The one blot: Jehoshaphat joins affinity with Ahab and sits beside him in the gate of Samaria while four hundred prophets promise victory at Ramoth-gilead. Micaiah the son of Imla, hated because 'he never prophesies good concerning me,' answers the messenger who begs him to conform: 'As Hashem lives, what my God says, that will I speak' — and tells of Israel scattered on the mountains, and of a lying spirit in the mouth of the prophets. Ahab disguises himself; 'a certain man drew his bow at a venture'; and the king of Israel dies propped in his chariot until sunset.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.
verse value 2227
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 33 letters. The shortest word is "riches" (עֹ֥שֶׁר, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Jehoshaphat" (לִיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·allied·himself·by·marriage" (וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן), "to·Ahab" (לְאַחְאָֽב). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·there·was" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles); "in·abundance" (root רב, 53x in II Chronicles); "to·Jehoshaphat" (root יהושפט, 40x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root אחאב ("to·Ahab") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·abundance', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֧י [and·there·was] (31) + לִיהוֹשָׁפָ֛ט [to·Jehoshaphat] (440) + עֹ֥שֶׁר [riches] (570) + וְכָב֖וֹד [and·honor] (38) + לָרֹ֑ב [in·abundance] (232) + וַיִּתְחַתֵּ֖ן [and·he·allied·himself·by·marriage] (874) + לְאַחְאָֽב [to·Ahab] (42) = 2227.
Metzudat David
and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage – For his son Jehoram took Ahab's daughter as a wife.
Malbim
Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance - This was already written above (17:5), and it is repeated here a second time to teach that even after he built extensively and gathered a great army, he did not become impoverished through this.
And after a lapse of years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.
verse value 4845
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 75 letters. The shortest word is "to·end·of" (לְקֵ֨ץ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·he·slaughtered·to·him" (וַיִּֽזְבַּֽח־ל֨וֹ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 220: and·he·went·down, to·end·of. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·went·down" (וַיֵּ֩רֶד֩), "to·end·of" (לְקֵ֨ץ), "to·Ahab" (אֶל־אַחְאָב֙). The root אחאב appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles); "and·to·the·people" (root עם, 149x in II Chronicles); "to·go·up" (root עלה, 83x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root שמרון ("to·Samaria") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root סות ("and·he·persuaded·him") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 4 words.
Rashi
And he went down at the end of years And in I Kings (22:2) it is written: “And it was in the third year, that Jehoshaphat came down, etc.” This refers to the third year since he had released Ben Hadad (ibid. 20:34). and he enticed him to go up to Ramoth Gilead as is written in the Book of I Kings (22: 3): “Do you know that Ramoth Gilead is ours,” because when Jacob built the mound [of stones] there and called it Galead, he took possession of it, and our forefathers took Gilead and the heights (רָמוֹת), which are a continuation and an attachment to the city. But when our forefathers in Moses’ time seized Gilead, they were silent and refrained from taking it, because they did not care for it, or perhaps in Moses’ time, they did take it, but later the nations took it from Israel’s hands, but it is [in fact] ours.
Metzudat David
And after a lapse of years – At the end of some years from the time of the marriage-alliance, without specifying how many. and persuaded him – He incited and enticed him. to go up – To wage war against it.
Malbim
After a lapse of years - For by that time, most of the years of his reign had already passed: he reigned twenty-five years, and this took place in the seventeenth year of his reign. and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead - I have explained elsewhere that the meaning of the verb "to incite" (hesit), and its distinction from "to entice" (pitah) and "to induce" (hisi), is that the inciter shows the person he incites some benefit in the matter. Accordingly, one would have to say that Ahab promised Jehoshaphat some payment for this; but that does not appear from the plain sense of the verses, either here or in Kings. Therefore the Sages said, at the beginning of Chullin (4b), that he incited him through slaughtered feasts - meaning that the benefit is to be understood not as coming from the act itself, [going to war], but from the fact that Ahab provided him with food and drink, until he drew him after his will. Hence it says there: "But perhaps through mere words?" - "There is no incitement through words alone" (meaning that this would be called enticing, not inciting). It then raises a difficulty: but is it not written (Deuteronomy 13:6), "If your brother incites you" - and there it says, "let us go serve other gods that you have not known," so that the one incited does not know their benefit, and yet the verse calls it incitement? It answers: there too, it means through food and drink. And is it not written (Job 2:3), "and you incited Me against him, to destroy him for nothing"? - "Above, it is different," meaning that regarding the One Above, the language of enticement does not apply - not because He would gain benefit from anything, but because everything He does has a purpose, and with respect to that, the term incitement is fitting.
And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: ‘Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?’ And he answered him: ‘I am as you are, and my people as your people; and we will be with you in the war.’
verse value 3825
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 81 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֗וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֗וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·he·said. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "will·you·go" (הֲתֵלֵ֥ךְ), "like·me" (כָּמ֤וֹנִי), "like·you" (כָמ֙וֹךָ֙). The root עם appears 4 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of·Israel" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "with·me" (root עם, 149x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root כמו ("like·me") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'gilead', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 8 words.
Metzudat David
I am as you are – Just as you go, so will I go too. and we will be with you in the war – [My people] will go up with you into the war.
Malbim
And Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah - This whole chapter is paralleled in Kings (I Kings 22). we will be with you in the war - This explains what is said there, [in Kings]: "my horses as your horses" - meaning, to go with you to the war.
