Abijah stands on mount Zemaraim, outnumbered two to one, and preaches at Jeroboam’s army: you have golden calves and priests made from whomever comes to consecrate himself; we have the sons of Aaron, the showbread, the lamps — 'And, behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight you not against Hashem.' Surrounded front and rear, Judah cries out, the priests sound, and 'the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon Hashem, the God of their fathers.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
verse value 2424
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 38 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּ֖ה) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "in·year·of" (בִּשְׁנַ֛ת, 4 letters) and the longest is "over·Judah" (עַל־יְהוּדָֽה, 7 letters). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "over·Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 77x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jeroboam', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: בִּשְׁנַ֛ת [in·year·of] (752) + שְׁמוֹנֶ֥ה [eight] (401) + עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [-teen] (575) + לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ [of·the·king] (120) + יָרׇבְעָ֑ם [Jeroboam] (322) + וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + אֲבִיָּ֖ה [Abijah] (18) + עַל־יְהוּדָֽה [over·Judah] (130) = 2424.
Metzudat David
'In the eighteenth year' — for Jeroboam and Rehoboam began to reign at the same time, and Rehoboam died in the seventeenth year of his reign; and in the following year Abijah began to reign, which was the eighteenth year of Jeroboam.
Three years reigned he in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
verse value 4037
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 70 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּ֖ה) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "he·reigned" (מָלַךְ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "daughter·of·Uriel" (בַת־אוּרִיאֵ֖ל, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "daughter·of·Uriel" (בַת־אוּרִיאֵ֖ל), "from·Gibeah" (מִן־גִּבְעָ֑ה). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·reigned" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "was" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "in·Jerusalem" (root ירושלם, 127x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root מיכיהו ("Micaiah") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·Gibeah', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Rashi
Three years he reigned in Jerusalem and no more, as is proven in I Kings (15:9): “And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, Asa reigned over Judah.” We find that he did not reign even three whole years. Micaiah the daughter of Uriel And above (11:20), he calls her by a different name, Maacah the daughter of Absalom, and in I Kings (15:10), it is likewise written “Maacah the daughter of Absalom.” Micaiah the daughter of Uriel was her [real] name, and here he calls her thus because this is the genealogical record of Judah. In Kings, which is the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, he calls her by her nickname, Maacah the daughter of Absalom. Now, for this reason, they nicknamed her Maacah, rather than call her by her real name, Micaiah, (and the name of her father was Uriel Abishalom). She was called by the name of her daughter-in-law, who was a valiant woman, a heroic woman, as it is written (below 15:16): “And also Maacah the mother of King Asa he removed from being queen,” and in honor of her daughter-in-law, they called the mother-in-law by the daughter-in-law’s name. So it is explained in Yerushalmi (unknown). Now this tradition is in the name of Rabbi Eliezer, and he told me this in the name of his father, and so I found in his father’s commentary: Wherever a “vav” is added to the name of a woman, this is to her praise, like Athaliah (below 22: 12): “and Athaliah reigned over the land,” for she was a valiant woman; similarly Jecaliah (ibid. 26:3) and Jecaliahu (II Kings 15:2), because she was a heroic woman, for Amaziah her husband fled to Lachish and was there fifteen years until he died, and she judged the people all those fifteen years, and later, when he died, they crowned his son Uzziah after him at the age of sixteen.
Metzudat David
'Micaiah the daughter of Uriel' — she is Maacah the daughter of Abishalom mentioned above; she and her father each had two names, and there are many such instances in this book.
Malbim
'And his mother's name was Micaiah' — yet above (11:19), and likewise in I Kings 15:2, she is called Maacah the daughter of Absalom. We must say that the name Micaiah was given to her after she became queen mother, and likewise they changed her father's name to Uriel, as an honor. 'And there was war [between Abijah and Jeroboam]' — the war between Abijah and Jeroboam is mentioned in I Kings 15:7 in brief, whereas here it is told at length.
Cross-references: I Kings 15:2; I Kings 15:3; I Kings 15:6
And Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men; and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor.
verse value 5180
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 93 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּ֜ה) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "thousand" (אֶ֖לֶף, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·battle" (אֶת־הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 311: man, man. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·joined" (וַיֶּאְסֹ֨ר), "the·battle" (אֶת־הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה), "he·arrayed" (עָרַ֤ךְ). The root מלחמה appears 3 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "with·him" (root עם, 149x in II Chronicles); "thousand" (root אלף, 62x in II Chronicles); "hundred" (root מאה, 57x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root אסר ("and·he·joined") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root גבור ("mighty·of") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'chosen', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 11 words.
