherah," and her son followed in her ways.
Ralbag
And the name of his mother was Maacah, daughter of Absalom. Behold, in the Book of Chronicles it is recorded that her name was Michaiah, daughter of Uriel of Gibeah, and these are one and the same. Furthermore, it is recorded there that her name was Maacah, daughter of Absalom, and I hold that this Absalom is the son of David. For there it records that Rehoboam had three wives: the first was the daughter of a son of David, the second was the daughter of a son of Jesse, and the third was Maacah, daughter of Absalom. It appears that these women were mentioned because they were of his own family, yet it was not stated regarding Absalom that he was the son of David, because he did not conduct himself toward him as a son ought. Perhaps the other wives he took and his concubines are not mentioned by name, but only these are mentioned because they were of his family, as we have stated. And behold, the name of his mother is mentioned to testify that she was related to her father, who was a very wicked man. For this reason, you will also find that it is recorded that she made a detestable image for an Asherah, as if to explain that the cause of her father's doing evil in the eyes of the Lord was due to the fact that he was the son of Maacah.
And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not whole with Hashem his God, as the heart of David his father.
verse value 2355
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "whole" (שָׁלֵם֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·sins" (בְּכׇל־חַטֹּ֥אות, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 19: his·father, his·father. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "all·sins" (בְּכׇל־חַטֹּ֥אות). The root אב appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·he·did" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "with·Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "and·not·was" (root היה, 196x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·his·face', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַיֵּ֕לֶךְ [and·went] (66) + בְּכׇל־חַטֹּ֥אות [all·sins] (476) + אָבִ֖יו [his·father] (19) + אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֣ה [that·he·did] (876) + לְפָנָ֑יו [to·his·face] (176) + וְלֹא־הָיָ֨ה [and·not·was] (57) + לְבָב֤וֹ [his·heart] (40) + שָׁלֵם֙ [whole] (370) + עִם־יְהֹוָ֣ה [with·Hashem] (136) + אֱלֹהָ֔יו [his·God] (52) + כִּלְבַ֖ב [as·heart·of] (54) + דָּוִ֥ד [David] (14) + אָבִֽיו [his·father] (19) = 2355.
Malbim
"Which he did before him" means that he himself did not sin in essence; rather, because the sins had already been committed before his reign, he did not annul his father's iniquities. This was due to the fact that his heart was not whole like the heart of David; therefore, he did not set his mind to remove these sins.
Nevertheless for David’s sake did Hashem his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem;
verse value 3717
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 63 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֨ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "and·nevertheless" (כִּ֚י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Jerusalem" (אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "a·lamp" (נִ֖יר), "to·set·up" (לְהָקִ֤ים), "his·son" (אֶת־בְּנוֹ֙). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "gave" (root נתן, 113x in I Kings); "his·God" (root אלהים, 99x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 5 words. Full calculation: כִּ֚י [and·nevertheless] (30) + לְמַ֣עַן [for·the·sake·of] (190) + דָּוִ֔ד [David] (14) + נָתַן֩ [gave] (500) + יְהֹוָ֨ה [Hashem] (26) + אֱלֹהָ֥יו [his·God] (52) + ל֛וֹ [to·him] (36) + נִ֖יר [a·lamp] (260) + בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם [in·Jerusalem] (588) + לְהָקִ֤ים [to·set·up] (185) + אֶת־בְּנוֹ֙ [his·son] (459) + אַחֲרָ֔יו [after·him] (225) + וּֽלְהַעֲמִ֖יד [and·to·repair] (165) + אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם [Jerusalem] (987) = 3717.
Radak
"A lamp in Jerusalem." We have already explained it above:
Ralbag
“Nir in Jerusalem.” Nir is land that is cultivated in such a way that the plants within it are fruitful. With this it is said that, were it not for David, God, blessed be He, would not have granted him in Jerusalem seed through which to rule, thereby establishing Jerusalem; and this refers to Asa.
Metzudat David
For the sake of David. Meaning: they sinned so much, that he was not fit to reign except for the sake of David, etc.
A lamp for himself. To David He gave a lamp in Jerusalem. And for additional explanation he said 'to establish his son after him.'
And to establish , etc. Meaning: in order that the house that is in Jerusalem be established; when a king from the seed of its builder reigns in it.
Metzudat Zion
Nir. Like 'ner' (candle); I mean: kingship:
Malbim
"For because" — that is to say, from this perspective it would have been fitting for him to have fallen then in the war he had with Jeroboam, mentioned in Chronicles; and he defeated him through a miracle. He explains that this miracle was not through his own merit, but rather through the merit of his father David and the merit of Jerusalem (as stated above, 11:13).
because David did that which was right in the eyes of Hashem, and turned not aside from any thing that He commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
verse value 4266
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 63 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 4266 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֚ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·He·commanded·him" (אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֗הוּ, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "the·right" (אֶת־הַיָּשָׁ֖ר), "and·not·he·turned·aside" (וְלֹא־סָ֞ר), "that·He·commanded·him" (אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֗הוּ). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "because" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "in·word·of" (root דבר, 191x in I Kings). First appearance of the root אסר ("and·not·he·turned·aside") in I Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 10 words.
Ralbag
Only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. This is from what will testify that in all his other matters, David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord:
Metzudat David
That he did. Meaning: on account that David did what was right and etc.
Only in the matter of Uriah. For in Bathsheba he did not sin; for all who go out to the war of the house of David write a bill of divorce to his wife.
Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
verse value 1465
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "was" (הָיְתָ֧ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "between·Rehoboam" (בֵין־רְחַבְעָ֛ם, 8 letters). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "was" (root היה, 196x in I Kings); "between·Rehoboam" (root בין, 107x in I Kings); "all·days·of" (root יום, 100x in I Kings). Full calculation: וּמִלְחָמָ֨ה [and·battle] (129) + הָיְתָ֧ה [was] (420) + בֵין־רְחַבְעָ֛ם [between·Rehoboam] (382) + וּבֵ֥ין [and·between] (68) + יָרׇבְעָ֖ם [Jeroboam] (322) + כׇּל־יְמֵ֥י [all·days·of] (110) + חַיָּֽיו [his·life] (34) = 1465.
Ralbag
"And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life." This means: all the days of Rehoboam's life. Even though at first the prophet prevented them from fighting to restore the kingship to Rehoboam, nevertheless there were wars between them thereafter.
Metzudat David
And there was war. Meaning: the war that was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam was all the days of Abijam's life; meaning: from the time he became a man; for he was the one going out and coming in the war.
Malbim
The questions: Regarding what is stated, “And there was war,” etc., this was already mentioned above (14:30); why is it repeated twice? (6–7) “And there was war between Rehoboam”—he already said this above (14:30). And [Rabbi Yitzchak] Abarbanel explained that the purpose is to state that in this war, Abijah was the primary figure engaged in it, because Rehoboam was soft-hearted, as is stated in Chronicles [2 Chronicles 13:7]. And it may be explained that [the verse] refers back to what follows below, meaning: “the war that was between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.” And likewise, the rest of the deeds of Abijah are written in the Book of Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. And likewise, the war that was between Abijah and Jeroboam is also written there. And the purpose is to state that this war began in the days of Rehoboam and was concluded in the days of Abijah, who was the victor of the war. And then they wrote in the book the general account of all these wars that extended between Jeroboam and Rehoboam and his son Abijah.
And the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
verse value 4357
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 83 letters. The shortest word is "did" (עָשָׂ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·all·that" (וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·all·that" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "of·the·kings·of" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "was" (root היה, 196x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 6 words.
Ralbag
"And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam." It has already been mentioned in Chronicles that there was a mighty war between them, in which five hundred thousand men of Israel died. There, it was also noted that Rehoboam was a youth and tender when Israel rebelled against him. From this, it becomes clear that Abijah was advanced in years during his reign, more so than Rehoboam was during his reign. Indeed, the text states "and tender," for due to the great tranquility that prevailed in the days of Solomon, he was exceedingly pampered and did not know the ways of war. However, Abijah had witnessed wars between Jeroboam and his father.
Metzudat David
Between Abijam. Even in the days of his kingship he did not cease from fighting with Jeroboam.
And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 2997
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 48 letters. The shortest word is "him" (אֹת֖וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו, 7 letters). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·reigned" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "with·his·fathers" (root עם, 95x in I Kings); "his·son" (root בן, 72x in I Kings). First appearance of the root אסא ("Asa") in I Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'David', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב [and·he·slept] (338) + אֲבִיָּם֙ [Abijam] (53) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ [and·they·buried] (324) + אֹת֖וֹ [him] (407) + בְּעִ֣יר [in·city·of] (282) + דָּוִ֑ד [David] (14) + וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + אָסָ֥א [Asa] (62) + בְנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·place] (824) = 2997.
And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Asa to reign over Judah.
verse value 2633
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "of·Jeroboam" (לְיָרׇבְעָ֖ם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: king, he·reigned, king. The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "Israel" (root ישראל, 120x in I Kings); "and·in·year·of" (root שנה, 72x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words. Full calculation: וּבִשְׁנַ֣ת [and·in·year·of] (758) + עֶשְׂרִ֔ים [twenty] (620) + לְיָרׇבְעָ֖ם [of·Jeroboam] (352) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + מָלַ֥ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + אָסָ֖א [Asa] (62) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 2633.
Radak
"And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king over Judah." [This refers to] the end of the eighteenth year that Rehoboam had reigned, as we have written above; they did not count those [years] to Rehoboam, but counted them to Abijah, his son. And there is [another] resolution: a portion of the twentieth year [also counts], so behold, that makes three years for Abijah.
Metzudat David
In the twentieth year. For Abijam reigned in the 18th year to Jeroboam; and he reigned three partial years; and they are Jeroboam's 11th, 19th, and 20th. And in that year Asa reigned; and that year is counted to Abijam and to Asa.
And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
verse value 3096
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 43 letters. Verse gematria: 3096 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "daughter·of·Abishalom" (בַּת־אֲבִישָׁלֽוֹם, 9 letters). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·reigned" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "year" (root שנה, 72x in I Kings); "and·name·of" (root שם, 66x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְאַרְבָּעִ֤ים [and·forty] (329) + וְאַחַת֙ [and·one] (415) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + מָלַ֖ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם [in·Jerusalem] (588) + וְשֵׁ֣ם [and·name·of] (346) + אִמּ֔וֹ [his·mother] (47) + מַעֲכָ֖ה [Maacah] (135) + בַּת־אֲבִישָׁלֽוֹם [daughter·of·Abishalom] (791) = 3096.
Radak
"And the name of his mother was Maacah, etc." — She was not the mother of Asa, but rather the mother of Abijah, his father, as is written above. And Scripture calls his father's mother "his mother," as it is written, "And they came to Reuel their father" [where Reuel was in fact their grandfather]. [The text] mentions for Asa the mother of his father because she served idolatry, as it states, "who made an abhorrent thing for the Asherah." And despite all this, Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn after her.
Ralbag
"And his mother's name was Maacah, daughter of Abishalom." It appears that his mother raised him, and this is mentioned because, despite this, Asa did not learn from her deeds, but did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, like David his father.
Metzudat David
And his mother's name. His father's mother; and since she was raising him, he said 'mother.'