And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel: ‘Inquire, I pray you, at the word of Hashem today.’
verse value 2593
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 39 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "as·the·day" (כַיּ֖וֹם, 4 letters) and the longest is "Jehoshaphat" (יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "to·king·of" (אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ), "inquire·please" (דְּרׇשׁ־נָ֥א). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "to·king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + יְהוֹשָׁפָ֖ט [Jehoshaphat] (410) + אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ [to·king·of] (121) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + דְּרׇשׁ־נָ֥א [inquire·please] (555) + כַיּ֖וֹם [as·the·day] (76) + אֶת־דְּבַ֥ר [word·of] (607) + יְהֹוָֽה [Hashem] (26) = 2593.
Rashi
Please inquire today the word of the Lord and [do not inquire] of the prophets of the baalim in whom you trust.
Metzudat David
Inquire, I pray you, at the word of Hashem today – That is, even if you are not accustomed to inquiring of Hashem's word, please inquire now.
Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them: ‘Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?’ And they said: ‘Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.’
verse value 4868
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 92 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִישׁ֒, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 105: shall·we·go, go·up. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "the·prophets" (אֶֽת־הַנְּבִאִים֮). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of·Israel" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'if·shall·I·forbear', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 6 words.
Rashi
And the king of Israel gathered the prophets, four hundred And they were all true prophets, for he gathered for Jehoshaphat that which he had requested of him. And this is proven in the closely following text (verse 20f.): “And a spirit came forth, etc. and said: ‘I will entice him...and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets,’ for I will inspire them to say to Ahab: Ascend, and the Lord will deliver it into the hands of the king.” From here we can deduce that they were prophets of the Lord, for they prophesied only the word of the Lord, for if they were false prophets, they would not entice, for they would prophesy only that which they were inventing from their minds. Moreover, Jehoshaphat later said, “Is there no other prophet of the Lord?” I know that they are prophets of the Lord, but I have a tradition from my grandfather’s house that two prophets do not prophesy in the same style and with the same language, but all of these [prophets] are [unanimously] prophesying, “Ascend and prosper.”
Metzudat David
the prophets – The prophets of Baal. for God will deliver it – In front of Jehoshaphat they spoke in the name of Hashem, so that he would think they were prophets of Hashem.
Malbim
four hundred men - There, [in Kings], it says "about four hundred," but here it specifies that there were exactly four hundred, corresponding to the prophets of the Asherah (I Kings 18:19). Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle - In place of what is said there, [in Kings], "Shall I go," for here he was asking about both of them, [Ahab and Jehoshaphat together].
But Jehoshaphat said: ‘Is there not here besides a prophet of Hashem, that we might inquire of him?’
verse value 2029
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 39 letters. The shortest word is "here" (פֹּ֥ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "Jehoshaphat" (יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "nothing" (הַאֵ֨ין), "here" (פֹּ֥ה), "and·let·us·inquire" (וְנִדְרְשָׁ֖ה). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "Jehoshaphat" (root יהושפט, 40x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'besides', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ [and·he·said] (257) + יְה֣וֹשָׁפָ֔ט [Jehoshaphat] (410) + הַאֵ֨ין [nothing] (66) + פֹּ֥ה [here] (85) + נָבִ֛יא [prophet] (63) + לַיהֹוָ֖ה [to·Hashem] (56) + ע֑וֹד [besides] (80) + וְנִדְרְשָׁ֖ה [and·let·us·inquire] (565) + מֵאֹתֽוֹ [from·him] (447) = 2029.
Metzudat David
Is there not here besides [a prophet of Hashem], etc. – That is to say: did Jezebel kill them all, so that not even one prophet of Hashem remains? And our Sages said that Jehoshaphat had the discernment to know that these were not prophets of Hashem, because they all spoke in one and the same manner, and that is not the way of Hashem's prophets.
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: ‘There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Hashem; but I hate him; for he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil; the same is Micaiah the son of Imla.’ And Jehoshaphat said: ‘Let not the king say so.’
verse value 6589
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 126 letters. The shortest word is "but" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·he·said. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "man·one" (אִישׁ־אֶחָ֡ד), "I·hate·him" (שְׂנֵאתִ֗יהוּ), "for·he·is·not" (כִּֽי־אֵ֠ינֶ֠נּוּ). The root אמר appears 3 times in this verse. 21 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "king·of·Israel" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "son·of·Imla" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root נבא ("prophesying") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'son·of·Imla', dividing the verse into phrases of 20 and 5 words.
Rashi
but always bad For this is what it says (I Kings 20:42): “Because you have released the man whom I designated for destruction, etc.”
Metzudat David
by whom we may inquire – Through whom you may inquire of Hashem's word, [namely] from him. Let not the king say so – For whatever Hashem places in his mouth, that is what he speaks.
Malbim
for he never prophesies good concerning me - There, [in Kings], it says, "for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." Here it adds the reason: because all his days he has prophesied evil about him, and presumably now too he will prophesy evil. In the rest of the wording there are small changes, since Ezra revised the language; I have already explained the whole matter there in my commentary - see it there.
Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said: ‘Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.’
verse value 2129
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 47 letters. Notable word values: "one" (אֶחָ֑ד) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "king·of" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·official" (אֶל־סָרִ֖יס, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "to·official" (אֶל־סָרִ֖יס). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "son·of·Imla" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root מהר ("quickly") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'one', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words.
