Seventy heads of Ahab's sons in baskets at the gate; Jehu's great subtlety gathers all the worshippers of Baal to one house — and destroys Baal out of Israel; yet from the golden calves of Jeroboam, Jehu departs not.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to them that brought up [the sons of] Ahab, saying:
verse value 4507
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 79 letters. The shortest word is "son" (בָּנִ֖ים, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·to·the·guardians" (וְאֶל־הָאֹמְנִ֥ים, 9 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·to·Ahab" (וּלְאַחְאָ֛ב), "to·the·princes·of" (אֶל־שָׂרֵ֤י), "the·old·men" (הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים). The root אחאב appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·the·princes·of" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "and·he·sent" (root שלח, 67x in II Kings). First appearance of the root אמן ("and·to·the·guardians") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Samaria', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 11 words.
Rashi
And to the guardians of Ahab. The guardians of his sons:
Radak
“To the princes of Jezreel.” The princes of Jezreel were then in Samaria; perhaps they had gone there when they heard of the rebellion, to consult there, since Samaria was the royal city.
"And to the guardians of Ahab['s sons]." [I.e.,] the guardians of the sons of Ahab, as it is stated, "the great men of the city rear them."
Metzudat David
"The guardians of Ahab." The guardians of Ahab.
Metzudat Zion
The nurses. So are called those who raise children, so too (Isaiah 60:4): at the side they shall be carried:
Malbim
"To the officers of Jezreel, etc., Ahab, saying" — The construction of the verse is: [as if] Ahab were saying, [addressed] to the officers of Jezreel. He wrote a letter in the name of Ahab, [such] that Ahab says and commands the officers of Jezreel (who had then fled from Jezreel to Samaria) and the elders and the guardians, that they should fight for his house. Therefore it did not say "the guardians of Ahab" in construct form, to indicate also the intent: Ahab says — that Ahab says and commands them these words. And now, as if he says: If you were lazy until now and did not defend your master, at any rate, now that the letter has come to you to awaken your ears, you shall fulfill your obligation. And "with you is the chariot," etc. is a statement with two meanings: on one side, it says that you have chariots and weapons of war; and on the other side, it says that there is no one from the people with you — only the horses, the chariots, and the weapons, without riders or fighters. And the letter was in the name of Ahab, so that they would know that it was not Jehu who was commanding this matter. And yet the words came phrased ambiguously, so that it also appears that they are in the name of Jehu, in a manner of rhetoric and mockery.
’And now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and armour;
verse value 3581
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "when·entering" (כְּבֹ֨א, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·horses" (וְהַסּוּסִ֔ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 467: and·with·you, and·with·you. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·the·horses" (וְהַסּוּסִ֔ים), "and·city·of" (וְעִ֥יר), "and·equipment" (וְהַנָּֽשֶׁק). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "when·entering" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "to·you" (root אל, 113x in II Kings); "son" (root בן, 66x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·lord', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְעַתָּ֗ה [now] (481) + כְּבֹ֨א [when·entering] (23) + הַסֵּ֤פֶר [the·book] (345) + הַזֶּה֙ [this] (17) + אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם [to·you] (101) + וְאִתְּכֶ֖ם [and·with·you] (467) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֑ם [your·lord] (125) + וְאִתְּכֶם֙ [and·with·you] (467) + הָרֶ֣כֶב [the·chariots] (227) + וְהַסּוּסִ֔ים [and·the·horses] (187) + וְעִ֥יר [and·city·of] (286) + מִבְצָ֖ר [fortification] (332) + וְהַנָּֽשֶׁק [and·equipment] (461) = 3581.
Rashi
And you the chariots and the horses. And there is in you might to fight:
Ralbag
And the weapons. The meaning is: instruments of war.
Metzudat David
"And now." The verse did not mention the beginning of the words, which were in the manner of greeting them with peace, and only afterward did it write, "And now," etc.
“Your masters’ sons”: The heirs to the monarchy.
"The chariots, etc." If so, the power is in your hands to wage war.
Metzudat Zion
And the armor. Weapons of war, so too (there 22:8): armor of the forest-house:
look you out the best and meet of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.’
verse value 3145
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "the·good" (הַטּ֤וֹב, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·you·will·see" (וּרְאִיתֶ֞ם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 125: your·lord, your·lord. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·you·will·see" (וּרְאִיתֶ֞ם), "and·straight" (וְהַיָּשָׁר֙), "and·you·shall·put" (וְשַׂמְתֶּ֖ם). The root אדון appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for·house·of" (root בית, 141x in II Kings); "and·you·will·see" (root ראה, 66x in II Kings); "from·sons·of" (root בן, 66x in II Kings). First appearance of the root ישר ("and·straight") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·father', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וּרְאִיתֶ֞ם [and·you·will·see] (657) + הַטּ֤וֹב [the·good] (22) + וְהַיָּשָׁר֙ [and·straight] (521) + מִבְּנֵ֣י [from·sons·of] (102) + אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֔ם [your·lord] (125) + וְשַׂמְתֶּ֖ם [and·you·shall·put] (786) + עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א [upon·throne] (181) + אָבִ֑יו [his·father] (19) + וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ [and·fight] (95) + עַל־בֵּ֥ית [for·house·of] (512) + אֲדֹנֵיכֶֽם [your·lord] (125) = 3145.
