The good reign sours in its last years. Against Baasha, Asa buys Aram’s help with the treasures of the house — and Hanani the seer names the failure: 'For the eyes of Hashem run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is whole toward Him. Herein you have done foolishly.' Asa rages, puts the seer in the stocks, and dies as he lived at the end: 'yet in his disease he sought not to Hashem, but to the physicians.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, 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 6184
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 79 letters. The shortest word is "to·give" (תֵּ֚ת, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Israel" (מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "so·as·not" (לְבִלְתִּ֗י), "to·give" (תֵּ֚ת). The root אסא appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of·Israel" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·to·come·in" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles); "against·Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root בעשא ("Baasa") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root רמה ("Ramah") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ramah', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 7 words.
Ralbag
In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa — this is [really] the sixteenth year of Asa's own reign, as we explained in the Book of Kings.
Metzudat David
'In the six and thirtieth year' – It is stated in Seder Olam that the war Baasa waged against Asa actually occurred in the sixteenth year of Asa (for Baasa did not live until the thirty-sixth year of Asa, as is written in I Kings). The count of thirty-six years is reckoned from the time the kingdom of the House of David was divided: Rehoboam reigned seventeen years, and Abijah his son reigned three years – so the thirty-six years were completed in Asa's sixteenth year. And since Solomon was Pharaoh's son-in-law for a span of thirty-six years (for he married her at the end of the fourth year of his reign, and reigned forty years in all, leaving thirty-six years as her husband), it was decreed, correspondingly, that the kingdom of the House of David would be divided – and it should rightfully have been reunited in Asa's sixteenth year. But because Asa relied on the king of Aram, as will be stated below, it was not reunited then. And what is written, "the reign of Asa," means the beginning of the [Judean] kingship within which Asa reigned – for that kingship, over the tribe of Judah alone, began in the days of Rehoboam, and from there it is thirty-six years. 'Ramah' – A high tower opposite the gates of Jerusalem, from which to hurl stones at anyone going out or coming in.
Malbim
'In the six and thirtieth year' — This is Asa's sixteenth year, one year after the war with the Ethiopians. 'And built Ramah' — It appears this was because he saw that many of his people had fallen away to Asa (as above, 15:9); he wanted to stop his own people from leaving for the land of Judah, and so he built Ramah to seal off his border, so that none could go out or come in to the land of Judah.
Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of Hashem and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Aram, who dwelt at Damascus, saying:
verse value 4058
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 68 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Asa" (אָסָ֜א, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Ben-hadad" (אֶל־בֶּן־הֲדַד֙, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "from·treasures·of" (מֵאֹ֥צְר֛וֹת), "to·Ben-hadad" (אֶל־בֶּן־הֲדַד֙), "the·one·dwelling" (הַיּוֹשֵׁ֥ב). The root בית appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "to·Ben-hadad" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root דרמשק ("in·Damascus") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·king', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Rashi
in Damascus And in I Kings (15:18) it is written, “Damesek,” and in another verse (II Kings 16: 10) it is written, “Dumesek.” It is all the same, an example being שׁוֹט, שֵׁבֶט, שַׁרְבִיט, whip, rod, scepter.
Metzudat Zion
Darmesek — This is the [same] Damascus mentioned in Kings I.
Malbim
'And sent to Ben-hadad' — It appears that Baasa had allied himself with Ben-hadad to fight Asa, and that they had made a covenant between them (as I will explain at verse 4), just as later, in the days of Ahaz, Aram and Ephraim joined together against Judah. Because of this Asa grew afraid and sent to him, saying:
’There is a league between me and you, as there was between my father and your father; behold, I have sent you silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasa king of Israel, that he may depart from me.’
verse value 4635
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 78 letters. Notable word values: "my·father" (אָבִ֖י) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֙, 2 letters) and the longest is "Baasa" (אֶת־בַּעְשָׁא֙, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 68: and·between, and·between. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "between·me" (בֵּינִ֣י), "and·between·you" (וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ), "break" (הָפֵ֣ר). The root בין appears 4 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 140x in II Chronicles); "my·father" (root אב, 114x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·father', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 13 words.
Metzudat David
'that he may depart from me' – Meaning, go and fight against him, so that he will withdraw from me.
Metzudat Zion
Break — This means annulment.
Malbim
'There is a league' — [Asa's message is:] if the reason you allied yourself with Baasa is the covenant you made with him, then there is also a covenant between me and you, and this covenant is even stronger, since it existed also between my father and your father — which was not the case with Baasa's father, who was a commoner. And if it is because he promised you silver and gold, then I too have sent you silver and gold. So go and break your covenant with Baasa — all the more so since I am not even asking you for help, only that you not help my enemy; then he will withdraw from me on his own, for he alone will not dare to fight me.