Rashi
Bring Micaiah at once [Micaiah] is written with the “yud” missing. He called him by a different name, Micahu, in order to degrade him.
Metzudat David
an officer – To one of his officers. quickly – Tell Micaiah to come quickly.
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they sat in a threshing-floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.
verse value 5729
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 94 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֨ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·all·the·prophets" (וְכׇ֨ל־הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים, 10 letters). Words sharing gematria 368: sitting, and·sitting. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "sitting" (יוֹשְׁבִים֩), "robes" (בְּגָדִים֙), "and·all·the·prophets" (וְכׇ֨ל־הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 140x in II Chronicles); "before·them" (root פנים, 116x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root בגד ("robes") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Samaria', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 3 words.
Rashi
dressed in [their] attire the royal raiment and seated in a threshing floor He is telling us that when the prophets prophesied before them, they were sitting outside the city, and spies of the king of Aram came there and heard that he [the prophet] informed the king of Israel that he alone would fall in battle. That is the reason that the king of Aram commanded his forces (v. 30): “Attack neither small nor great; only the king of Israel,” to fulfill the words of Micaiah. That is why it is written, “in a threshing floor,” for it was a place where spies could spy. If the meeting had been inside the city, the spies of the king of Aram would not have been able to infiltrate, for they would have detected that they were spies; but when they were outside the city, even if they [the Israelites] became aware of them, they could say, “We are going elsewhere, and the reason we drew near to the threshing floor is because of the great tumult and gathering of the armies here at the gate of the city; we were amazed, and turned off the road to see what was going on.” Consequently, the spies informed the king of Aram [what they had heard], who commanded to slay no one but the king of Israel. Otherwise, why did it enter his mind to command not to slay anyone of Israel, but the king? But he had spies who had heard Micaiah saying, (verses 16f.): “I saw all the Israelites scattered, etc. And the Lord said: These have no master.” This was a sign that the king would be slain, and that the Israelites would return each one to his house in peace. And they heard that he said, (v. 27): “If you return in peace...” The spies heard all and informed the king of Aram. The king of Aram then commanded to act in accordance with the word of Micaiah, and to slay only the king.
Metzudat David
robes – That is, royal garments. in a threshing-floor at the entrance – At the threshing-floor situated opposite the entrance of the gate.
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said: ‘Thus says Hashem: With these shall you gore the Arameans, until they be consumed.’
verse value 3743
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 61 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֛וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֛וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Chenaanah" (בֶֽן־כְּנַעֲנָ֖ה, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "horns·of" (קַרְנֵ֣י), "in·these" (בְּאֵ֛לֶּה), "you·shall·gore" (תְּנַגַּ֥ח). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "son·of·Chenaanah" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root צדקיהו ("Zedekiah") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'iron', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ [and·he·made] (386) + ל֛וֹ [to·him] (36) + צִדְקִיָּ֥הוּ [Zedekiah] (215) + בֶֽן־כְּנַעֲנָ֖ה [son·of·Chenaanah] (247) + קַרְנֵ֣י [horns·of] (360) + בַרְזֶ֑ל [iron] (239) + וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ [and·he·said] (257) + כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר [thus·says] (266) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + בְּאֵ֛לֶּה [in·these] (38) + תְּנַגַּ֥ח [you·shall·gore] (461) + אֶת־אֲרָ֖ם [Aram] (642) + עַד־כַּלּוֹתָֽם [until·their·being·consumed] (570) = 3743.
Metzudat David
Zedekiah – He was one of the prophets of Baal. With these – That is, you will grow strong to overpower them, as though you would gore them with horns of iron; and this, too, was the way of Hashem's [true] prophets, to perform symbolic acts as illustrations of the prophetic word.
And all the prophets prophesied so, saying: ‘Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Hashem will deliver it into the hand of the king.’
verse value 2242
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 50 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "so" (כֵּ֖ן, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·all·the·prophets" (וְכׇ֨ל־הַנְּבִאִ֔ים, 9 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·all·the·prophets" (וְכׇ֨ל־הַנְּבִאִ֔ים), "and·prosper" (וְהַצְלַ֔ח). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "saying" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 8 words. Full calculation: וְכׇ֨ל־הַנְּבִאִ֔ים [and·all·the·prophets] (164) + נִבְּאִ֥ים [prophesying] (103) + כֵּ֖ן [so] (70) + לֵאמֹ֑ר [saying] (271) + עֲלֵ֞ה [go·up] (105) + רָמֹ֤ת [Ramoth] (640) + גִּלְעָד֙ [gilead] (107) + וְהַצְלַ֔ח [and·prosper] (139) + וְנָתַ֥ן [and·he·will·give] (506) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + בְּיַ֥ד [in·hand·of] (16) + הַמֶּֽלֶךְ [the·king] (95) = 2242.
And the messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying: ‘Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth; let your word therefore, I pray you, be like one of theirs, and speak you good.’
verse value 3314
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 86 letters. The shortest word is "he·spoke" (דִּבֶּ֤ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Micaiah" (לְמִיכָ֗יְהוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 17: good, good. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·the·messenger" (וְהַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ), "that·he·went" (אֲשֶׁר־הָלַ֣ךְ), "to·call" (לִקְרֹ֣א). The root דבר appears 4 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "saying" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "and·let·it·be·now" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root מלאך ("and·the·messenger") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·king', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 6 words.