And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Hashem, as did David his father.
verse value 1184
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 28 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Asa" (אָסָ֛א, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·eyes·of" (בְּעֵינֵ֣י, 5 letters). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "and·did" (root עשה, 143x in I Kings); "his·father" (root אב, 74x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֧עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + אָסָ֛א [Asa] (62) + הַיָּשָׁ֖ר [straight] (515) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + כְּדָוִ֖ד [as·David] (34) + אָבִֽיו [his·father] (19) = 1184.
And he put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
verse value 3274
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·idols" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַגִּלֻּלִ֔ים, 10 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "all·the·idols" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַגִּלֻּלִ֔ים), "his·fathers" (אֲבֹתָֽיו). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "they·did" (root עשה, 143x in I Kings); "his·fathers" (root אב, 74x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·the·land', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיַּעֲבֵ֥ר [and·put·away] (288) + הַקְּדֵשִׁ֖ים [apartness] (459) + מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ [from·the·land] (386) + וַיָּ֙סַר֙ [and·removed] (276) + אֶת־כׇּל־הַגִּלֻּלִ֔ים [all·the·idols] (569) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + עָשׂ֖וּ [they·did] (376) + אֲבֹתָֽיו [his·fathers] (419) = 3274.
Rashi
"And he removed the holy ones." Targum Yonatan: "[He] removed [them], and they went out, outside."
Ralbag
"And he removed the consecrated ones from the land." These are those who were readied for [male] intercourse.
Metzudat Zion
Via'avor. He removed:
Hakodeshim. The prostitution:
Hagilulim. The idolatries detested as excrement and filth:
And also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
verse value 6415
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 70 letters. The shortest word is "and·also" (וְגַ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "her·horrid·thing" (אֶת־מִפְלַצְתָּ֔הּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 536: Maacah, for·the·Asherah. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "Maacah" (אֶת־מַעֲכָ֣ה), "and·he·removed·her" (וַיְסִרֶ֙הָ֙), "from·queen" (מִגְּבִירָ֔ה). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·she·made" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "his·mother" (root אם, 28x in I Kings); "Asa" (root אסא, 23x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·the·Asherah', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְגַ֣ם [and·also] (49) + אֶת־מַעֲכָ֣ה [Maacah] (536) + אִמּ֗וֹ [his·mother] (47) + וַיְסִרֶ֙הָ֙ [and·he·removed·her] (281) + מִגְּבִירָ֔ה [from·queen] (260) + אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָ֥ה [that·she·made] (1276) + מִפְלֶ֖צֶת [horrid thing] (640) + לָאֲשֵׁרָ֑ה [for·the·Asherah] (536) + וַיִּכְרֹ֤ת [and·he·cut] (636) + אָסָא֙ [Asa] (62) + אֶת־מִפְלַצְתָּ֔הּ [her·horrid·thing] (1046) + וַיִּשְׂרֹ֖ף [and·burned] (596) + בְּנַ֥חַל [in·wadi·of] (90) + קִדְרֽוֹן [Kidron] (360) = 6415.
Rashi
"And he removed her from being a mistress." From being a mistress:
"Which she had made an appalling image." Our Sages said (Avodah Zarah 44a): "[It was] an astonishing act of licentiousness: she fashioned for herself a phallus, and she was sexually penetrated by it every day."
Radak
"And also Maacah his mother." The meaning of this relates to what was said [earlier], "and he removed": he said that he also removed Maacah his mother, and afterward he explained how he removed her, saying "he removed her from being queen mother," meaning he removed her from the status of queen mother because she had made a mifletzet [abomination] for Asherah. And he explained that "mifletzet" [refers to] idol worship; he called it "mifletzet" because it is a term denoting dread and trembling, like [the word] "palatzut" in "palatzut be'atatni" [dread has seized me], since her dread lay upon her worshippers. And likewise, for this same reason, idols are called "eimim" [terrors], as it is said, "and they boast among the eimim."
"And he burned it in the Kidron Valley." He burned the graven image and threw its ashes into the Kidron Valley, for the worship of idols is forbidden to derive benefit from.
Ralbag
"And he removed her from being queen mother." He removed her from her status as queen mother so that she would not lead the people to serve idolatry.
“A horror [made] for Asherah.” It is a structure she made in honor of the idol, and it is called “a horror” because it brings terror and many troubles to its worshippers.
"And Asa cut down her idol." See, he burned it, because it is forbidden to derive benefit from it; therefore, he cast its ashes into the Kidron Valley so that no one would derive benefit from it.
Metzudat David
And also Maacah. It refers to 'and he removed' said in the preceding Scripture; to say: and also Maacah he removed. And he returns and explains that her removal was from being yet a queen mother and ruling; so that she not incite people to idolatry.
That she made. Because she made a horrid image, and it is a form of some kind, to be an addition to the Asherah. And just as the worship of idols is called 'atzabim' [idols]; and because it saddens the heart of its worshippers, so it is called 'mifletzet' [horrid image], for it brings trembling; for it is from the language of 'palatzut ba'atatani' [trembling seized me] (Isaiah 21:4). And because of this they are called 'eimim' [terrors], as is said (Jeremiah 50:38): 'and in their terrors they boast.'
And he burned it in the brook Kidron. Meaning: he burned it and cast its ashes into the brook Kidron; for the ashes of idolatry are forbidden to benefit from.
Malbim
The questions: What is meant by the statement “and also Maacah his mother,” which lacks the predicate of the sentence:
And also, the construal of the verse is: “and he removed the idols”—[namely] “and also Maacah his mother,” who was likewise among the idols to which they would bow down for the sake of worship, or who was a harlot for idolatry. And he also removed her from [the rank of] queen mother (gevirah), and he also removed her abomination (her image), which pertained either to her worship or to her being a harlot for the Asherah.