And Ben-hadad hearkened to king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali.
verse value 6889
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 93 letters. Verse gematria: 6889 = 83². The shortest word is "Asa" (אָסָ֗א, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·storehouses·of" (כׇּֽל־מִסְכְּנ֖וֹת, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 537: that·to·him, Ijon. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "Ben-hadad" (בֶּן־הֲדַ֜ד), "the·armies" (הַחֲיָלִ֤ים), "against·cities·of" (אֶל־עָרֵ֣י). The root עיר appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "Ben-hadad" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "that·to·him" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root מים ("maim") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'maim', dividing the verse into phrases of 16 and 4 words.
Metzudat Zion
Abelmaim — This is Abel-beth-maachah, mentioned in Kings I. Store-cities — Cities of treasuries, as in 'and he built store-cities' (Exodus 1:11).
Malbim
'And hearkened... and sent the captains of his armies' — This shows that he did not need to send additional troops, since the army of the king of Aram was already stationed there to help Baasa; he only sent the captains of the armies, who then ordered the troops already there to strike against Baasa.
And it came to pass, when Baasa heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease
verse value 3657
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "and·it·came·to·pass" (וַֽיְהִי֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "his·work" (אֶת־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "from·building" (מִבְּנ֖וֹת), "and·he·caused·to·cease" (וַיַּשְׁבֵּ֖ת), "his·work" (אֶת־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·came·to·pass" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "from·building" (root בנה, 60x in II Chronicles); "when·hearing" (root שמע, 49x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root חדל ("and·he·stopped") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ramah', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·came·to·pass] (31) + כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ [when·hearing] (430) + בַּעְשָׁ֔א [Baasa] (373) + וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל [and·he·stopped] (58) + מִבְּנ֖וֹת [from·building] (498) + אֶת־הָרָמָ֑ה [Ramah] (651) + וַיַּשְׁבֵּ֖ת [and·he·caused·to·cease] (718) + אֶת־מְלַאכְתּֽוֹ [his·work] (898) = 3657.
Metzudat Zion
Let cease — This means cessation, as in 'the oppressor has ceased' (Isaiah 14).
Malbim
'And let his work cease' — For he had also been engaged in other undertakings against the king of Judah, and he stopped all of them; and in Kings it says, 'and he dwelt in Tirzah,' meaning that he did nothing further at all.
Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasa had built; and he built Geba and Mizpah with them.
verse value 4550
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 72 letters. Verse gematria: 4550 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "he·took" (לָקַח֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·Judah" (אֶת־כׇּל־יְהוּדָ֔ה, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 68: and·Asa, and·he·built. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·Asa" (וְאָסָ֣א), "stones·of" (אֶת־אַבְנֵ֤י), "Ramah" (הָרָמָה֙). The root בנה appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles); "all·Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Baasa', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 4 words.
Malbim
'Then Asa' — built fortresses in those places to hold back the enemy. Ramah was near there, as it says (Judges 19:13), and so was Mizpah — which is why it says (Hosea 5:1), 'for you have been a snare at Mizpah,' since it was there that Baasa had wanted to stop anyone from going out or coming in to Judah.
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: ‘Because you have relied on the king of Aram, and have not relied on Hashem your God, therefore the host of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand.
verse value 4077
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 94 letters. The shortest word is "he·came" (בָּ֚א, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·your·relying" (בְּהִשָּׁ֨עֶנְךָ֜, 6 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "Hanani" (חֲנָ֣נִי), "the·seer" (הָרֹאֶ֔ה), "to·Asa" (אֶל־אָסָ֖א). The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "above·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "your·God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 14 words.
Rashi
therefore...escaped You did not prevail against them. Why not? Because you did not trust in the Holy One, blessed be He. For had you trusted in the Holy One, blessed be He, when the king of Israel and the king of Aram made a treaty against you, as you trusted in Him when the Cushites attacked you, they would not have escaped from your hand, and you would have defeated them all, and you would not have lost your money, which you gave him in order that he abrogate his treaty with Baasha. Now that you did not trust in the Holy One, blessed be He, you lost your money, and the king of Aram escaped from your hand.
Ralbag
Because you have relied on the king of Aram, etc. — meaning: had he not relied on the king of Aram, whose hand had been with Baasa, and had he instead relied on Hashem, may He be blessed, to fight against the king of Aram and Baasa who rose up against him, Hashem would have delivered the army of the king of Aram into his hand, just as Hashem, may He be blessed, delivered into his hand the army of the Cushites and the Libyans, who were even more numerous than this.