Metzudat David
with one mouth – In full agreement they are prophesying good for the king; therefore you too should prophesy good, like them.
And Micaiah said: ‘As Hashem lives, what my God says, that will I speak.’
verse value 2235
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 39 letters. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֛י, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·he·says" (אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר, 9 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "lives·Hashem" (חַי־יְהֹוָ֕ה), "that·he·says" (אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר), "I·will·speak" (אֲדַבֵּֽר). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "lives·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "my·God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Micaiah', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֖אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + מִיכָ֑יְהוּ [Micaiah] (91) + חַי־יְהֹוָ֕ה [lives·Hashem] (44) + כִּ֛י [that] (30) + אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר [that·he·says] (1153) + אֱלֹהַ֖י [my·God] (46) + אֹת֥וֹ [him] (407) + אֲדַבֵּֽר [I·will·speak] (207) = 2235.
And when he had come to the king, the king said to him: ‘Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?’ And he said: ‘Go you up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand.’
verse value 2855
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 78 letters. The shortest word is "go·up" (עֲל֣וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·prosper" (וְהַצְלִ֔יחוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·he·said. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "Micaiah" (מִיכָה֙), "go·up" (עֲל֣וּ), "and·they·shall·be·given" (וְיִנָּתְנ֖וּ). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "and·he·came" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'or·shall·I·forbear', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 5 words.
Rashi
Go up and triumph, and may they be delivered into your hand i.e., May you only prosper, and may they be delivered into your hands.
Metzudat David
Go you up, and prosper – He said this of his own accord, either as a blessing – would that you succeed and that Hashem deliver them into your hand – or he said it in mockery and derision, in the manner of the prophets of Baal.
And the king said to him: ‘How many times shall I adjure you that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of Hashem.’
verse value 3569
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 56 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "I" (אֲנִ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "adjuring·you" (מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "how·many" (עַד־כַּמֶּ֥ה), "adjuring·you" (מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ), "not·you·shall·speak" (לֹֽא־תְדַבֵּ֥ר). The root אל appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'adjuring·you', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + אֵלָיו֙ [to·him] (47) + הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ [the·king] (95) + עַד־כַּמֶּ֥ה [how·many] (139) + פְעָמִ֖ים [times] (240) + אֲנִ֣י [I] (61) + מַשְׁבִּיעֶ֑ךָ [adjuring·you] (442) + אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר [that] (501) + לֹֽא־תְדַבֵּ֥ר [not·you·shall·speak] (637) + אֵלַ֛י [to·me] (41) + רַק־אֱמֶ֖ת [only·truth] (741) + בְּשֵׁ֥ם [in·name·of] (342) + יְהֹוָֽה [Hashem] (26) = 3569.
Metzudat David
How many times shall I adjure you – That is, I am adjuring you now, not once or twice, but repeatedly, that you speak to me only the truth in the name of Hashem, and not falsehood in mockery and derision, nor of your own accord as a blessing. And since the prophet did not say "Thus says Hashem" when he said "Go up and prosper," [the king] realized that this was not the word of Hashem, and he was in doubt whether he had spoken in mockery or as a blessing.
And he said: ‘I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd; and Hashem said: These have no master, let them return every man to his house in peace.’
verse value 5535
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 86 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·Israel" (אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·he·said. 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "all·Israel" (אֶת־כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙), "scattered" (נְפוֹצִ֣ים), "upon·the·mountains" (עַל־הֶהָרִ֔ים). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root רעה ("shepherd") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'shepherd', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 7 words.
Rashi
scattered over the mountains For when they flee from battle, they flee on the mountains to a refuge, like (Gen. 14:10): “and those who remained fled to the mountains.” In addition, the battle was on the heights of Gilead, a mountainous and hilly terrain. And the Lord said: These have no master They are scattered like sheep on the mountains, because they have no shepherd, for their king will be slain. Let them return each one to his house in peace Ahab alone will be killed, but the rest of the Israelites will return each one to his house in peace, as the king of Aram commanded his people.
Metzudat David
I saw – In a prophetic vision. scattered – Dispersed, one from another. that have no shepherd – To lead them together. These have no master – That is, since they have no master, let them return [each to his home], etc. — meaning: Ahab their king will die, and the people will return home in peace.
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: ‘Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?’
verse value 3069
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 53 letters. Notable word values: "is·not" (הֲלֹא֙) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "but" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "I·said" (אָמַ֣רְתִּי), "not·he·would·prophesy" (לֹא־יִתְנַבֵּ֥א), "rather·evil" (אִם־לְרָֽע). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of·Israel" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "but" (root כי, 131x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Jehoshaphat', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [king·of·Israel] (631) + אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֑ט [to·Jehoshaphat] (441) + הֲלֹא֙ [is·not] (36) + אָמַ֣רְתִּי [I·said] (651) + אֵלֶ֔יךָ [to·you] (61) + לֹא־יִתְנַבֵּ֥א [not·he·would·prophesy] (494) + עָלַ֛י [concerning·me] (110) + ט֖וֹב [good] (17) + כִּ֥י [but] (30) + אִם־לְרָֽע [rather·evil] (341) = 3069.
Metzudat David
Did I not tell you, etc. – That is, he says this out of hatred, and it is not truly the word of Hashem.