Ralbag
'And Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war' - This war is not related in detail in the Book of Kings. 'four hundred thousand chosen men' - Here Scripture does not describe them as mighty men of valor, yet it does use that description for Jeroboam's men of war; all this is to teach that victory in battle belongs to Hashem. Indeed, you can see that Abijah's army numbered only four hundred thousand men, while Jeroboam's army numbered eight hundred thousand chosen men, all of them mighty men of valor - and nonetheless, Abijah's army defeated Jeroboam's army, so much so that they killed five hundred thousand of them, because they cried out to Hashem, and He answered them.
Metzudat David
'And Abijah joined battle' — the commander of an army is called one who 'binds,' because he stations the soldiers and binds them with orders concerning the conduct of the battle; so too, 'who shall marshal the battle' (I Kings 20:14).
And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, and said: ‘Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel;
verse value 3620
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 54 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּ֗ה) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "from·upon" (מֵעַל֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·all·Israel" (וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "to·mount" (לְהַ֣ר), "Zemaraim" (צְמָרַ֔יִם). The root הר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "and·all·Israel" (root כל, 113x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root אפרים ("Ephraim") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ephraim', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיָּ֣קׇם [and·he·stood·up] (156) + אֲבִיָּ֗ה [Abijah] (18) + מֵעַל֙ [from·upon] (140) + לְהַ֣ר [to·mount] (235) + צְמָרַ֔יִם [Zemaraim] (380) + אֲשֶׁ֖ר [that] (501) + בְּהַ֣ר [in·hill-country·of] (207) + אֶפְרָ֑יִם [Ephraim] (331) + וַיֹּ֕אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + שְׁמָע֖וּנִי [hear·me] (476) + יָרׇבְעָ֥ם [Jeroboam] (322) + וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [and·all·Israel] (597) = 3620.
Rashi
And Abijah arose For Abijah went to war against Jeroboam in Jeroboam’s territory on Mount Ephraim.
Metzudat David
'Upon mount Zemaraim' — meaning, at a spot even higher than the mountain itself.
Metzudat Zion
Zemaraim — A form of the word for 'height,' as in 'the top of the cedar' (Ezekiel 17:3) — that is, the branch that rises above all the rest.
ought you not to know that Hashem, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
verse value 3609
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 65 letters. Notable word values: "not" (הֲלֹ֤א) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֞י, 2 letters) and the longest is "over·Israel" (עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 36: not, to·him. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "kingdom" (מַמְלָכָ֧ה), "salt" (מֶֽלַח). The root ישראל appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "and·to·his·sons" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "the·God·of" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'for·ever', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Rashi
a covenant of salt with endurance and permanence. And now -
Ralbag
'a covenant of salt' - Salt preserves things from rot and spoilage; the intent here is that this covenant remains permanently in force, that the kingdom belongs to the house of David forever. Abijah related this entire account to Israel in order to draw their hearts to him, so that they would abandon the abominations of Jeroboam and return to Hashem their God; and Abijah did not wish for them to die, but rather that they repent of the abominations that Jeroboam had introduced among them, and return to Hashem their God and to the offspring of David, who was rightfully entitled to rule over them.
Metzudat David
'Ought you not to know' — meaning, do you not all know? 'A covenant of salt' — by the making of a covenant that endures, like salt, which endures and does not spoil.
Malbim
'That Hashem [gave the kingdom to David]' — meaning, the kingship of the house of David has a strong root at its very foundation: first, that it comes to him from Hashem; second, that it was given to him and to his sons; third, that it was given to him by a covenant of salt. For just as salt never spoils, so too the kingship will never be discontinued, even if his sons sin — as it is said, "If his children forsake My Torah," and so on, "yet My kindness I will not take from him."
Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord.
verse value 1549
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 39 letters. The shortest word is "servant·of" (עֶ֖בֶד, 3 letters) and the longest is "against·his·lord" (עַל־אֲדֹנָֽיו, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 76: servant·of, son·of·David. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "servant·of" (עֶ֖בֶד), "and·he·rebelled" (וַיִּמְרֹ֖ד), "against·his·lord" (עַל־אֲדֹנָֽיו). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son·of·Nebat" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "Solomon" (root שלמה, 83x in II Chronicles); "servant·of" (root עבד, 54x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·David', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ [and·he·rose·up] (156) + יָרׇבְעָ֣ם [Jeroboam] (322) + בֶּן־נְבָ֔ט [son·of·Nebat] (113) + עֶ֖בֶד [servant·of] (76) + שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה [Solomon] (375) + בֶן־דָּוִ֑יד [son·of·David] (76) + וַיִּמְרֹ֖ד [and·he·rebelled] (260) + עַל־אֲדֹנָֽיו [against·his·lord] (171) = 1549.
Rashi
Jeroboam, etc. the servant of Solomon the son of David, arose, etc. and a great stigma is attached to this.
Malbim
'Yet [Jeroboam the son of Nebat rose up]' — the beginning of Jeroboam's kingship was like a root out of parched ground: first, he was a rebellious servant; second, the men who gathered about him were worthless men; third, "and they emboldened themselves" — for there is a difference between "strengthening" and "emboldening": strengthening is in actual deed, while emboldening is in the heart [alone]. That is, they did not overpower [Rehoboam] in actual battle, but only emboldened themselves in their hearts to show him a brazen face; and had he fought against them, he would have overpowered them, except that he was young and tenderhearted and did not stand firm before them. So [Abijah argues]: you have therefore not [truly] proven that the sons of David cannot overpower you in a time of war.
And there were gathered to him vain men, base fellows who strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and faint-hearted, and could not withstand them.
verse value 4383
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 79 letters. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·strengthened·themselves" (וַיִּֽתְאַמְּצ֖וּ, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "vain" (רֵקִים֙), "worthlessness" (בְלִיַּ֔עַל), "and·they·strengthened·themselves" (וַיִּֽתְאַמְּצ֖וּ). The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "was" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "before·them" (root פנים, 116x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root קבץ ("and·they·were·gathered") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Solomon', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Rashi
And there gathered to him worthless wicked. and they overwhelmed Rehoboam the son of Solomon and Rehoboam was young and soft-hearted and since they found in him humility and soft- heartedness, they overwhelmed him. young - Heb. נַעַר. Although he was forty-one years old when he reigned, he is called a youth (נַעַר), as I explained above (I Chron. 22:5) in regards to Solomon.
Metzudat David
'Was young' — meaning, lacking in courage, like a youth in years. 'And faint-hearted' — the opposite of hard-hearted; meaning, he was afraid to go down into battle. 'And could not withstand them' — could not muster the strength to take the kingdom back from Jeroboam's hand.
Metzudat Zion
Vain men — Lowly and empty of any worth. Base fellows [belial] — [Formed from] 'without yoke' — meaning that they had cast off the yoke of Heaven. Strengthened themselves — They grew strong.
And now you think to withstand the kingdom of Hashem in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.
verse value 5048
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 83 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "great" (רָ֔ב, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·strengthen" (לְהִתְחַזֵּק֙, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "kingdom·of" (מַמְלֶ֣כֶת), "calves·of" (עֶגְלֵ֣י). The root אתם appears 2 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "sons·of" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'David', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 11 words.
Metzudat David
'In the hand of the sons of David' — which was placed in the hand of the sons of David. 'And you are a great multitude' — meaning, if your confidence rests on the fact that you are a great multitude — behold, you carry with you the sin of the golden calves, and you will not be able to stand, however great a multitude you are.
Metzudat Zion
Multitude — This means abundance; and for further clarification it says 'great.'
Malbim
And now you think to withstand – In actual practice, by means of war. the kingdom of Hashem – And Hashem is with them to help them; so what is your strength? If it is by sheer numbers, you are nothing but a large, unorganized mob — not a kingdom with trained soldiers. And if it is by the help of God, to whom the war belongs, why, you have with you the golden calves! And do not say that you are not idolaters, but that this is merely a form of service to Hashem which He will accept — that is not so; for what Jeroboam made for you were gods, made in the name of a deity. He now proves this with evidence: (1) from the side of the worshippers —
Have you not driven out the priests of Hashem, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the peoples of other lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same becomes a priest of those who are no gods.
verse value 5187
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 100 letters. Notable word values: "not" (הֲלֹ֤א) = 36, double chai. Verse gematria: 5187 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "not" (הֲלֹ֤א, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·priests·of" (אֶת־כֹּהֲנֵ֣י, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: Hashem, and·he·becomes. 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "you·drove·out" (הִדַּחְתֶּם֙), "the·priests·of" (אֶת־כֹּהֲנֵ֣י), "and·you·made" (וַתַּעֲשׂ֨וּ). The root כהן appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "the·sons·of" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "gods" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root אהרן ("Aaron") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root פר ("in·young·bull") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·the·Levites', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 16 words.