But the high places were not taken away; nevertheless the heart of Asa was whole with Hashem all his days. .
verse value 1794
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 37 letters. Verse gematria: 1794 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "nevertheless" (רַ֣ק, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·the·high·places" (וְהַבָּמ֖וֹת, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "and·the·high·places" (וְהַבָּמ֖וֹת), "heart·of·Asa" (לְבַב־אָסָ֗א), "all·his·days" (כׇּל־יָמָֽיו). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "with·Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "was" (root היה, 196x in I Kings); "all·his·days" (root יום, 100x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'not·they·turned·aside', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְהַבָּמ֖וֹת [and·the·high·places] (459) + לֹא־סָ֑רוּ [not·they·turned·aside] (297) + רַ֣ק [nevertheless] (300) + לְבַב־אָסָ֗א [heart·of·Asa] (96) + הָיָ֥ה [was] (20) + שָׁלֵ֛ם [whole] (370) + עִם־יְהֹוָ֖ה [with·Hashem] (136) + כׇּל־יָמָֽיו [all·his·days] (116) = 1794.
Rashi
"And the high places did not depart." These are the private high places, which had become accustomed to having sacrifices offered upon them to the Lord from the time of the destruction of Shiloh until the Temple was built, when the high places were permitted. They did not depart now, even though they became forbidden once the Temple was built, and one was liable for karet for violating this prohibition.
Ralbag
"And the high places did not depart." It implies that these high places were still being used for sacrifices to God, blessed be He, as they had been used prior to the construction of the Temple, and in this manner the people were sinning. However, the high places at which they served idolatry had ceased, as explained in the Book of Chronicles.
Metzudat David
The high places. That were made for Heaven. And since when the house was built the high places were forbidden everywhere, for this reason it is counted as a sin.
And he brought into the house of Hashem the things that his father had hallowed, and the things that himself had hallowed, silver, and gold, and vessels.
verse value 2413
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 43 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "house·of" (בֵּ֣ית, 3 letters) and the longest is "holy·things·of" (אֶת־קׇדְשֵׁ֣י, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 19: and·brought, his·father. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "and·his·hallowed·thing" ((וקדשו)), "and·apartness·of" (וְקׇדְשֵׁ֖י), "and·vessels" (וְכֵלִֽים). The root קדש appears 3 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "house·of" (root בית, 191x in I Kings); "and·brought" (root בוא, 109x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיָּבֵא֙ [and·brought] (19) + אֶת־קׇדְשֵׁ֣י [holy·things·of] (815) + אָבִ֔יו [his·father] (19) + (וקדשו) [and·his·hallowed·thing] (416) + וְקׇדְשֵׁ֖י [and·apartness·of] (420) + בֵּ֣ית [house·of] (412) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + כֶּ֥סֶף [silver] (160) + וְזָהָ֖ב [and·gold] (20) + וְכֵלִֽים [and·vessels] (106) = 2413.
Radak
"And the holy things of the House of the LORD." That is to say: and his own holy things. And the annexed noun is elided, like [in] "drunk, but not from wine" [Isaiah 51:21]. And so it is written in Chronicles: "and his holy things." And according to Targum Jonathan: "and his consecrated things, for the House of the Sanctuary of the LORD." And in some books it is written [Ketiv] "ve-kodsho" but read [Qere] as "u-kedashav."
Ralbag
"And he brought the holy things of his father and the holy things of the House of the Lord." The intent here is that he had already brought to the House of the Lord the holy things of his father and his own holy things; and therefore the qere [reading] is "ve-kodsho" [and his consecrated things]. And so it is written in Chronicles.
Metzudat David
The holy things of his father. Perhaps after he consecrated them, he returned and took them from the consecration; and Asa brought them to the house of the Lord.
And the holy things , etc. Meaning: also his own holy things he brought to the house of the Lord. And in Chronicles (II 15:18) it is said 'and his holy things.'
And there was war between Asa and Baasa king of Israel all their days.
verse value 1900
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 39 letters. Verse gematria: 1900 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "between" (בֵּ֣ין, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 62: between, Asa. The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Israel" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "was" (root היה, 196x in I Kings); "between" (root בין, 107x in I Kings). First appearance of the root בעשא ("Baasa") in I Kings. Full calculation: וּמִלְחָמָ֨ה [and·battle] (129) + הָיְתָ֜ה [was] (420) + בֵּ֣ין [between] (62) + אָסָ֗א [Asa] (62) + וּבֵ֛ין [and·between] (68) + בַּעְשָׁ֥א [Baasa] (373) + מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [king·Israel] (631) + כׇּל־יְמֵיהֶֽם [all·their·days] (155) = 1900.
Metzudat David
And between Baasha. Who reigned after Nadab the son of Jeroboam, as will be said below.
All their days. From the time they began.
Malbim
And there was war, for although it is written in Chronicles that there was no war until the fifteenth year of his reign, nevertheless there were skirmishes between them constantly, and in the fifteenth year there was the great war. The rest of the verses, up to verse 23, are explained in my commentary on Chronicles.
And Baasa king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
verse value 3563
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "to·give" (תֵּ֚ת, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·Israel" (מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "to·give" (תֵּ֚ת). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Israel" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "against·Judah" (root על, 127x in I Kings); "to·give" (root נתן, 113x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·Ramah', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֨עַל [and·went·up] (116) + בַּעְשָׁ֤א [Baasa] (373) + מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ [king·Israel] (631) + עַל־יְהוּדָ֔ה [against·Judah] (130) + וַיִּ֖בֶן [and·he·built] (68) + אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה [the·Ramah] (651) + לְבִלְתִּ֗י [so·that·not] (472) + תֵּ֚ת [to·give] (800) + יֹצֵ֣א [going·out] (101) + וָבָ֔א [and·to·come·in] (9) + לְאָסָ֖א [to·Asa] (92) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 3563.