And he said: ‘Therefore hear you the word of Hashem: I saw Hashem sitting upon His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and on His left.
verse value 3865
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 69 letters. The shortest word is "therefore" (לָכֵ֖ן, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·word·of·Hashem" (דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "therefore" (לָכֵ֖ן), "and·all·the·host·of" (וְכׇל־צְבָ֤א), "upon·His·right" (עַל־יְמִינ֖וֹ). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "standing" (root עמד, 54x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·word·of·Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 9 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֕אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + לָכֵ֖ן [therefore] (100) + שִׁמְע֣וּ [hear] (416) + דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֑ה [the·word·of·Hashem] (232) + רָאִ֤יתִי [I·saw] (621) + אֶת־יְהֹוָה֙ [Hashem] (427) + יוֹשֵׁ֣ב [sitting] (318) + עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ [upon·His·seat·(of·honour)] (187) + וְכׇל־צְבָ֤א [and·all·the·host·of] (149) + הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ [the·heaven] (395) + עֹמְדִ֔ים [standing] (164) + עַל־יְמִינ֖וֹ [upon·His·right] (216) + וּשְׂמֹאלֽוֹ [and·His·left] (383) = 3865.
Rashi
and all the host of heaven were standing on His right and His left These are the angels of destruction who stand before Him.
Metzudat David
Therefore – That is, since you have suspected me of this, I will explain to you the source of the matter, so that you may understand that the truth is with me. on His right hand and on His left – Our Sages said that "on His right hand" alludes to those who argue in [Ahab's] favor, and "His left" to those who argue against him.
And Hashem said: who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
verse value 3728
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 68 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "who" (מִ֤י, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·he·said. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "will·entice" (יְפַתֶּה֙), "Ahab" (אֶת־אַחְאָ֣ב), "and·this" (וְזֶ֖ה). The root אמר appears 4 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "king·of·Israel" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root פתה ("will·entice") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'gilead', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
who shall entice – Since the verdict had been sealed against him for guilt, He said: who will entice him to go up to war, so that he receive the punishment there (and all these matters are stated as a parable, to make it understandable to the ear in the manner of human custom). And one spoke – Each one stated his own view. saying after this manner – That is, in this way he could be enticed.
And there came forth the spirit, and stood before Hashem, and said: I will entice him. And Hashem said to him: With what?
verse value 1884
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 50 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "I" (אֲנִ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·he·stood" (וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·he·said. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "the·spirit" (הָר֗וּחַ), "I·will·entice·him" (אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "before" (root פנים, 116x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'I·will·entice·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיֵּצֵ֣א [and·he·went·out] (107) + הָר֗וּחַ [the·spirit] (219) + וַֽיַּעֲמֹד֙ [and·he·stood] (130) + לִפְנֵ֣י [before] (170) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + וַיֹּ֖אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + אֲנִ֣י [I] (61) + אֲפַתֶּ֑נּוּ [I·will·entice·him] (537) + וַיֹּ֧אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + יְהֹוָ֛ה [Hashem] (26) + אֵלָ֖יו [to·him] (47) + בַּמָּֽה [in·what] (47) = 1884.
Rashi
And a certain spirit came forth The meaning is: And an angel came forth, for he says above, “and all the host of heaven, etc.” One of the angels came forth and said, “I will entice him,” as it is stated (Ps. 104:4): “He makes His angels spirits.” [Cf. Comm. Dig. ad loc.] He preceded this account by stating, “and all the host of heaven were standing,” so that you should not wonder when you read, “And a certain spirit came forth,” who he was and where he came from. When he says, “and all the host of heaven were standing,” it is to inform you where he came from: from among the rest of the spirits standing beside Him. Our Rabbis (Sanh. 89a, Targum) however, explained that this was the spirit of Naboth.
Metzudat David
the spirit – Our Sages said this was the spirit of Naboth the Jezreelite.
And he said: I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And He said: You shall entice him, and shall prevail also; go forth, and do so.
verse value 4044
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "go·forth" (צֵ֖א, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·his·prophets" (כׇּל־נְבִיאָ֑יו, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·He·said. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "I·will·go·forth" (אֵצֵא֙), "and·I·will·be" (וְהָיִ֙יתִי֙), "to·a·spirit·of" (לְר֣וּחַ). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "and·do·thus" (root עשה, 159x in II Chronicles); "and·I·will·be" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all·his·prophets', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + אֵצֵא֙ [I·will·go·forth] (92) + וְהָיִ֙יתִי֙ [and·I·will·be] (441) + לְר֣וּחַ [to·a·spirit·of] (244) + שֶׁ֔קֶר [lie] (600) + בְּפִ֖י [in·mouth·of] (92) + כׇּל־נְבִיאָ֑יו [all·his·prophets] (129) + וַיֹּ֗אמֶר [and·He·said] (257) + תְּפַתֶּה֙ [you·shall·entice] (885) + וְגַם־תּוּכָ֔ל [and·also·you·shall·prevail] (505) + צֵ֖א [go·forth] (91) + וַעֲשֵׂה־כֵֽן [and·do·thus] (451) = 4044.
Rashi
in the mouth of all his prophets He should place the words “Go up and triumph,” in their mouths and he [Ahab] will go up and fall. This proves that they were true prophets who would prophesy only that which the Lord put into their mouths. You will entice and you will prevail When an enticer comes to entice his fellow, the one being enticed sometimes understands that this one wishes to entice him, and he takes heed and does not allow himself to be enticed, but with Ahab, you will entice and you will prevail.