Rashi
like the peoples of the lands Whoever wishes to come and be initiated to be a priest to a golden calf, shall bring a young bull and seven rams, and be accepted. to initiate himself - Heb. לְמַלֵּא יָדוֹ. To differentiate between impure and pure, similar to (Exod. 29:29): “to be anointed and initiated (וּלְמַלֵּא בָם אֶת יָדָם) through them.”
Metzudat David
'Have you not driven out' — through you they were driven from their place and came to settle with me, because you did not allow them to come and serve in the House of Hashem. 'Whoever comes' — anyone who wishes to induct himself into the service. 'With a young bullock,' etc. — becomes a priest to the golden calves.
Metzudat Zion
To consecrate himself [lit. 'fill his hand'] — This means induction/dedication, as in 'and you shall consecrate them' (Exodus 28:41).
Malbim
Have you not driven out the priests of Hashem – [this fulfills point one]. (2) From the side of the service itself: whoever comes to consecrate himself with a bullock is not following the service ordained by Hashem. (3) From the side of the object of worship: he becomes a priest of that which is no god.
But as for us, Hashem is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; and we have priests ministering to Hashem, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work;
verse value 2511
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 61 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֥ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "and·not" (וְלֹ֣א, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·we" (וַאֲנַ֛חְנוּ, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "we·forsook·Him" (עֲזַבְנֻ֑הוּ), "and·priests" (וְכֹ֨הֲנִ֜ים), "in·the·work" (בַּמְלָֽאכֶת). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "sons·of" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "our·God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'we·forsook·Him', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַאֲנַ֛חְנוּ [and·we] (121) + יְהֹוָ֥ה [Hashem] (26) + אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ [our·God] (102) + וְלֹ֣א [and·not] (37) + עֲזַבְנֻ֑הוּ [we·forsook·Him] (140) + וְכֹ֨הֲנִ֜ים [and·priests] (131) + מְשָׁרְתִ֤ים [ministering] (990) + לַֽיהֹוָה֙ [to·Hashem] (56) + בְּנֵ֣י [sons·of] (62) + אַהֲרֹ֔ן [Aaron] (256) + וְהַלְוִיִּ֖ם [and·the·Levites] (97) + בַּמְלָֽאכֶת [in·the·work] (493) = 2511.
Rashi
engage in the work i.e., in their work; this one to sing, and that one to guard the gates, every man to his work, as David prepared it.
Ralbag
'But as for us, Hashem is our God, and we have not forsaken Him' - That is, as for us, indeed, Hashem is our God, and we have not forsaken Him. 'and the Levites in their work' - meaning, performing their service through song, instruments, and voice, to give thanks to Hashem, for He is good, for His kindness endures forever.
Metzudat David
'But as for us' — but as for us, Hashem is our God. 'The sons of Aaron' — they are the sons of Aaron. 'In their work' — they are engaged in the work incumbent upon them, singing in the House of Hashem.
Malbim
But as for us – If from the side of the object of worship: Hashem is our God. And if from the side of the worshippers: we have priests ministering, etc., and the Levites in their work — meaning the gatekeepers and the singers. And if from the side of the service itself —
and they burn to Hashem every morning and every evening burnt-offerings and sweet incense; the showbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with its lamps, to burn every evening; for we keep the charge of Hashem our God; but you have forsaken Him.
verse value 10385
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 132 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "bread" (לֶ֜חֶם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·in·the·evening·in·the·evening" (וּבָעֶֽרֶב־בָּעֶ֣רֶב, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 274: in·the·evening, in·the·evening. 11 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "in·the·morning·in·the·morning" (בַּבֹּֽקֶר־בַּבֹּ֣קֶר), "and·in·the·evening·in·the·evening" (וּבָעֶֽרֶב־בָּעֶ֣רֶב), "and·incense·of·spices" (וּקְטֹֽרֶת־סַמִּים֩). The root ערב appears 3 times in this verse. 21 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "our·God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles); "burnt-offerings" (root עלה, 83x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'our·God', dividing the verse into phrases of 21 and 3 words.