Radak
"And fight." In order to test them, he wrote it to them thus:
Metzudat David
"Concerning the house." For the sake of your master's house, and in order to test them, to know what is in their heart, he sent to them these words:
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said: ‘Behold, the two kings stood not before him; how then shall we stand?’
verse value 1784
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·they·said" (וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 45: very, very. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "we·will·stand" (נַעֲמֹ֥ד). The root מאד appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·kings" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "and·they·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "not" (root לא, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root מאד ("very") in II Kings. First appearance of the root איך ("and·how?") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·his·face', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּֽרְאוּ֙ [and·they·saw] (223) + מְאֹ֣ד [very] (45) + מְאֹ֔ד [very] (45) + וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ [and·they·said] (263) + הִנֵּה֙ [they] (60) + שְׁנֵ֣י [two·of] (360) + הַמְּלָכִ֔ים [the·kings] (145) + לֹ֥א [not] (31) + עָמְד֖וּ [stood] (120) + לְפָנָ֑יו [to·his·face] (176) + וְאֵ֖יךְ [and·how?] (37) + נַעֲמֹ֥ד [we·will·stand] (164) + אֲנָֽחְנוּ [we] (115) = 1784.
And he that was over the household, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and they that brought up the children, sent to Jehu, saying: ‘We are your servants, and will do all that you shall bid us; we will not make any man king; do you that which is good in your eyes.’
verse value 5940
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 99 letters. Verse gematria: 5940 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "and·them" (וְכֹ֛ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "who·was·over·the·house" (אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַבַּ֣יִת, 9 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·that·support" (וְהָאֹמְנִ֨ים), "that·you·will·say" (אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמַ֥ר), "he·took·no·counsel" (לֹא־נַמְלִ֣ךְ). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·took·no·counsel" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "who·was·over·the·house" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'we·will·do', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 5 words.
Ralbag
"And the one in charge of the house sent." This means that the officials in charge of the house of Ahab, and the one in charge of the city of Samaria, and the elders of the city, and the guardians and rearers of Ahab's sons — who were the great ones of the city, as is mentioned afterward — had already sent [word to Jehu], that they were his servants and would do whatever he told them.
Metzudat David
"Which is over the house." The one appointed over the king's house:
Malbim
"We are your servants," etc. — Corresponding to "we are your servants" they said, "We will not appoint anyone king"; and corresponding to "whatever you say to us we will do" they said, "Do what is good in your eyes" — since we are ready to fulfill your words.
Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying: ‘If you be on my side, and if you will hearken to my voice, take you the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to-morrow this time.’ Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.
verse value 8388
Insights
Verse structure: 27 words, 119 letters. Notable word values: "to·them" (אֲלֵיהֶם֩) = 86, equal to Elohim. Verse gematria: 8388 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "book·of" (סֵ֨פֶר, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·your·master" (בְנֵי־אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶ֔ם, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 441: you, you. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "second" (שֵׁנִ֜ית), "if·mine" (אִם־לִ֨י), "and·to·my·voice" (וּלְקֹלִ֣י). The root אל appears 2 times in this verse. 23 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "and·come" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jezreel', dividing the verse into phrases of 19 and 8 words.
Rashi
And the sons of the king seventy men with the great men of the city and so on. All this he wrote in the book, and I know their calculation, seventy men and they are with the great men of the city that raise them:
Radak
"The heads of the men, the sons of your masters." "Sons" clarifies "men" — for if it had said "the men of your masters," one might have thought that it referred to all the men of his household, even though they were not his sons. Therefore, it said "the sons of your masters."
"And the king's sons." This was not [part of] the letter; rather, it is the narration of the text [Scripture] itself, relating that the king's sons, whom Jehu commanded to bring their heads, were seventy men, along with the great men of the city who were rearing them.
Metzudat David
"If you are mine. If you are mine and submit to me:"
"At this time tomorrow." This refers to this very hour, on the day of tomorrow.