Ralbag
“And Baasha king of Israel went up and built Ramah.” There is a difficulty regarding what is written about this in the Book of Chronicles, for there it is written that this occurred in the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa. Yet we have already found that Baasha began to reign in the third year of the reign of Asa, and Baasha did not reign for more than twenty-four years. How then is it possible that this war took place in the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa? However, the resolution of this difficulty is according to what I will say, and it is that the land had been quiet from all warfare for ten years during the days of Asa, as is written in the Book of Chronicles. And when Israel saw his success, he gathered many from Israel to him in the fifteenth year of his reign, for then he fought with Israel and brought much spoils, as is written there. And there it is written, “There was no war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.” The meaning of this is that there was no war for him with Israel prior to this, for it is not possible to say that there was no war for him at all, for the land was not quiet during his days except for ten years. And once this is established, it is clear that what is stated, “until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa,” refers to the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa, for then he had war with Israel. Indeed, the thirty-five years were counted from the time of the division of the kingdom, for there had already been twenty years of Rehoboam and Abijam, and fifteen years of Asa. And behold, in the sixteenth year of Asa, Baasha built Ramah. And I hold that the count was from the time of the division of the kingdom, for what Asa did concerning the building of Ramah also caused the division of the kingdom, for the kingdom had already begun to return to him prior to this, as we have mentioned. And because of this sin, the kingdom remained divided as before. And this sin was that he set his fleshly arm [i.e., relied on human strength] in that he sent to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, and did not trust in the Lord, who had cast down the camp of the Cushites before him. And I hold that for this reason his feet became diseased in his old age, for he sent to Ben-Hadad as if he had no feet to walk in war, and therefore God, blessed be He, caused the strength of his feet to weaken in his old age.
Metzudat David
Ramah. A high tower he built opposite the gates of Jerusalem, to throw from it stones at those going out and coming in.
Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Hashem, and the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Aram, that dwelt at Damascus, saying:
verse value 7500
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 126 letters. Verse gematria: 7500 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "Asa" (אָ֠סָ֠א, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·treasures·of" (וְאֶת־אֽוֹצְרוֹת֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 95: king, king. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "all·the·silver" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַכֶּ֨סֶף), "and·the·gold" (וְהַזָּהָ֜ב), "in·treasuries·of" (בְּאוֹצְר֣וֹת). The root מלך appears 4 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "saying" (root אמר, 324x in I Kings); "house·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'into·the·hand·of·his·servants', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 11 words.
Radak
"The remaining ones in the treasuries of the Lord." This is in accordance with the fact that when Shishak, king of Egypt, took the treasures of the House of the Lord, it is stated: "The remaining ones," for he did not take all of them.
Metzudat David
The remaining. From what Shishak did not take. And although it is said above (14:26) that he took all, behold he took only what he found; and there remained still what he did not find.
’There is a league between me and you, between my father and your father; behold, I have sent to you a present of silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasa king of Israel, that he may depart from me.’
verse value 5347
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 83 letters. Notable word values: "my·father" (אָבִ֖י) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֥, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 50: to·you, go. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "between" (בֵּינִ֣י), "and·between·you" (וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ), "I·sent" (שָׁלַ֨חְתִּי). The root בין appears 4 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Israel" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "from·me" (root על, 127x in I Kings); "go" (root הלך, 115x in I Kings). First appearance of the root פרר ("break") in I Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·father', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 13 words.
Metzudat David
And he shall go up from me. Meaning: fight with him that he will go up from me.
And Ben-hadad hearkened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.
verse value 7670
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 99 letters. Notable word values: "and·smote" (וַיַּךְ֙) = 36, double chai. Verse gematria: 7670 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "with" (עַ֖ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "Beth-maacah" (בֵּֽית־מַעֲכָ֑ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 537: that·were·his, Ijon. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "strength" (הַחֲיָלִ֤ים), "against·the·cities·of" (עַל־עָרֵ֣י), "Ijon" (אֶת־עִיּ֣וֹן). 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·were·his" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "Beth-maacah" (root בית, 191x in I Kings); "with" (root על, 127x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Beth-maacah', dividing the verse into phrases of 16 and 5 words.
Radak
Abel Beth Maacah: This is [the same as] "Abel Mayim" mentioned in Chronicles.
"And all the Kinnarot [Chinneroth]." [This is] the plural of Kinneret. And this Targum Jonathan [renders] as "Ginosar," which is an exceedingly fertile land. And our Sages of blessed memory extolled at length in praising its fruits. And the plural [form] is meant to say that there were several distinct places [all called Kinneret], and all of them were fertile.
"Upon all the land of Naphtali." Like [the word] "with" [im]; so too, "and the men came alongside the women" [Exodus 35:22], [where] "upon" [al] conveys the sense of "with" the women. And in Chronicles: "and all the store-cities of the towns of Naphtali" [II Chronicles 16:4].
Metzudat David
All Chinneroth. All the places that are in the district of Chinneroth.
On all. With all the land, etc.
Cross-references: II Samuel 20:14; II Chronicles 16:4
And it came to pass, when Baasa heard thereof, that he left off building Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.
verse value 3056
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 37 letters. The shortest word is "and·it·was" (וַֽיְהִי֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "the·Ramah" (אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "and·he·stopped" (וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל), "from·the·daughters·of" (מִבְּנ֖וֹת). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was" (root היה, 196x in I Kings); "from·the·daughters·of" (root בנה, 66x in I Kings); "when·he·heard" (root שמע, 60x in I Kings). First appearance of the root חדל ("and·he·stopped") in I Kings. First appearance of the root תרצה ("in·Tirzah") in I Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·Ramah', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·was] (31) + כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ [when·he·heard] (430) + בַּעְשָׁ֔א [Baasa] (373) + וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל [and·he·stopped] (58) + מִבְּנ֖וֹת [from·the·daughters·of] (498) + אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה [the·Ramah] (651) + וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב [and·dwelt] (318) + בְּתִרְצָֽה [in·Tirzah] (697) = 3056.