Metzudat David
'And they burn' — this refers back to the sons of Aaron. 'Every morning' — meaning, each and every morning. 'The showbread also set they in order' — and they arrange the row of the showbread. 'And the candlestick,' etc. — meaning, they are careful regarding the candlestick, to light its lamps every evening.
Metzudat Zion
Set in order — This refers to an [orderly] arrangement. And its lamps — Like small cups, in which the oil and wick are placed. To burn — To kindle, as in 'and the priest shall kindle wood on it' (Leviticus 6).
Malbim
and they burn to Hashem burnt-offerings, etc. – All in accordance with the commandments of the Torah; and this is the proof that we keep the charge of Hashem, according to the laws of the offerings set forth in the Torah. And from this, too, comes the sign that you have forsaken Him.
And, behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight you not against Hashem, the God of your fathers; for you shall not prosper.’
verse value 5272
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 88 letters. The shortest word is "sons·of" (בְּנֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·God·of·your·fathers" (אֱלֹהֵֽי־אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם, 10 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "with·us" (עִמָּ֨נוּ), "in·the·head" (בָרֹ֜אשׁ), "and·His·priests" (וְכֹהֲנָ֛יו). The root אלהים appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·people·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "sons·of" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root רוע ("to·shout") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'against·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
'At our head' — to go at the head of the battle. 'To sound an alarm against you' — to raise our remembrance for good, as it is written, 'And when you go to war ... then you shall sound an alarm ... and you shall be remembered ...' (Numbers 10:9).
Malbim
And, behold – Accordingly, these three things go before us at our head: (1) God; (2) His ministering priests; (3) the trumpets with which we sound the blast at the time of service. And with these three we shall sound against you the blast of victory, for your war is against Hashem, and you shall not succeed.
But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them; so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
verse value 2182
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 54 letters. The shortest word is "he·turned" (הֵסֵב֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·ambush" (אֶת־הַמַּאְרָ֔ב, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 304: from·behind·them, from·behind·them. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "he·turned" (הֵסֵב֙), "the·ambush" (אֶת־הַמַּאְרָ֔ב), "and·the·ambush" (וְהַמַּאְרָ֖ב). The root מארב appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·come" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles); "and·they·were" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·behind·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְיָרׇבְעָ֗ם [and·Jeroboam] (328) + הֵסֵב֙ [he·turned] (67) + אֶת־הַמַּאְרָ֔ב [the·ambush] (649) + לָב֖וֹא [to·come] (39) + מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם [from·behind·them] (304) + וַיִּֽהְיוּ֙ [and·they·were] (37) + לִפְנֵ֣י [to·face·of] (170) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + וְהַמַּאְרָ֖ב [and·the·ambush] (254) + מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶֽם [from·behind·them] (304) = 2182.
Metzudat David
'Caused an ambushment to come about' — he concealed men in ambush and maneuvered the ambushers around to come up behind the men of Judah. 'So they were' — Jeroboam and the people who were with him.
And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried to Hashem, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
verse value 2988
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 70 letters. Verse gematria: 2988 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "to·them" (לָהֶ֤ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·priests" (וְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·back" (וְאָח֔וֹר), "and·they·cried" (וַֽיִּצְעֲק֖וּ). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles); "face" (root פנים, 116x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words.
Metzudat David
'The battle' — the men of war. 'Sounded' — they were sounding trumpets, and for further clarification Scripture adds, 'with the trumpets.'
Malbim
and they cried out – This refers to the three things he listed in verse 12: (1) to Hashem; (2) the priests; (3) the trumpets of alarm. And through these, the men of Judah shouted and were victorious by the power of Hashem.
Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
verse value 3076
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 70 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּ֖ה) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "man·of" (אִ֣ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·all·Israel" (וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 311: man·of, man·of. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·shouted" (וַיָּרִ֖יעוּ), "in·shouting" (בְּהָרִ֙יעַ֙), "and·God" (וְהָאֱלֹהִ֗ים). The root יהודה appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles); "and·it·came·to·pass" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 11 words. Full calculation: וַיָּרִ֖יעוּ [and·they·shouted] (302) + אִ֣ישׁ [man·of] (311) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + וַיְהִ֗י [and·it·came·to·pass] (31) + בְּהָרִ֙יעַ֙ [in·shouting] (287) + אִ֣ישׁ [man·of] (311) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + וְהָאֱלֹהִ֗ים [and·God] (97) + נָגַ֤ף [he·smote] (133) + אֶת־יָֽרׇבְעָם֙ [Jeroboam] (723) + וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [and·all·Israel] (597) + לִפְנֵ֥י [to·face·of] (170) + אֲבִיָּ֖ה [Abijah] (18) + וִיהוּדָֽה [and·Judah] (36) = 3076.
Metzudat David
'Gave a shout' — a shout of triumph, for they trusted in Hashem that they would win the battle. 'Smote' — struck and weakened.
And the children of Israel fled before Judah; and God delivered them into their hand.
verse value 1599
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 37 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. Verse gematria: 1599 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "from·face·of" (מִפְּנֵ֣י, 4 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Israel" (בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·fled" (וַיָּנ֥וּסוּ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·Israel" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles); "Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיָּנ֥וּסוּ [and·they·fled] (138) + בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [sons·of·Israel] (603) + מִפְּנֵ֣י [from·face·of] (180) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם [and·he·gave·them] (506) + אֱלֹהִ֖ים [God] (86) + בְּיָדָֽם [in·their·hand] (56) = 1599.
Malbim
and God delivered them – After the flight, Hashem delivered them into their hand a second time, so that they struck down five hundred thousand of them.
And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter; so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
verse value 2765
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 54 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּ֥ה) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "in·them" (בָהֶ֛ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "five·hundred" (חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·they·fell" (וַיִּפְּל֤וּ), "slain" (חֲלָלִים֙), "five·hundred" (חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·his·people" (root עם, 149x in II Chronicles); "from·Israel" (root ישראל, 140x in II Chronicles); "thousand" (root אלף, 62x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root נכה ("and·they·smote") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root נפל ("and·they·fell") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'great', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיַּכּ֥וּ [and·they·smote] (42) + בָהֶ֛ם [in·them] (47) + אֲבִיָּ֥ה [Abijah] (18) + וְעַמּ֖וֹ [and·his·people] (122) + מַכָּ֣ה [slaughter] (65) + רַבָּ֑ה [great] (207) + וַיִּפְּל֤וּ [and·they·fell] (132) + חֲלָלִים֙ [slain] (118) + מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [from·Israel] (581) + חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת [five·hundred] (795) + אֶ֖לֶף [thousand] (111) + אִ֥ישׁ [man] (311) + בָּחֽוּר [chosen] (216) = 2765.
Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon Hashem, the God of their fathers.
verse value 2645
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 59 letters. The shortest word is "because" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Israel" (בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: Judah, because. The root בן appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "above·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "sons·of·Israel" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "the·God·of" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root שען ("they·relied") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'that', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַיִּכָּנְע֥וּ [and·they·were·humbled] (162) + בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [sons·of·Israel] (603) + בָּעֵ֣ת [in·the·time] (472) + הַהִ֑יא [that] (21) + וַיֶּֽאֶמְצוּ֙ [and·they·prevailed] (153) + בְּנֵ֣י [sons·of] (62) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + כִּ֣י [because] (30) + נִשְׁעֲנ֔וּ [they·relied] (476) + עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה [above·Hashem] (126) + אֱלֹהֵ֥י [the·God·of] (46) + אֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽם [their·fathers] (464) = 2645.
Malbim
were brought under...prevailed – He explains that the victory came neither through an army nor through strength; rather, Israel was subdued, and Judah's hearts were strengthened, through the mighty support on which they relied — namely, Hashem.