“And the sons of the king, etc.” This too is from the words of Jehu, who wrote to them saying, “I know that they are seventy, and they are in the house of the great men of the city, and you will not be able to hide any of them from me.”
“the great men of the city.” And they were with the great men of the city, who raised them up; that is to say: they were in the house of the great men of the city.
And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel.
verse value 4370
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 81 letters. Notable word values: "to·them" (אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "when·entering" (כְּבֹ֤א, 3 letters) and the longest is "their·heads" (אֶת־רָֽאשֵׁיהֶם֙, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·they·slew" (וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ), "their·heads" (אֶת־רָֽאשֵׁיהֶם֙), "in·the·baskets" (בַּדּוּדִ֔ים). The root אל appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "when·entering" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "and·it·was" (root היה, 119x in II Kings). First appearance of the root שחט ("and·they·slew") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'man', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 6 words.
Rashi
In cauldrons. Pots:
Radak
"In baskets." [Meaning] in baskets; and so Targum Yonatan renders it: "basliya" [in baskets]. And similarly, "two baskets of figs ... the one basket" (Jeremiah 24:2).
Ralbag
"And they put their heads in pitchers." This means, in baskets, so that people would see them.
"Place them in two heaps." They are like 'chamarim' [heaps], meaning that they would form two piles from these heads; and behold, they came while it was still night, so as to conceal the matter from the masses.
Metzudat Zion
In cauldrons. Like pots, so too (I Samuel 2:14): and he struck on the basin or on the cauldron:
And there came a messenger, and told him, saying: ‘They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.’ And he said: ‘Lay you them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.’
verse value 4337
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 68 letters. The shortest word is "them" (אֹתָ֞ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·the·king" (בְנֵֽי־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "brought" (הֵבִ֖יאוּ), "put" (שִׂ֣ימוּ), "heaps" (צִבֻּרִ֛ים). The root בוא appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·the·king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "and·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sons·of·the·king', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Rashi
Piles. Mounds, heaps, 'montis' in the vernacular:
Radak
"Two heaps." Like heaps [of stones], for they are gathered together like a heap of stones; therefore they are called "heaps," from [the verse] "and Joseph piled up [grain]" (Genesis 41:49), [and] "if he piles up silver like dust" (Job 27:16). And Targum Yonatan renders it "degorin," just as Onkelos rendered [elsewhere] "chamarin chamarin."
Metzudat David
“Until morning.” This means that they were to remain lying down until morning, so that the people would see them.
Metzudat Zion
Piles. Gathered, so too (Genesis 41:49): and Joseph gathered:
And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people: ‘You are righteous; behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him; but who smote all these?
verse value 3805
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 74 letters. The shortest word is "you" (אַתֶּ֑ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·all·the·people" (אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם, 7 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·all·the·people" (אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם), "just" (צַדִּקִ֖ים), "I·bound" (קָשַׁ֤רְתִּי). 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·all·the·people" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "and·it·was" (root היה, 119x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 8 words.
Rashi
You are righteous. All of you in your own eyes are righteous, and you hold me in the presumption of a wicked man, that I killed the king, and now see, behold I conspired against my master and killed him, all these who struck them, I did not kill them, but from these you shall know then, that the decree of the king is upon them, and he who kills them is righteous, and fulfills the commandment of the Omnipresent:
Radak
"You are righteous." You are not liable for the blood of these men. You might say [of me], 'I did evil and conspired against my master and killed him' — [but] these I did not strike; rather, the great men of the city struck them, and they were unwilling to fight on their behalf. You will be able to recognize and know that the matter came from the Lord, and I and you are righteous concerning the blood of all the house of Ahab.
Metzudat David
"You are righteous." This is to say: "Behold, you consider yourselves more righteous than I, because I killed the king. But who killed all these? Was it not the men of Samaria who killed them?"
Malbim
"You are righteous" – He means to say that according to the law, if I were to say, 'Give one of you and we will kill him, and if not, we will kill you all,' they should all be killed rather than surrender one, etc., unless that individual is liable for the death penalty, as in the case of Sheva ben Bichri (as the Rambam states in Chapter 5 of the Laws of the Foundations of the Torah). If so, who struck these men? You are righteous, and the remnant of Israel will not commit iniquity. If so,
Know now that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of Hashem, which Hashem spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for Hashem has done that which He spoke by His servant Elijah.’
verse value 3839
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 73 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּי֩, 2 letters) and the longest is "which·spoke" (אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: Hashem, Hashem. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "know" (דְּע֣וּ), "then" (אֵפ֗וֹא), "will·fall" (יִפֹּ֜ל). The root יהוה appears 3 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "which·spoke" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "from·word·of" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ahab', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 8 words.