Metzudat David
and will be a lying spirit – That is, I will speak falsehood through the mouths of his prophets, to assure him of success. You shall entice him, and shall prevail also – Through this you will entice him and also prevail over him, for he will be persuaded and go out to war. go forth, and do so – He repeated Himself, to urge him on in the matter.
Metzudat Zion
Spirit — This refers to speech that comes through the breath of the wind, as in 'and with the breath of his lips' (Isaiah 11). Shall prevail — A form of the word 'ability.'
Now therefore, behold, Hashem has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; and Hashem has spoken evil concerning you.’
verse value 2745
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 47 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "behold" (הִנֵּ֨ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "your·prophets" (נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "your·prophets" (נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "he·put" (root נתן, 116x in II Chronicles); "concerning·you" (root על, 111x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'these', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְעַתָּ֗ה [and·now] (481) + הִנֵּ֨ה [behold] (60) + נָתַ֤ן [he·put] (500) + יְהֹוָה֙ [Hashem] (26) + ר֣וּחַ [spirit·of] (214) + שֶׁ֔קֶר [lie] (600) + בְּפִ֖י [in·mouth·of] (92) + נְבִיאֶ֣יךָ [your·prophets] (93) + אֵ֑לֶּה [these] (36) + וַֽיהֹוָ֔ה [and·Hashem] (32) + דִּבֶּ֥ר [he·spoke] (206) + עָלֶ֖יךָ [concerning·you] (130) + רָעָֽה [evil] (275) = 2745.
Metzudat David
behold, Hashem has put – That is, this came about through [divine] providence. and Hashem has spoken – But Hashem has spoken evil concerning you, just as I now speak in the name of Hashem.
Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said: ‘Which way went the spirit of Hashem from me to speak to you?’
verse value 3591
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 68 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·smote" (וַיַּ֥ךְ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "where" (אֵ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Micaiah" (אֶת־מִיכָ֖יְהוּ, 8 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·he·drew·near" (וַיִּגַּשׁ֙), "upon·the·cheek" (עַל־הַלֶּ֑חִי), "where" (אֵ֣י). 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·spirit·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "son·of·Chenaanah" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root נגש ("and·he·drew·near") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'upon·the·cheek', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 9 words.
And Micaiah said: ‘Behold, you shall see on that day, when you shall go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.’
verse value 2086
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 44 letters. The shortest word is "behold·you" (הִנְּךָ֥, 3 letters) and the longest is "Micaiah" (מִיכָ֔יְהוּ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "behold·you" (הִנְּךָ֥), "you·shall·go·in" (תָּב֛וֹא), "chamber" (חֶ֥דֶר). The root חדר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "you·shall·go·in" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root חדר ("chamber") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root חבא ("to·hide·yourself") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'that', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + מִיכָ֔יְהוּ [Micaiah] (91) + הִנְּךָ֥ [behold·you] (75) + רֹאֶ֖ה [seeing] (206) + בַּיּ֣וֹם [in·the·day] (58) + הַה֑וּא [that] (17) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + תָּב֛וֹא [you·shall·go·in] (409) + חֶ֥דֶר [chamber] (212) + בְּחֶ֖דֶר [in·chamber] (214) + לְהֵחָבֵֽא [to·hide·yourself] (46) = 2086.
Rashi
Behold you will see that Ahab will be killed.
Metzudat David
Behold, you shall see – On the day of the battle you will see that it will indeed happen so, and because of this you will hide yourself, so that you not be killed for having caused all of this.
And the king of Israel said: ‘Take you Micaiah; and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son;
verse value 3242
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "king·of" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "Micaiah" (אֶת־מִיכָ֔יְהוּ, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "take" (קְחוּ֙), "and·bring·him·back" (וַהֲשִׁיבֻ֖הוּ), "to·Amon" (אֶל־אָמ֣וֹן). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "son·of·the·king" (root בן, 225x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root אמון ("to·Amon") in II Chronicles. First appearance of the root יואש ("and·to·Joash") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'prince·of·the·city', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ [and·he·said] (257) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king·of] (90) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + קְחוּ֙ [take] (114) + אֶת־מִיכָ֔יְהוּ [Micaiah] (492) + וַהֲשִׁיבֻ֖הוּ [and·bring·him·back] (334) + אֶל־אָמ֣וֹן [to·Amon] (128) + שַׂר־הָעִ֑יר [prince·of·the·city] (785) + וְאֶל־יוֹאָ֖שׁ [and·to·Joash] (354) + בֶּן־הַמֶּֽלֶךְ [son·of·the·king] (147) = 3242.
Metzudat David
and carry him back – Perhaps he had once resided there, and that is why it says "carry him back there."
and say: Thus says the king: Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with scant bread and with scant water, until I return in peace.’
verse value 3157
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 59 letters. The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֚ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·feed·him" (וְהַאֲכִלֻ֜הוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 128: oppression, oppression. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·you·shall·say" (וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם), "put" (שִׂ֥ימוּ), "the·prison" (הַכֶּ֑לֶא). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·king" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "house·of" (root בית, 191x in II Chronicles); "and·you·shall·say" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·prison', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Rashi
Place this person in prison We did not see that he incarcerated him in prison previously, but since he says, “and return him,” you may say that he had placed him in prison beforehand. If, however, you wish to say that they had never placed him in prison prior to this, “and return him” should not cause you any difficulty, because this is the style of the Scriptures, like (Ps. 9:18): “May the wicked return to the grave,” and many similar other cases. a scant amount of bread, etc. An example of this is (Isa. 30: 20): “scant bread and water of oppression.”