Metzudat David
'because you have relied' – Because you relied [on the king of Aram], the army therefore escaped, for they had been destined to fall into your hand.
Malbim
'Because you have relied' — Hanani told him: the fact that the army of Aram came there together with Baasa was from Hashem, so that He might deliver them into your hand; had you relied on Hashem, you would have conquered the army of Aram as well. But because you relied on the help of an adversary, it escaped from your hand.
Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because you relied on Hashem, He delivered them into your hand.
verse value 3207
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 66 letters. Notable word values: "not" (הֲלֹ֧א) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "not" (הֲלֹ֧א, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·Lubim" (וְהַלּוּבִ֗ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 36: not, in·your·hand. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·the·Lubim" (וְהַלּוּבִ֗ים), "to·host" (לְחַ֧יִל), "and·to·horsemen" (וּלְפָרָשִׁ֖ים). 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "above·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "they·were" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "he·gave·them" (root נתן, 116x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'very', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: הֲלֹ֧א [not] (36) + הַכּוּשִׁ֣ים [the·Ethiopians] (381) + וְהַלּוּבִ֗ים [and·the·Lubim] (99) + הָי֨וּ [they·were] (21) + לְחַ֧יִל [to·host] (78) + לָרֹ֛ב [in·abundance] (232) + לְרֶ֥כֶב [to·chariot] (252) + וּלְפָרָשִׁ֖ים [and·to·horsemen] (666) + לְהַרְבֵּ֣ה [to·multiply] (242) + מְאֹ֑ד [very] (45) + וּבְהִשָּׁעֶנְךָ֥ [and·in·your·relying] (453) + עַל־יְהֹוָ֖ה [above·Hashem] (126) + נְתָנָ֥ם [he·gave·them] (540) + בְּיָדֶֽךָ [in·your·hand] (36) = 3207.
Metzudat David
'and the Lubim' – They too came with Zerah the Cushite, even though this was not mentioned above. 'a huge host' – For gathering an army in abundance, and gathering chariots, etc.
Malbim
'Were not' — [Hanani continues:] why were you afraid? If it was because there were two kings against you, then in the war with Zerah, king of the Ethiopians, as well, the Ethiopians and the Lubim were two great peoples. And if it was because he had a great army, then they too had a very great army — that is, as far as sheer numbers went they were numerous, and so too with chariots and horsemen — and nevertheless, because you relied on Hashem, He delivered them into your hand.
For the eyes of Hashem run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is whole toward Him. Herein you have done foolishly; for from henceforth you shall have wars.’
verse value 5042
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 70 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·all·the·earth" (בְּכׇל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: for, for. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "his·eyes" (עֵינָ֞יו), "running·to·and·fro" (מְשֹׁטְט֤וֹת), "in·all·the·earth" (בְּכׇל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙). The root כי appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "with·you" (root עם, 149x in II Chronicles); "for" (root כי, 131x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'concerning·this', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 5 words.
Ralbag
to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is whole toward Him — meaning, those whose heart is whole toward Him. Herein you have done foolishly; for from henceforth you shall have wars — meaning: Hashem, may He be blessed, first gave your land rest from wars because of your trust in Him; and when wars did come upon you, He gave you success in them. But now, since you have not trusted in Him, you shall have wars, and you will not be helped in them by Hashem as you were helped before.
Metzudat David
'run to and fro' – Meaning, He watches over all. 'to show Himself strong' – To grant strength to those whose heart is whole toward Him, trusting in Him. 'you have done foolishly' – You became a fool on account of this. 'you shall have wars' – Meaning, wars are already being prepared to be waged against you.
Metzudat Zion
Run to and fro — This means moving and roaming from place to place, as in 'roam through the streets of Jerusalem' (Jeremiah 5:1). Done foolishly — A form of the words 'folly' and 'foolishness.'
Malbim
'For Hashem' — [Hanani continues:] and if you ask why Hashem brought those two kings against you in that earlier war, the answer is that this was by [divine] providence: first, to test you, whether your heart was whole with Him; second, so that if your heart proved whole, He would strengthen you to bring down great nations before you — hence the phrase, 'to show Himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is whole toward Him.' You therefore acted foolishly in not understanding this. So it was that until now you had no [true] war, for Hashem did not bring them against you for war, but only in order to bring them down before you. But now that Hashem has left you to nature alone, 'you shall have wars' — and you will have to depend on an arm of flesh.