Metzudat David
Know therefore. In this, know now, that the word of the Lord will not fall to the ground, to be nullified from what He spoke, but rather it will fall upon the head of him upon whom it was decreed.
"And the Lord did." The killing of the king and his sons came by the providence of the Lord.
Metzudat Zion
Then. Yonatan translates: now, and it is the Targum of 'now':
Malbim
Know therefore that they are liable to death by the word of the Lord, and the Lord has acted—not I, nor you.
So Jehu smote all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until there was left him none remaining.
verse value 3823
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 71 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·struck" (וַיַּ֣ךְ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "and·he·struck" (וַיַּ֣ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·ones·remaining" (כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֤ים, 9 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "all·the·ones·remaining" (כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֤ים), "to·house·of·Ahab" (לְבֵית־אַחְאָב֙), "and·all·his·great·ones" (וְכׇל־גְּדֹלָ֖יו). The root שאר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·struck" (root נכה, 58x in II Kings); "and·His·priests" (root כהן, 43x in II Kings); "Jehu" (root יהוא, 41x in II Kings). First appearance of the root כהן ("and·His·priests") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·His·priests', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words.
Radak
And his intimates. His relatives, as in the phrase "and Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's" (Ruth 2:1), and as Targum Yonatan renders it: "and his relatives."
"And his priests." [Meaning] the priests of the high places; and Targum Yonatan renders it: "and his companions."
Ralbag
And his priests are the priests of the high places.
Metzudat Zion
And his kinsmen. His relatives, so too (Ruth 2:1): a kinsman to her husband:
And his priests. The priests of Baal:
The remnant. The leftover:
And he arose and departed, and went to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing-house of the shepherds in the way,
verse value 1986
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 35 letters. The shortest word is "he" (ה֛וּא, 3 letters) and the longest is "house·of·binding" (בֵּֽית־עֵ֥קֶד, 6 letters). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "house·of·binding" (root בית, 141x in II Kings); "and·went" (root הלך, 98x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Samaria', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ [and·arose] (156) + וַיָּבֹ֔א [and·came] (19) + וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ [and·went] (66) + שֹׁמְר֑וֹן [Samaria] (596) + ה֛וּא [he] (12) + בֵּֽית־עֵ֥קֶד [house·of·binding] (586) + הָרֹעִ֖ים [the·shepherds] (325) + בַּדָּֽרֶךְ [in·the·way] (226) = 1986.
Rashi
The house of the shepherds' binding-place. (Targum:) the house of assembly of the shepherds:
Binding-place. The language of bond, a place of the gathering of shepherds:
Radak
"Beth-eked of the shepherds." Targum Yonatan renders it "House of the Gathering of the Shepherds," and my father, of blessed memory, wrote that it is called so because the shepherds used to shear their flocks there, and at the time of shearing they would bind them by their legs — the place of binding.
Ralbag
"And he arose and came and went to Samaria." This means that Jehu had already arisen and come to his house to take the chariot, and then went to Samaria. And on the way, behold, while he was at Beth-eked of the shepherds — this is the house where the shepherds would shear the sheep there, and for this reason they would bind them there — behold, Jehu found the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. This means the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, for his brothers had already died, as is mentioned in the Book of Chronicles.
Metzudat David
"That is Beth-eked." When he came to Beth-eked of the shepherds, which was located on the way:
Metzudat Zion
The house of the shepherds' binding-place. A house in which the shepherds shear the flock, and since the way is to bind and tie them at the time of shearing, it is called 'binding-place', from the word (Genesis 22:9): and he bound Isaac:
Malbim
(12-14) "This is Beth-eked of the shepherds": Its meaning is that when he was at Beth-eked of the shepherds, namely, in the place where the shepherds used to assemble, Jehu found there the brothers of Ahaziah, who were in that house, and they were unaware of all that had taken place, and he slaughtered them there, in such a way that not even a single remnant remained from the house of Joram, who had been the son-in-law of Ahab. And in Chronicles it is explained that they were the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, for the brothers of Ahaziah were killed in the raid of the Arabs, as it is stated there.
Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said: ‘Who are you?’ And they answered: ‘We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.’
verse value 3034
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 83 letters. The shortest word is "who?" (מִ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·Judah" (מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֔ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 37: Ahaziah, Ahaziah. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "brothers·of" (אֶת־אֲחֵי֙), "brother" (אֲחֵ֤י), "and·we·went·down" (וַנֵּ֛רֶד). The root אחזיהו appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Judah" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "and·sons·of" (root בן, 66x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 9 words.
Rashi
And the sons of the queen mother. Jezebel:
Radak
"[He] found the brothers of Ahaziah." The "brothers of Ahaziah" refers to the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, as it states in Chronicles: "And he found the princes of Judah and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah." One refers to the son of one's brother as "brother," just as it says, "and Lot, his brother."