Radak
"And he sat in Tirzah." This means that he settled down in his city, for there the king was, as it is written below, and he did not wish to fight any longer with the king of Judah, for this war occurred at the end of his days. And the Targum, "and he sat in Tar'atha," translated Tirzah from the root of oppression and crushing, meaning that he sat down fearful, trembling, and crushed because of the king of Aram.
Then king Asa made a proclamation to all Judah; none was exempted; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasa had built; and king Asa built therewith Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.
verse value 5362
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 91 letters. The shortest word is "in·them" (בָּם֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·Judah" (אֶת־כׇּל־יְהוּדָה֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 62: Asa, Asa. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "proclaimed" (הִשְׁמִ֤יעַ), "all·Judah" (אֶת־כׇּל־יְהוּדָה֙), "innocent" (נָקִ֔י). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "and·the·king" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "he·built" (root בנה, 66x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Baasa', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 7 words.
Rashi
"None was exempt." Even a groom in his chamber, as it is stated regarding him (Deuteronomy 24:5): "He shall be free for his house one year."
Radak
"There was no exemption." Even a bridegroom, of whom it is said, "he shall be exempt for his house one year."
Metzudat David
Made heard. He proclaimed to make heard.
None is exempt. So that none of them all be exempt and released from coming.
Cross-references: Zechariah 14:10; II Chronicles 16:6
Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.
verse value 6979
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 99 letters. Notable word values: "not·they" (הֲלֹא־הֵ֣מָּה) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "but" (רַ֚ק, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·words·of·Asa" (כׇּל־דִּבְרֵֽי־אָ֠סָ֠א, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "all·words·of·Asa" (כׇּל־דִּבְרֵֽי־אָ֠סָ֠א), "and·all·his·might" (וְכׇל־גְּב֨וּרָת֜וֹ), "and·the·cities" (וְהֶֽעָרִים֙). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·all·that" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "of·the·kings·of" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "all·words·of·Asa" (root דבר, 191x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 5 words.
Radak
"And all his might" – in wars and against the Kushites.
"He was afflicted in his feet." [Meaning] from his feet — [the particle et here means "from," as in] "they went out [et] the city" [meaning] from the city, and the like. And in the words of our Sages of blessed memory: "there is no exemption" [means] that he imposed forced labor (angaria) on Torah scholars; and for this he was punished, and "he was afflicted in his feet," because he pressed Torah scholars into this labor.
Metzudat David
Only. Meaning: in every matter he was successful; only in his old age, etc.
Metzudat Zion
Et raglav. From his feet; like (Genesis 44:4) 'they went out of the city' (yetzu et ha'ir); its grammatical reading: me'ha'ir:
And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.
verse value 4428
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 58 letters. Verse gematria: 4428 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "he·reigned" (מָלַךְ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Jeroboam" (בֶּן־יָרׇבְעָ֗ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 641: over·Israel, over·Israel. The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·reigned" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "over·Israel" (root על, 127x in I Kings); "son·of·Jeroboam" (root בין, 107x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְנָדָ֣ב [and·Nadab] (62) + בֶּן־יָרׇבְעָ֗ם [son·of·Jeroboam] (374) + מָלַךְ֙ [he·reigned] (90) + עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [over·Israel] (641) + בִּשְׁנַ֣ת [in·year·of] (752) + שְׁתַּ֔יִם [two] (750) + לְאָסָ֖א [of·Asa] (92) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [over·Israel] (641) + שְׁנָתָֽיִם [years] (800) = 4428.
Rashi
Two years. The second and third [years] to Asa:
Ralbag
In the second year of Asa, king of Judah. It is known that Jeroboam died in the second year of Asa, for he reigned twenty-two years, and Rehoboam and Abijah had already reigned twenty years; Jeroboam did not complete that year, and that year was counted for him and for his son Nadab. Nadab did not complete the third year of Asa, and that third year of Asa was counted for him and for Baasha. This is why it says that Nadab reigned two years, and thereafter Baasha reigned twenty-four years, so that these years were completed in the twenty-sixth year of Asa. Baasha did not complete that year, and that year was counted for him and for Omri. Thereafter Omri reigned twelve years, so that these years were completed in the thirty-eighth year of Asa. By this, many difficulties concerning the reckoning of these years, which were attributed variously to one king or another, are resolved.
Metzudat David
In the second year to Asa. For Asa reigned in the 20th year to Jeroboam; and Jeroboam died in the 22nd year. And immediately Nadab reigned; if so it is in the second year to Asa.
Two years. And they were partial.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Hashem, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
verse value 3048
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 50 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "the·evil" (הָרַ֖ע, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·in·his·purgation·offering" (וּ֨בְחַטָּאת֔וֹ, 7 letters). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "wherewith" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "and·did" (root עשה, 143x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + הָרַ֖ע [the·evil] (275) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ [and·went] (66) + בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ [in·way·of] (226) + אָבִ֔יו [his·father] (19) + וּ֨בְחַטָּאת֔וֹ [and·in·his·purgation·offering] (432) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [wherewith] (501) + הֶחֱטִ֖יא [he·made·to·sin] (33) + אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (942) = 3048.
Malbim
In the manner of the evil deeds he committed, and in his sin regarding the matter of the calves:
And Baasa the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasa smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.
verse value 6287
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 76 letters. The shortest word is "which" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·all·Israel" (וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 373: Baasa, Baasa. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "Issachar" (יִשָּׂשכָ֔ר), "at·Gibbethon" (בְּגִבְּת֖וֹן), "binding" (צָרִ֖ים). The root על appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "which" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "of·the·house·of" (root בית, 191x in I Kings); "against·him" (root על, 127x in I Kings). First appearance of the root קשר ("and·bound") in I Kings. First appearance of the root צור ("binding") in I Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·Philistines', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 4 words.