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
verse value 3878
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "Asa" (אָסָ֜א, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·the·seer" (אֶל־הָרֹאֶ֗ה, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 62: Asa, Asa. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "to·the·seer" (אֶל־הָרֹאֶ֗ה), "the·stocks" (הַמַּהְפֶּ֔כֶת), "for·in·rage" (כִּֽי־בְזַ֥עַף). The root אסא appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "house·of" (root בית, 191x in II Chronicles); "with·him" (root עם, 149x in II Chronicles); "and·he·put·him" (root נתן, 116x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root כעס ("and·he·was·wroth") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root זעף ("for·in·rage") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'because·of·this', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּכְעַ֨ס [and·he·was·wroth] (166) + אָסָ֜א [Asa] (62) + אֶל־הָרֹאֶ֗ה [to·the·seer] (242) + וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙ [and·he·put·him] (477) + בֵּ֣ית [house·of] (412) + הַמַּהְפֶּ֔כֶת [the·stocks] (550) + כִּֽי־בְזַ֥עַף [for·in·rage] (189) + עִמּ֖וֹ [with·him] (116) + עַל־זֹ֑את [because·of·this] (508) + וַיְרַצֵּ֥ץ [and·he·oppressed] (396) + אָסָ֛א [Asa] (62) + מִן־הָעָ֖ם [from·the·people] (205) + בָּעֵ֥ת [in·the·time] (472) + הַהִֽיא [that] (21) = 3878.
Rashi
into the prison house - Heb. בֵּית הַמַּהְפֶּכֶת. A prison made of vaultwork, gewelb(e)t in Middle High German, vaulted (prison).
Ralbag
Then Asa was wroth with the seer — Because the prophet did not accord honor to the monarchy, as is the way of the prophets, who do not defer to royal honor in matters of prophecy, Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged with him over these harsh words that he had spoken. It appears that at that time some of Israel were speaking up for the prophet, telling the king that he ought not do this, and he crushed and broke them, out of his great anger over the prophet's words - that he had not accorded honor to the monarchy. Now at the end of his life he fell ill, measure for measure: he had refused to go out to fight against the king of Aram and Baasa, even though he had seen that he was helped through the name of Hashem when he trusted in Him - as though he had no legs [with which to go] - and so Hashem, may He be blessed, took from his feet the power to walk. And [the text] tells that in this matter too he sinned, in that he did not seek Hashem in his illness but relied on physicians; and it appears from this that had he sought Hashem, he would have found Him ready to remove this illness from him.
Metzudat David
'for he was in a rage with him' – For he was angry with him for having spoken this thing. 'the same time' – For his anger had so intensified that he oppressed some of the people as well, in his rage.
Metzudat Zion
The prison-house [lit. 'house of turning'] — This is a form of the word 'vault' [kippah] with the letters reversed; it is a place of imprisonment, like a vaulted cell. Oppressed — This means breaking, as in 'a bruised reed' (Isaiah 42).
Malbim
'Then Asa was wroth' — This seer did not speak these words to him by way of prophecy, in the name of Hashem, but by way of rebuke, out of reason and faith; that is why he is called by the term 'seer' (ro'eh). For there is a difference between a ro'eh and a chozeh: a chozeh perceives divine matters through vision, while a ro'eh looks through reason and the perception of the senses (as I explained in my commentary on Isaiah, chapter 30). Had he said this to him gently and respectfully, Asa would not have grown angry with him; rather, he grew angry because the seer was harsh with him about it — he spoke to him in anger, all but raising a hand against the king — and he also gathered to himself people who stood at his side against the king. Therefore Asa oppressed some of the people as well, because of this.
And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
verse value 3047
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 60 letters. The shortest word is "Asa" (אָסָ֔א, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·last" (וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִ֑ים, 9 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "the·first" (הָרִאשׁוֹנִ֖ים). The root הנה appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·kings" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·Israel" (root ישראל, 140x in II Chronicles); "of·Judah" (root יהודה, 129x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·the·last', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְהִנֵּה֙ [and·behold] (66) + דִּבְרֵ֣י [acts·of] (216) + אָסָ֔א [Asa] (62) + הָרִאשׁוֹנִ֖ים [the·first] (612) + וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִ֑ים [and·the·last] (326) + הִנָּ֤ם [behold·they] (95) + כְּתוּבִים֙ [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֣פֶר [in·book·of] (440) + הַמְּלָכִ֔ים [the·kings] (145) + לִיהוּדָ֖ה [of·Judah] (60) + וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל [and·Israel] (547) = 3047.
Metzudat David
'and Israel' – Even in the Annals of the Kings of Israel, the affairs of Asa are recounted.