For the peace of the king's sons and the queen mother's sons. The sons of Ahab and the sons of Jezebel. And as for what is added, "and the queen mother's sons," after having said "for the peace of the king's sons" — [it is] because the honor depended on her, for even during Ahab's lifetime she was the queen mother, and Ahab heeded her and acted according to her word. They [Ahaziah's kinsmen] did not know of this matter of the rebellion, nor that Jezebel had been killed, nor that Ahaziah had been killed; therefore, they did not flee from Jehu. Rather, they had heard that Joram had died at Ramoth-gilead; therefore, they said, "For the peace of the king's sons." And similarly, it is stated there in Chronicles: "servants to Ahaziah," who came to serve Ahaziah, to assist the house of Ahab, just as he had been with them.
Metzudat David
"And Jehu found." There Jehu found the brothers of Ahaziah, that is to say:
The sons of Ahaziah. And similarly it is stated in Chronicles II 28:8, "For he had no brothers," for they had all been put to death from that time on, as it is stated there:
For peace. To inquire after the well-being of the children of Ahab and Jezebel, without their knowing that they had been killed.
And he said: ‘Take them alive.’ And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing-house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.
verse value 5254
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֔ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·not·he·left" (וְלֹא־הִשְׁאִ֥יר, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 311: man, man. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "catch·them" (תִּפְשׂ֣וּם), "and·they·caught·them" (וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂ֖וּם), "and·they·slew·them" (וַיִּשְׁחָט֞וּם). The root תפש appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·pit" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "house·of·binding" (root בית, 141x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'living', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 9 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ [and·said] (257) + תִּפְשׂ֣וּם [catch·them] (826) + חַיִּ֔ים [living] (68) + וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂ֖וּם [and·they·caught·them] (842) + חַיִּ֑ים [living] (68) + וַיִּשְׁחָט֞וּם [and·they·slew·them] (379) + אֶל־בּ֣וֹר [to·pit] (239) + בֵּֽית־עֵ֗קֶד [house·of·binding] (586) + אַרְבָּעִ֤ים [forty] (323) + וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ [and·two] (406) + אִ֔ישׁ [man] (311) + וְלֹא־הִשְׁאִ֥יר [and·not·he·left] (553) + אִ֖ישׁ [man] (311) + מֵהֶֽם [from·them] (85) = 5254.
Radak
"Seize them alive." And although he commanded so, in his heart he intended to kill them, as it says, "and they slaughtered them," in order to magnify the vengeance, so that they would not put them to death by the way of war.
Ralbag
They slaughtered them into the cistern of the house of Eked. Behold, there was a cistern in that house, which was the house of Eked of the shepherds, and there they placed them after they had killed them.
Metzudat David
"And they slaughtered them." For they too were from the house of Ahab.
"Beth-eked." [The pit] situated at Beth-eked:
And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he saluted him, and said to him: ‘Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?’ And Jehonadab answered: ‘It is.’ 'If it be,' [said Jehu,] 'give me your hand.’ And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot. .
verse value 7457
Insights
Verse structure: 26 words, 122 letters. The shortest word is "being" (יֵ֛שׁ, 2 letters) and the longest is "Jehonadab" (אֶת־יְהוֹנָדָב֩, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 455: inner man, give. 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Jehonadab" (אֶת־יְהוֹנָדָב֩), "and·blessed" (וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֗הוּ), "inner man" (אֶת־לְבָבְךָ֣). The root יש appears 3 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "as" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "to·the·chariot" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). First appearance of the root לבב ("inner man") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'hand', dividing the verse into phrases of 21 and 5 words.
Rashi
And he said to him. Jehu:
Is your heart straight and whole. And complete is what I am doing, as my heart is complete with your heart:
And Jehonadab said yes and yes, give your hand. And hold it, and bring me to you to the chariot:
Radak
"And he blessed him." He gave him peace.
And Jehonadab said, “Yesh v’yesh; give me your hand.” Jehonadab said, “Yesh v’yesh” — the repetition serves to strengthen the statement, for indeed his heart was sincere. Afterward, Jehu said to him, “Give me your hand,” in order to lift him up to the chariot with him. Alternatively, its meaning is that “v’yesh” is Jehu’s response in the form of a question, implying: “Is it so, as you say, that your heart is with my heart? If so, give me your hand.” And he gave him his hand, and he lifted him up to himself into the chariot.
Metzudat David
"Is your heart right?" Is there with your heart [something] upright and whole toward me, to love me, just as my heart is right toward your heart?