And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its towns, and Jeshanah with its towns, and Ephrain with its towns.
verse value 6457
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 82 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּה֮) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּה֮, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·its·towns" (וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֔יהָ, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 880: and·its·towns, and·its·towns. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·pursued" (וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף), "Bethel" (אֶת־בֵּֽית־אֵל֙), "and·Jeshanah" (וְאֶת־יְשָׁנָ֖ה). The root בת appears 3 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Bethel" (root בית, 191x in II Chronicles); "cities" (root עיר, 89x in II Chronicles); "after" (root אחר, 40x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·its·towns', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּרְדֹּ֣ף [and·he·pursued] (300) + אֲבִיָּה֮ [Abijah] (18) + אַחֲרֵ֣י [after] (219) + יָרׇבְעָם֒ [Jeroboam] (322) + וַיִּלְכֹּ֤ד [and·he·captured] (70) + מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ [from·him] (136) + עָרִ֔ים [cities] (320) + אֶת־בֵּֽית־אֵל֙ [Bethel] (844) + וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֔יהָ [and·its·towns] (880) + וְאֶת־יְשָׁנָ֖ה [and·Jeshanah] (772) + וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֶ֑יהָ [and·its·towns] (880) + וְאֶת־(עפרון) [and·(ketiv)] (813) + עֶפְרַ֖יִן [Ephrain] (410) + וּבְנֹתֶֽיהָ [and·its·towns] (473) = 6457.
Metzudat Zion
Its towns [lit. 'daughters'] — The villages adjacent to it.
Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah; and Hashem smote him, and he died.
verse value 1505
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 39 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "again" (ע֖וֹד, 3 letters) and the longest is "strength·of·Jeroboam" (כֹּֽחַ־יָרׇבְעָ֛ם, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·not·he·restrained" (וְלֹֽא־עָצַ֧ר), "strength·of·Jeroboam" (כֹּֽחַ־יָרׇבְעָ֛ם), "and·he·smote·him" (וַיִּגְּפֵ֥הוּ). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "in·days·of" (root יום, 71x in II Chronicles); "and·he·died" (root מות, 33x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root כח ("strength·of·Jeroboam") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Abijah', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְלֹֽא־עָצַ֧ר [and·not·he·restrained] (397) + כֹּֽחַ־יָרׇבְעָ֛ם [strength·of·Jeroboam] (350) + ע֖וֹד [again] (80) + בִּימֵ֣י [in·days·of] (62) + אֲבִיָּ֑הוּ [Abijah] (24) + וַיִּגְּפֵ֥הוּ [and·he·smote·him] (110) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + וַיָּמֹֽת [and·he·died] (456) = 1505.
Rashi
And Jeroboam could muster no more strength, etc., and the Lord smote him i.e., Jeroboam. and he died He did not die immediately, but continuously deteriorated because of the wars, and in Genesis Rabbah (65:20), it is explained that the Lord smote Abijah.
Ralbag
Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah - This means that Jeroboam no longer had the strength left to make war against Abijah, because most of his mighty men had died. and Hashem smote him, and he died - We know that he actually lived two more years after Abijah did. So the meaning here is that from the depth of his distress, growing weak and losing his strength, he died before his time - similar to what is said of Nabal: 'and Hashem smote Nabal, and he died' (I Samuel 25:38).
Metzudat David
'Neither did he recover strength' – He was no longer able to grow strong again in the days of Abijah. 'And he died' – Meaning: he remained stricken and subdued until he died, in the days of Asa, [Abijah's] son.
Metzudat Zion
Recover — This means a holding back, i.e., a retaining [of power].
Malbim
and Hashem smote him – Our Sages, of blessed memory, explain that it was Abijah who was struck down, because he did not abolish the calf at Beth-el, and they give other reasons as well. But according to the plain sense, this refers to Jeroboam: he no longer recovered his strength, and from then on he became ill. Even though he lived another year after Abijah, he was afflicted with a severe illness. Abijah, for his part, grew strong and took more wives, until all his wives numbered fourteen; and this is why it was said earlier (11:23), 'he sought a multitude of wives,' following the second explanation given there.
But Abijah waxed mighty, and took to himself fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons, and sixteen daughters.
verse value 4979
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 59 letters. Verse gematria: 4979 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "and·six" (וְשֵׁ֥שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·he·strengthened·himself" (וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 575: -teen, -teen. The root עשר appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "and·he·strengthened·himself" (root חזק, 40x in II Chronicles); "-teen" (root עשר, 36x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on '-teen', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק [and·he·strengthened·himself] (531) + אֲבִיָּ֔הוּ [Abijah] (24) + וַיִּ֨שָּׂא־ל֔וֹ [and·he·took·to·him] (353) + נָשִׁ֖ים [wives] (400) + אַרְבַּ֣ע [four] (273) + עֶשְׂרֵ֑ה [-teen] (575) + וַיּ֗וֹלֶד [and·he·begot] (56) + עֶשְׂרִ֤ים [twenty] (620) + וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ [and·two] (406) + בָּנִ֔ים [sons] (102) + וְשֵׁ֥שׁ [and·six] (606) + עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [-teen] (575) + בָּנֽוֹת [daughters] (458) = 4979.