Metzudat David
scant bread – That is, sparingly, only enough to keep him alive.
And Micaiah said: ‘If you return at all in peace, Hashem has not spoken by me.’ And he said: ‘Hear, you peoples, all of you.’
verse value 2981
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 52 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "in·me" (בִּ֑י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Micaiah" (מִיכָ֔יְהוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·he·said, and·he·said. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "if·to·return" (אִם־שׁ֤וֹב), "you·shall·return" (תָּשׁוּב֙), "not·he·spoke" (לֹא־דִבֶּ֥ר). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "peoples" (root עם, 149x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + מִיכָ֔יְהוּ [Micaiah] (91) + אִם־שׁ֤וֹב [if·to·return] (349) + תָּשׁוּב֙ [you·shall·return] (708) + בְּשָׁל֔וֹם [in·peace] (378) + לֹא־דִבֶּ֥ר [not·he·spoke] (237) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + בִּ֑י [in·me] (12) + וַיֹּ֕אמֶר [and·he·said] (257) + שִׁמְע֖וּ [hear] (416) + עַמִּ֥ים [peoples] (160) + כֻּלָּֽם [all·of·them] (90) = 2981.
Metzudat David
Hashem has not spoken by me – That is, then you may say that I spoke from my own mind, and not from Hashem. And he said – He spoke his statement aloud so all could hear, saying, "Hear, you peoples, all of you" — meaning all the tribes, for each tribe is called a "people."
So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
verse value 2061
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "and·he·went·up" (וַיַּ֧עַל, 4 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל, 8 letters). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of·Israel" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·he·went·up" (root עלה, 83x in II Chronicles); "and·Jehoshaphat" (root יהושפט, 40x in II Chronicles). Full calculation: וַיַּ֧עַל [and·he·went·up] (116) + מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל [king·of·Israel] (631) + וִיהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט [and·Jehoshaphat] (416) + מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֖ה [king·of·Judah] (120) + אֶל־רָמֹ֥ת [to·Ramoth-] (671) + גִּלְעָֽד [gilead] (107) = 2061.
And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat: ‘I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put you on your robes.’ So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.
verse value 4630
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "king·of" (מֶ֨לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Jehoshaphat" (אֶל־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 541: Israel, Israel. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "and·go" (וָב֣וֹא), "put·on" (לְבַ֣שׁ), "your·robes" (בְּגָדֶ֑יךָ). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "and·go" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root חפש ("disguise·myself") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·robes', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 5 words.
Rashi
disguise myself and go The meaning is: “I must make myself like a stranger and disguise myself in other clothes, so that they do not recognize that I am the king of Israel,” for he was wary of Micaiah’s words, saying, “If you return in peace, etc.” And he said to Jehoshaphat, “I wish to disguise myself and go to war, for I fear that the Arameans heard that Micaiah said, ‘If you return in peace,’ and they will attack only me.” but you may wear your garb The royal costume and the coat of mail and the royal weapons, for there is no need for anyone to be wary of the prophet’s words except the king of Israel, for his [the king of Aram’s] spies told [him] the words of Micaiah.
Metzudat David
I will disguise myself, and go into the battle – That is, it is fitting for me to disguise myself and go into battle, making myself unrecognizable by changing my garments, so that the men of Aram will not recognize me; but you may wear your own distinctive garments, for you have nothing to fear even if they recognize you, since the prophet prophesied the evil only concerning me, and not concerning anyone else — and even though he did not believe the prophet, he was nonetheless wary of his words.
Metzudat Zion
Disguise myself — This means a change of garment, as in 'and Saul disguised himself' (I Samuel 28).
Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying: ‘Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.’
verse value 5058
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 66 letters. Verse gematria: 5058 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֚א, 2 letters) and the longest is "with·the·great" (אֶת־הַגָּד֑וֹל, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "he·commanded" (צִוָּה֩), "you·shall·fight" (תִּלָּ֣חֲמ֔וּ), "with·the·small" (אֶת־הַקָּטֹ֖ן). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "that·to·him" (root אשר, 203x in II Chronicles); "saying" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·the·great', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 4 words.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said: ‘It is the king of Israel.’ Therefore they turned about to fight against him; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Hashem helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.
verse value 5131
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 92 letters. Notable word values: "God" (אֱלֹהִ֖ים) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "captains·of" (שָׂרֵ֨י, 3 letters) and the longest is "Jehoshaphat" (אֶת־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "Jehoshaphat" (אֶת־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֗ט), "and·they" (וְהֵ֤מָּה), "and·he·cried·out" (וַיִּזְעַ֤ק). The root יהושפט appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·Hashem" (root יהוה, 384x in II Chronicles); "king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "God" (root אלהים, 202x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root זעק ("and·he·cried·out") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·fight', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 7 words.