"Yesh v'yesh." The repetition serves to strengthen the statement:
“Give your hand.” In a way of love and the fulfillment of the covenant, or to elevate him onto the chariot.
And he said: ‘Come with me, and see my zeal for Hashem.’ So they made him ride in his chariot.
verse value 2435
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "come" (לְכָ֣ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·my·jealousy" (בְּקִנְאָתִ֣י, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "in·my·jealousy" (בְּקִנְאָתִ֣י). The root רכב appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "come" (root הלך, 98x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ [and·said] (257) + לְכָ֣ה [come] (55) + אִתִּ֔י [with·me] (411) + וּרְאֵ֖ה [and·see] (212) + בְּקִנְאָתִ֣י [in·my·jealousy] (563) + לַיהֹוָ֑ה [to·Hashem] (56) + וַיַּרְכִּ֥בוּ [and·they·made·ride] (244) + אֹת֖וֹ [him] (407) + בְּרִכְבּֽוֹ [in·his·chariots] (230) = 2435.
Metzudat David
"In my jealousy" – In that which I shall be jealous, the jealousy of the Lord, to take vengeance upon the house of Ahab, and the worshippers of Baal.
Metzudat Zion
With my jealousy. A matter of vengeance, so too (Numbers 25:11): in his jealous zeal for my jealousy:
And when he came to Samaria, he smote all that remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the word of Hashem, which He spoke to Elijah.
verse value 3819
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 62 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·struck" (וַ֠יַּ֠ךְ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "and·he·struck" (וַ֠יַּ֠ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·ones·remaining" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֧ים, 11 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "all·the·ones·remaining" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֧ים), "until·he·destroyed·him" (עַד־הִשְׁמִד֑וֹ). The root שמרון appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "as·word·of" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). First appearance of the root שמד ("until·he·destroyed·him") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'until·he·destroyed·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיָּבֹא֙ [and·came] (19) + שֹׁמְר֔וֹן [Samaria] (596) + וַ֠יַּ֠ךְ [and·he·struck] (36) + אֶת־כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֧ים [all·the·ones·remaining] (1057) + לְאַחְאָ֛ב [to·Ahab] (42) + בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן [in·Samaria] (598) + עַד־הִשְׁמִד֑וֹ [until·he·destroyed·him] (429) + כִּדְבַ֣ר [as·word·of] (226) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + דִּבֶּ֖ר [He·spoke] (206) + אֶל־אֵלִיָּֽהוּ [to·Elijah] (83) = 3819.
Radak
“Until he destroyed it.” The he is vocalized with a hireq, for so the infinitive sometimes appears.
And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them: ‘Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much.
verse value 2220
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "worked" (עָבַ֥ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·people" (אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 76: to·them, worked. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "little" (מְעָ֑ט), "shall·serve·him" (יַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּ). The root יהוא appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·them" (root אל, 113x in II Kings); "worked" (root עבד, 70x in II Kings). First appearance of the root רבה ("be or become great") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'little', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ [and·he·gathered] (208) + יֵהוּא֙ [Jehu] (22) + אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם [all·the·people] (566) + וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + אֲלֵהֶ֔ם [to·them] (76) + אַחְאָ֕ב [Ahab] (12) + עָבַ֥ד [worked] (76) + אֶת־הַבַּ֖עַל [Baal] (508) + מְעָ֑ט [little] (119) + יֵה֖וּא [Jehu] (22) + יַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּ [shall·serve·him] (142) + הַרְבֵּֽה [be or become great] (212) = 2220.
Metzudat David
"Ahab served Baal only a little." As if to say: "And behold, because of this, evil came upon his house."
Malbim
Ahab served [Baal]—he told him through a scheme: Since Ahab was punished because he did not serve Baal extensively, but only to a small extent, therefore Jehu will serve him extensively. Therefore, he commanded that the prophets of Baal and his priests be gathered together.
Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests, let none be wanting; for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live.’ But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
verse value 4343
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 108 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּי֩, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·all·his·priests" (וְכׇל־כֹּהֲנָיו֩, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 107: Baal, the·Baal. 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·all·his·priests" (וְכׇל־כֹּהֲנָיו֩), "call" (קִרְא֨וּ), "not·be·wanting" (אַל־יִפָּקֵ֗ד). The root בעל appears 3 times in this verse. 22 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·is·missing" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "not·be·wanting" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "did" (root עשה, 142x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'shall·live', dividing the verse into phrases of 18 and 7 words.
Rashi
With cunning. With deceit, the language of (Genesis 27:36): he has supplanted me:
Radak
“Be‘eqvah” (with guile). As in the Targum: “be-ḥokhma” [“in wisdom”]. And similarly: “va-ya‘akveni” [“and he outwitted/supplanted me”].