Malbim
'First' — before this incident. 'and last' — afterward, when his steps faltered somewhat.
And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great; yet in his disease he sought not to Hashem, but to the physicians.
verse value 4847
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "but" (כִּ֖י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·also·in·his·sickness" (וְגַם־בְּחׇלְיוֹ֙, 8 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·was·diseased" (וַיֶּחֱלֶ֣א), "thirty" (שְׁלוֹשִׁ֨ים), "in·his·feet" (בְּרַגְלָ֔יו). The root חלי appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "but" (root כי, 131x in II Chronicles); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 77x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root תשע ("and·nine") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root חלי ("his·sickness") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·sickness', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיֶּחֱלֶ֣א [and·he·was·diseased] (55) + אָסָ֡א [Asa] (62) + בִּשְׁנַת֩ [in·year·of] (752) + שְׁלוֹשִׁ֨ים [thirty] (686) + וָתֵ֤שַׁע [and·nine] (776) + לְמַלְכוּתוֹ֙ [of·his·reign] (532) + בְּרַגְלָ֔יו [in·his·feet] (251) + עַד־לְמַ֖עְלָה [unto·exceedingly] (249) + חׇלְי֑וֹ [his·sickness] (54) + וְגַם־בְּחׇלְיוֹ֙ [and·also·in·his·sickness] (105) + לֹא־דָרַ֣שׁ [not·he·sought] (535) + אֶת־יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (427) + כִּ֖י [but] (30) + בָּרֹפְאִֽים [to·the·physicians] (333) = 4847.
Rashi
until his ailment spread upward The swelling in his feet spread from the sole of his foot to the top of his head.
Metzudat David
'his disease was exceeding great' – The illness of his feet intensified and rose upward, up to the crown of his head. 'he sought not' – To pray to Hashem. 'but to the physicians' – He placed his trust in the physicians alone.
Malbim
'His disease was exceeding great' — the illness rose up from his feet to the upper parts of his body. 'yet' — meaning that here too he sinned, in that he relied on natural means, which shows that his trust [in Hashem] was not whole.
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
verse value 3001
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "Asa" (אָסָ֖א, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו, 7 letters). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·his·reigning" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "with·his·fathers" (root אב, 114x in II Chronicles); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 77x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·his·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב [and·he·slept] (338) + אָסָ֖א [Asa] (62) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + וַיָּ֕מׇת [and·he·died] (456) + בִּשְׁנַ֛ת [in·year·of] (752) + אַרְבָּעִ֥ים [forty] (323) + וְאַחַ֖ת [and·one] (415) + לְמׇלְכֽוֹ [of·his·reigning] (126) = 3001.
And they buried him in his own sepulchers, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and divers kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great burning for him.
verse value 6900
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 98 letters. Verse gematria: 6900 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·laid·him" (וַיַּשְׁכִּיבֻ֗הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "in·his·graves" (בְקִבְרֹתָ֗יו), "he·hewed·for·him" (כָּרָה־לוֹ֮), "and·they·laid·him" (וַיַּשְׁכִּיבֻ֗הוּ). The root קבר appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles); "in·city·of" (root עיר, 89x in II Chronicles); "David" (root דוד, 68x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root שרפה ("burning") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'deed', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 4 words.
Rashi
and divers kinds These are kinds of spices, and the spices were prepared with the perfumer’s art, a mixture. The meaning is: prepared with the perfumer’s art. and they kindled an exceedingly great fire They burned good spices for him into ashes, and they scattered those ashes on him. Others explain this like (Abodah Zarah 11a): “We may burn for the kings.” Now what did they burn? Their biers and the utensils they used.
Ralbag
and divers kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers' art — meaning, kinds of blended spices.
Metzudat David
'which he had hewn out for himself' – He dug it for himself during his lifetime. 'divers kinds of spices prepared by the perfumers' art' – Mixed together in the work of a perfumer's compound – meaning, a blending of spices in the manner of a perfumer's craft. 'and they made a very great burning for him' – [They burned] his bed and his personal effects, for such was the custom, to make burnings for kings, as it says, "and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings" (Jeremiah 34).
Metzudat Zion
Hewn out — Dug, as in 'he has dug a pit' (Psalms 7:16). And divers kinds — Meaning many varieties; for [the phrase] 'every bird after its kind' (Genesis 7:14) is rendered by Targum as 'according to its kinds.' Prepared [by the perfumers' art] — This means the blending of spices, as in 'or that makes any like it [by blending]' (Exodus 30:33). The perfumers' art — This is the name given to the craft, and the craftsman is called a perfumer.
Ralbag
Metzudat David
Malbim