Rashi
and Jehoshaphat cried out He called to his troop and his armies to come to his aid, [using] the sign of the lion on his banner or the banner of the sons of Judah. And so is the custom when two troops engage in battle: each troop gives a name to the insignia of its division for the troop that is with it, so that if they separate from each other or if the troops mingle with one another, each troop shouts the name of its insignia, and they recognize the insignia and all gather together and become one group as originally. He did not, however, cry out to his God, as is proven from I Kings (22:32), for there it does not say, “and the Lord helped him, and God enticed them away from him,” but it is written, And it was when the officers of the chariots saw that he was not the king of Israel for they immediately recognized and understood when he cried out the insignia of his division, as was explained. As soon as they recognized him, they turned away from him in accordance with the order of the king of Aram, and it was from the Lord that they recognized him.
Ralbag
and God moved them to depart from him — meaning, God turned them away from him.
Metzudat David
It is the king of Israel – Because they saw him wearing royal garments. cried out – To his men, to come to his aid. and Hashem helped him – It was not his own men who helped him, but Hashem, who moved them to leave him alone.
And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.
verse value 2702
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·turned·back" (וַיָּשׁ֖וּבוּ, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "from·after·him" (מֵאַחֲרָֽיו). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 140x in II Chronicles); "and·it·came·to·pass" (root היה, 133x in II Chronicles). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֗י [and·it·came·to·pass] (31) + כִּרְאוֹת֙ [when·seeing] (627) + שָׂרֵ֣י [captains·of] (510) + הָרֶ֔כֶב [the·chariots] (227) + כִּ֥י [that] (30) + לֹֽא־הָיָ֖ה [not·was] (51) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king·of] (90) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + וַיָּשׁ֖וּבוּ [and·they·turned·back] (330) + מֵאַחֲרָֽיו [from·after·him] (265) = 2702.
Metzudat David
And it came to pass, when [the captains of the chariots] saw..., etc. – For they saw that only the men of Judah had come to his aid, and from this they knew that this was not the king of Israel.
And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the lower armor and the breastplate; wherefore he said to the driver of the chariot: ‘Turn your hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.’
verse value 5830
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 88 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·smote" (וַיַּךְ֙) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֥י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·carry·me·out" (וְהוֹצֵאתַ֥נִי, 8 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "he·drew" (מָשַׁ֤ךְ), "in·the·bow" (בַּקֶּ֙שֶׁת֙), "in·his·simplicity" (לְתֻמּ֔וֹ). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "and·he·said" (root אמר, 184x in II Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 140x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root חלה ("I·am·wounded") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·breastplate', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 9 words.
Rashi
And a man drew his bow An Israelite man intended to shoot at the camp of Aram, and inadvertently and it hit The arrow [hit] the king of Israel. between the scales and the coat of mail between the thong with which they attach the helmet on his head to the coat of mail. We cannot say that he was a heathen, because whom was he aiming at? Did not the king of Aram command, “Attack neither small nor great, except the king of Israel”? And he did not even aim at him, for it is written, “innocently.” Perforce, you must say that the archer was an Israelite who intended to shoot at the camp of Aram, and inadvertently hit the king of Israel. and he said to the charioteer to the one who drives the chariot. and carry me out of the camp i.e., away from these front lines, and take me to the rear lines.
Metzudat David
'At a venture' – Innocently, [meaning] without intending to hit Ahab, for he was not recognizable [as the king]. 'Between the lower armor and the breastplate' – This armor [i.e., the breastplate] was made of iron, fashioned like a garment and perforated with holes, to which were attached scale-like plates, as it says, ‘he was wearing a scale-coat of armor’ (I Samuel 17). These plates were made to plug the holes of the breastplate so that no arrow could pass through them, and it is these that are called the ‘lower armor,’ because they are attached to the breastplate. Hence it says that the arrow came between one of the scales and the breastplate [itself], entering through a hole in the breastplate and lodging in his body. 'To the driver of the chariot' – That is, the one who drives the chariot. 'Turn your hand' – [Meaning,] turn back. 'For I am sore wounded' – [Literally,] I have become ill. He did not reveal to his charioteer that he had been struck, so as not to frighten him, lest it become known to everyone and they flee from the battle.
And the battle increased that day; however the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Arameans until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.
verse value 4079
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "he·was" (הָיָ֨ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·battle" (הַמִּלְחָמָה֙, 6 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Chronicles. Unique to this verse in II Chronicles (hapax): "staying·himself·up" (מַעֲמִ֧יד), "against" (נֹ֥כַח), "until·the·evening" (עַד־הָעָ֑רֶב). 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·king·of" (root מלך, 344x in II Chronicles); "coming·of" (root בוא, 159x in II Chronicles); "Israel" (root ישראל, 140x in II Chronicles). First appearance of the root שמש ("the·sun") in II Chronicles. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'until·the·evening', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Rashi
And the battle withdrew It withdrew, and not one of Israel was hurt except the king of Isra el, in accordance with the word of the prophet, (above verse 16): “These have no master. Let them return each one to his house in peace.” It does not say לְשָלוֹם, because Ahab was slain. was standing in the chariot He exerted himself and stood up so that the Israelites should not realize that he was wounded and flee, for the beginning of defeat is fleeing.
Metzudat David
'And the battle increased' – The battle intensified, for the battle lines pressed strongly against one another. 'He stayed himself up in his chariot' – Though he had been taken outside the camp [wounded], he forced himself to stand up in the chariot facing Aram, so that his men would not sense [that he was struck] and their hearts melt [in fear]. 'About the time of the going down of the sun' – When the sun set.
Metzudat David
Malbim