Ralbag
"A man shall not be missed." This means that no man shall be lacking, so that all of them shall be present.
"He acted with cunning." This means: through deception.
Metzudat David
"Mine, to Baal." It shall be mine, to Baal:
With guile. In order that they should all gather together.
Metzudat Zion
Let it not be missing. Let it not be lacking, so too (there 31:49): and not one was missing from us:
With guile. Yonatan translates: with wisdom, so too (Genesis 27:36): he has supplanted me these two times:
And Jehu said: ‘Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.’ And they proclaimed it.
verse value 1509
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "Jehu" (יֵה֗וּא, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·they·called" (וַיִּקְרָֽאוּ, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "consecrate" (קַדְּשׁ֧וּ), "solemn·assembly" (עֲצָרָ֛ה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "and·they·called" (root קרא, 50x in II Kings); "Jehu" (root יהוא, 41x in II Kings). First appearance of the root קדש ("consecrate") in II Kings. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + יֵה֗וּא [Jehu] (22) + קַדְּשׁ֧וּ [consecrate] (410) + עֲצָרָ֛ה [solemn·assembly] (365) + לַבַּ֖עַל [to·the·Baal] (132) + וַיִּקְרָֽאוּ [and·they·called] (323) = 1509.
Rashi
They sanctified a gathering. They proclaimed an assembly, to be gathered to the house of Baal:
Radak
"Sanctify a solemn assembly." [Meaning:] Set its time — a solemn assembly — so that all the people will be gathered/held back before Baal.
Ralbag
"Sanctify an assembly for Baal." Appoint a time and proclaim a day on which you shall all be gathered together for Baal.
Metzudat David
"Sanctify a solemn assembly." This means: designate a day, so that all would be detained and gathered together.
And they proclaimed. They announced a fixed day:
Metzudat Zion
Sanctify. Prepare:
A gathering. An assembly and gathering, so too (Jeremiah 9:1): an assembly of traitors:
Malbim
And it says: "Command them to sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal," meaning that they should designate a specific day as an appointed time for it, and that day would be sanctified and forbidden for work. And so they did, and they called that day a festival and a solemn assembly for Baal.
And Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.
verse value 4021
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 78 letters. The shortest word is "mouth" (פֶּ֥ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·all·Israel" (בְּכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 107: Baal, Baal. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "in·all·Israel" (בְּכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל), "and·not·was·left" (וְלֹא־נִשְׁאַ֥ר), "did·not·come" (לֹא־בָ֑א). The root בוא appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "house·of" (root בית, 141x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'did·not·come', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 7 words.
Metzudat David
"Opening to opening." From the doorway on one side to the doorway opposite it.
Malbim
And he sent. In accordance with this, he sent to gather the worshippers of Baal from all Israel to come on the day of the festival.
And he said to him that was over the vestry: ‘Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal.’ And he brought them forth vestments.
verse value 2654
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 49 letters. Notable word values: "slave" (עֹבְדֵ֣י) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "to·them·of" (לְכֹ֖ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·the·wardrobe" (עַל־הַמֶּלְתָּחָ֔ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 107: the·Baal, and·he·went·out. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·whom" (לַֽאֲשֶׁר֙), "upon·the·wardrobe" (עַל־הַמֶּלְתָּחָ֔ה), "bring·out" (הוֹצֵ֣א). The root יצא appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·whom" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "upon·the·wardrobe" (root על, 116x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·Baal', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר [and·said] (257) + לַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ [to·whom] (531) + עַל־הַמֶּלְתָּחָ֔ה [upon·the·wardrobe] (588) + הוֹצֵ֣א [bring·out] (102) + לְב֔וּשׁ [garment] (338) + לְכֹ֖ל [to·them·of] (80) + עֹבְדֵ֣י [slave] (86) + הַבָּ֑עַל [the·Baal] (107) + וַיֹּצֵ֥א [and·he·went·out] (107) + לָהֶ֖ם [to·them] (75) + הַמַּלְבּֽוּשׁ [clothing] (383) = 2654.
Rashi
Upon the wardrobe. Yonatan translates: to the officer in charge of the storerooms. Chests and boxes, in which they wrap and hide the ornaments of the worshippers of Baal:
Radak
"To the wardrobe manager." The Targum of Jonathan renders it "the one appointed over the qumtarya" [storeroom], meaning the storerooms of clothing. Similarly, our Sages of blessed memory speak of "kumterei de-sifrei," meaning the storerooms of the scrolls.
Ralbag
"And he said to the one in charge of the wardrobe." This refers to the official responsible for the treasury of the garments of the priests and the worshipers of Baal.