Metzudat David
And Nadab. And then Nadab and all Israel, etc.
Metzudat Zion
Vikashar. A matter of rebellion carried out by people bound together in a league:
tzarim. From the language of siege; that is to say: they encamped to besiege and to encircle:
Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasa slay him, and reigned in his stead.
verse value 3364
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 39 letters. Verse gematria: 3364 = 58². The shortest word is "three" (שָׁלֹ֔שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·killed·him" (וַיְמִתֵ֣הוּ, 6 letters). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 72x in I Kings); "and·killed·him" (root מות, 59x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיְמִתֵ֣הוּ [and·killed·him] (467) + בַעְשָׁ֔א [Baasa] (373) + בִּשְׁנַ֣ת [in·year·of] (752) + שָׁלֹ֔שׁ [three] (630) + לְאָסָ֖א [of·Asa] (92) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + וַיִּמְלֹ֖ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·place] (824) = 3364.
Metzudat David
In the third year to Asa. For Nadab reigned in the second year to Asa; and two years he reigned; and they are part of the second of Asa and the third; and they are two partial years.
And it came to pass that, as soon as he was king, he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him; according to the saying of Hashem, which He spoke by the hand of His servant Ahijah the Shilonite;
verse value 4621
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 81 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "he·struck" (הִכָּה֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·house·of" (אֶת־כׇּל־בֵּ֣ית, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "when·he·became·king" (כְמׇלְכ֗וֹ), "all·breath" (כׇּל־נְשָׁמָ֛ה), "until·he·destroyed·him" (עַד־הִשְׁמִד֑וֹ). The root ירבעם appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "which" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "when·he·became·king" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings). First appearance of the root שאר ("not·he·left") in I Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'until·he·destroyed·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Radak
"And it came to pass when he reigned." With a kaph:
Ralbag
“And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he struck all the house of Jeroboam.” One might doubt how this was counted as a sin against him, since the word of the Lord was in the hand of Ahijah the prophet that this would befall the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat. And behold, we find that it was counted as a sin against him in what he said afterward, “And for all the evil which he did in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger with the work of his hands, to be like the house of Jeroboam, and for having struck him.” And it is possible to say that he was punished for this because he had already shown that he did not do this on account of the sins of Jeroboam, but rather he himself walked in the ways of Jeroboam, and he did not do this either to fulfill the word of the Lord as Jehu did, but he did this out of the evil of his heart, so that he might reign and no one would be found to contend with him for the kingship by giving it to the house of Jeroboam. And he was also punished because he killed him while he was fighting the wars of the Lord against the Philistines, for they were then besieging Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. And perhaps Jehu was not punished for destroying the house of Ahab, since he had already done this by the command of the prophet of God, and he also eradicated many of the abominations which Ahab had done.
Malbim
“Strike the entire house of Jeroboam”—this refers to what he did to strengthen his kingdom so that they would not rebel against him; but as for the fact that he left no soul, not even women and children, this was in accordance with the word of the Lord, and it was a punishment of His providence.
for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and wherewith he made Israel to sin; because of his provocation wherewith he provoked Hashem, the God of Israel.
verse value 4685
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 62 letters. Notable word values: "sinned" (חָטָ֔א) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "which" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "for·the·sins·of" (עַל־חַטֹּ֤אות, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: which, wherewith. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Kings. Unique to this verse in I Kings (hapax): "for·the·sins·of" (עַל־חַטֹּ֤אות), "in·his·anger" (בְּכַעְס֕וֹ), "he·provoked" (הִכְעִ֔יס). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "which" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "Israel" (root ישראל, 120x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: עַל־חַטֹּ֤אות [for·the·sins·of] (524) + יָֽרׇבְעָם֙ [Jeroboam] (322) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [which] (501) + חָטָ֔א [sinned] (18) + וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר [and·wherewith] (507) + הֶחֱטִ֖יא [he·made·to·sin] (33) + אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (942) + בְּכַעְס֕וֹ [in·his·anger] (158) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [wherewith] (501) + הִכְעִ֔יס [he·provoked] (165) + אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (427) + אֱלֹהֵ֥י [the·God·of] (46) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 4685.
Metzudat David
In his anger. Meaning: that he knew his Master, and intended to anger Him and rebel against Him.
Malbim
Regarding the sin of Jeroboam: 1. That he sinned; 2. That he caused others to sin; 3. That he provoked [God] to anger, for he acted with the intent to provoke [Him] to anger.
Now the rest of the acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
verse value 3811
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "Nadab" (נָדָ֖ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·all·that" (וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·all·that" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "of·the·kings·of" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "words·of" (root דבר, 191x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'did', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֛תֶר [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + נָדָ֖ב [Nadab] (56) + וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר [and·all·that] (557) + עָשָׂ֑ה [did] (375) + הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם [not·they] (81) + כְּתוּבִ֗ים [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 3811.
And there was war between Asa and Baasa king of Israel all their days.
verse value 1900
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 39 letters. Verse gematria: 1900 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "between" (בֵּ֣ין, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·Israel" (מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 62: between, Asa. The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Israel" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "was" (root היה, 196x in I Kings); "between" (root בין, 107x in I Kings). Full calculation: וּמִלְחָמָ֨ה [and·battle] (129) + הָיְתָ֜ה [was] (420) + בֵּ֣ין [between] (62) + אָסָ֗א [Asa] (62) + וּבֵ֛ין [and·between] (68) + בַּעְשָׁ֥א [Baasa] (373) + מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [king·Israel] (631) + כׇּל־יְמֵיהֶֽם [all·their·days] (155) = 1900.