Metzudat David
'But Abijah waxed mighty' – Once he had grown strong in his kingship, he took wives for himself, etc.
And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.
verse value 2496
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 43 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּ֔ה) = 18, chai, 'life'. Verse gematria: 2496 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Iddo" (עִדּֽוֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·his·ways" (וּדְרָכָ֖יו, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "in·commentary·of" (בְּמִדְרַ֖שׁ), "Iddo" (עִדּֽוֹ). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "acts·of" (root דבר, 108x in II Chronicles); "written" (root כתב, 29x in II Chronicles); "and·his·ways" (root דרך, 26x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·his·sayings', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֣י [acts·of] (216) + אֲבִיָּ֔ה [Abijah] (18) + וּדְרָכָ֖יו [and·his·ways] (246) + וּדְבָרָ֑יו [and·his·sayings] (228) + כְּתוּבִ֕ים [written] (478) + בְּמִדְרַ֖שׁ [in·commentary·of] (546) + הַנָּבִ֥יא [the·prophet] (68) + עִדּֽוֹ [Iddo] (80) = 2496.
Metzudat David
'in the commentary' – In the book of the Midrash of the prophet Iddo; it is called by this name because in it the account of the kings' affairs was expounded (darash).
Malbim
the acts of Abijah – In Kings it says that the acts of Abijah and all that he did are written in the book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah — meaning his wars; whereas Ezra says that his ways and his sayings are written in the commentary of Iddo, which is a different book.
So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead; in his days the land was quiet ten years.
verse value 4720
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 69 letters. Notable word values: "Abijah" (אֲבִיָּ֜ה) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "him" (אֹתוֹ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֗יו, 7 letters). 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·reigned" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "his·son" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "with·his·fathers" (root אב, 114x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root אסא ("Asa") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root שקט ("she·was·quiet") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·his·stead', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 5 words.
Ralbag
in his days the land was quiet ten years - This means that the land of Judah and Benjamin was quiet from all war, as we explained in the Book of Kings. This is the explanation of a matter that we chose to elaborate on specifically here, in this book, at this point - something we did not explain in the Book of Kings. Now, the lessons that emerge from this account, besides the lesson we already listed regarding it in the Book of Kings, are these:
The first lesson is to teach that a person should not begin a task if he will be unable to complete it; he should therefore first estimate, before beginning, whether he will be able to finish it. This is why it is told that Solomon did not undertake to build the Temple - given the difficulty of that work - until he had grown strong in his kingship, and Hashem had made him great above all the kings of the earth, and he reigned over all Israel in such a way that they were all thoroughly submissive to his command; only then was it fitting for him to undertake so great a work. Indeed, he still needed great help for it from the kings of the earth, particularly from Hiram king of Tyre, and he needed much help from Israel as well, as will become clear from the words of this account.
The second lesson is to teach that the Levites who sang, with instruments and with voice, stood east of the altar, toward the court of Israel, because their sanctity was lower than the sanctity of the priests. So too you will find, regarding things situated to the east, that their sanctity was lower than that of things situated to the west, as we discussed at length in Parashat Vayikra.
The third lesson is to publicize Hashem's providence over the good, and how His punishment extends over sinners. Thus you find it noted that at the time Rehoboam walked in the ways of Hashem, his kingdom kept growing stronger; but once he turned away from the ways of Hashem, Hashem delivered him into the hand of Shishak king of Egypt, and had he not humbled himself before Hashem, He would have destroyed his kingdom. For the same reason it is also noted that because Abijah and his people were, to some degree, following the commandments of Hashem - as is evident from Abijah's words to Jeroboam and to Israel - and they cried out to God in the midst of battle, Jeroboam's army fell into their hands, even though they were far more numerous and far stronger than Abijah's army. As for the remaining lessons, we have listed them all in the Book of Kings.
Metzudat David