Metzudat David
And there was war. Although it was already said above, he comes now to say: even though Asa was completely righteous, and Baasha did well to destroy the house of Jeroboam -- despite all this Asa did not refrain from fighting with him; for which he too did evil, as will be said below; and it was not counted to him as merit what he destroyed of the house of Jeroboam.
Malbim
The Questions: Regarding what is written, “And there was war,” which was already mentioned above in verse 16, why is it repeated?
(32–34) “And there was war”—this was already mentioned in verse 16; here, however, it comes to explain the cause of the war. For after Baasha struck down the house of Jeroboam, who had rebelled against Solomon, it would have been fitting for Asa to be his friend. Yet the cause of the war was because:
In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasa the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty and four years.
verse value 4775
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 59 letters. The shortest word is "three" (שָׁלֹ֔שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "over·all·Israel" (עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: king, he·reigned. The root שנה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 341x in I Kings); "over·all·Israel" (root על, 127x in I Kings); "son·of·Ahijah" (root בין, 107x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 8 words. Full calculation: בִּשְׁנַ֣ת [in·year·of] (752) + שָׁלֹ֔שׁ [three] (630) + לְאָסָ֖א [of·Asa] (92) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + מָ֠לַ֠ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + בַּעְשָׁ֨א [Baasa] (373) + בֶן־אֲחִיָּ֤ה [son·of·Ahijah] (76) + עַל־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ [over·all·Israel] (691) + בְּתִרְצָ֔ה [in·Tirzah] (697) + עֶשְׂרִ֥ים [twenty] (620) + וְאַרְבַּ֖ע [four] (279) + שָׁנָֽה [year] (355) = 4775.
Rashi
In the third year of Asa, king of Judah, Baasha reigned. The third year of Asa is counted to Nadab and to Baasha.
Radak
In the third year of Asa, Baasha reigned. How could this be? Was not this war, in which Baasha fought against Asa and built Ramah, in the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, as it says in Chronicles? And Baasha did not reign for more than twenty-four years. If Baasha reigned in the third year of Asa, then Baasha died in the twenty-seventh year of Asa. How, then, can it be said that he built Ramah in the thirty-sixth year of Asa? Rather, the explanation is: “In the third year” means in the third year that Asa began to wage war against the kings of Israel. He first fought against Nadab, son of Jeroboam. In the third year of this period, Baasha reigned and fought against Asa, as it says, “And there was war between Asa and Baasha all their days.” This war, in which Baasha went up and built Ramah, was in the twenty-third year of Baasha’s reign, which corresponds to the thirty-sixth year from the beginning of Asa’s reign, and it is the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth year of Asa’s wars. For the second year of Nadab, son of Jeroboam, was also counted for Baasha, because the year was not completed for him. And the ten years during which the land was quiet at the beginning of Asa’s reign, as it says in Chronicles, were not counted for Nadab, son of Jeroboam. Two of those years were in the days of Jeroboam, and for eight years Nadab did not reign over Israel. And if he did reign, his reign was not established, and they were not counted for him. In the second year after the ten years, Nadab reigned a complete reign and fought against Asa. This is what is meant by “Nadab, son of Jeroboam, reigned over Israel in the second year of Asa,” namely, in the second year of Asa’s wars. In the eleventh year of his [Asa’s] reign, his wars began. And all the calculations mentioned in this book regarding Asa are not from the beginning of his reign, but from the beginning of his wars. And the calculations mentioned in Chronicles are from the beginning of his reign. Proof for our words is that in the calculations of Chronicles it says “of the reign of Asa,” whereas in the calculations of this book it says “of Asa.” In Seder Olam it is stated that this war, in which Baasha built Ramah, was in the sixteenth year of Asa, one year after the war with the Cushites. And the number thirty-six mentioned in Chronicles is from the death of Solomon. For when Solomon married the daughter of Pharaoh in the fourth year of his reign, it was decreed that the kingdom of the House of David would be divided for thirty-six years, corresponding to those thirty-six years that Solomon was Pharaoh’s son-in-law. And the kingdom of the House of David was destined to return in the sixteenth year of Asa, when the thirty-six years for Solomon were completed. But because Asa sinned in the war with Baasha, relying on the king of Aram and sending him the treasures of the House of the Lord, and did not rely on the Lord, the kingdom of the House of David did not return, and it remained divided as it was. And according to the words of the author of Seder Olam, the verse stated in Chronicles, “And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa,” would be difficult, for according to his view, Asa’s war was before the thirty-fifth year.
Metzudat David
In the third year to Asa. That year is counted both to Nadab and to Baasha; for in that year he killed Nadab; and he reigned immediately.
Twenty , etc. And they were partial.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Hashem, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
verse value 3351
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 51 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "the·evil" (הָרַ֖ע, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·in·his·purgation·offering" (וּ֨בְחַטָּאת֔וֹ, 7 letters). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "wherewith" (root אשר, 375x in I Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 254x in I Kings); "and·did" (root עשה, 143x in I Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + הָרַ֖ע [the·evil] (275) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ [and·went] (66) + בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ [in·way·of] (226) + יָרׇבְעָ֔ם [Jeroboam] (322) + וּ֨בְחַטָּאת֔וֹ [and·in·his·purgation·offering] (432) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [wherewith] (501) + הֶחֱטִ֖יא [he·made·to·sin] (33) + אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (942) = 3351.
Malbim
And he did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the way of Jeroboam; and therefore Asa the righteous hated him, in accordance with the verse, “Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?” [Psalm 139:21]—and he waged war against him.
Rashi
Radak
Metzudat David
Malbim