Metzudat David
"Take out the garment." The intention was that they should be recognizable by their garments, so that none of them would escape.
Metzudat Zion
The wardrobe. It is the place where the bundles of the Baal priests' garments are stored, and it is the transposition of [the letters in] (Job 38:9): 'and thick darkness was its swaddling band,' and so too Targum Yonatan renders it: 'qomtarya' [a chest/case], and in the Mishnah (Kelim, ch. 16, m. 7): 'the cover of a case is pure':
Malbim
And he said: He desired to ascertain who was liable to death, for he feared that those who came merely to observe might mingle with them. Therefore, he commanded that they don the garments specific to their service; and every one of the servants of Baal had his own distinctive garment kept in the treasury there. On this basis, he would know that they had come with intent. And this is the meaning of "and he brought out their garments," namely, all the garments that were found in the wardrobe. Moreover, this was a stratagem so that they could not escape, for they would be identified by their garments.
And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal; and he said to the worshippers of Baal: ‘Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Hashem, but the worshippers of Baal only.’
verse value 3191
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 84 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֛י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·Jehonadab" (וִיהוֹנָדָ֥ב, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 107: the·Baal, Baal, Baal. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·Jehonadab" (וִיהוֹנָדָ֥ב), "to·worshippers·of" (לְעֹבְדֵ֣י), "search" (חַפְּשׂ֤וּ). The root בעל appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "and·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings). First appearance of the root בד ("to·their·alone") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·Baal', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 13 words.
Metzudat David
"Of those who serve the Lord." For he feared that one of them might come to see what was being done, and he would be destroyed together with them.
"Ki im" – This means: The servants of the Lord went forth from here, so that none should remain except the worshippers of Baal.
Metzudat Zion
They searched. They investigated, so too (Lamentations 3:40): let us examine our ways:
And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him fourscore men without, and said: ‘If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, his life shall be for the life of him.’
verse value 6809
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 93 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֔ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "from·the·men" (מִן־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 436: his·soul, his·soul. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "sacrifices" (זְבָחִ֣ים), "and·burnt-offerings" (וְעֹל֑וֹת), "placed·to·him" (שָֽׂם־ל֤וֹ). The root איש appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "who·escapes" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·burnt-offerings', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 16 words.
Rashi
His life for his life. The life of the guard for the life of the escaped:
Radak
“His soul for his soul.” The soul of the guardian is in place of the soul of the fugitive.
Metzudat David
"Through you." Those who are entrusted into your hands, to guard them so that they do not flee.
His soul. The soul of the guard who transgressed in his duty of guarding, in exchange for the soul of the one who escaped due to his negligence.
Malbim
(24–25) "And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings," and thereby they became liable to death for the slaughtering and the service. Then he commanded that they be struck down according to the law, and he stationed eighty men outside to strike down the escapees. And he said to the runners and the officers: he commanded that they strike them down within the house of Baal. And they struck them down and cast the corpses outside, and from there they went to the city of the house of Baal.
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains: ‘Go in, and slay them; let none come forth.’ And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.
verse value 6076
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 100 letters. The shortest word is "go·in" (בֹּ֤אוּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·to·the·captains" (וְלַשָּׁלִשִׁ֜ים, 7 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "when·He·finished" (כְּכַלֹּת֣וֹ), "to·the·runners" (לָרָצִ֨ים), "and·to·the·captains" (וְלַשָּׁלִשִׁ֜ים). The root רוץ appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "let·not·go·out" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "go·in" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·the·edge·of·the·sword', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Rashi
And they threw. (Targum:) and the guards cast out the men who were slain. They cast out the corpses of the worshippers of Baal:
Radak
And they threw. This is in the manner of the expansion of language, due to their great haste and speed, to send them to the city of the temple of Baal, to break down the pillars.
Ralbag
"And the runners and the third men cast it." This means that the runners and the third men had already cast out the carcasses of the slain from the house of Baal, at the time they struck them down.
Metzudat David
"ככלותו" – When Jehu had finished offering the burnt offering through them; for after they had offered the burnt offering, the truth of the matter became known, that they were worshippers of Baal, and henceforth they would not claim that he had slain innocent men.
"And they cast themselves." He said this in the manner of expansion, that due to their great haste, it was as though they cast themselves to go to the city designated for the temple of Baal.
Metzudat Zion
To the runners. Those who run on foot before his chariot:
And to the captains. And to the officers:
And they brought forth the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them.
verse value 2178
Insights
Verse structure: 4 words, 26 letters. Verse gematria: 2178 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "and·they·brought·out" (וַיֹּצִ֛אוּ, 5 letters) and the longest is "pillars·of" (אֶת־מַצְּב֥וֹת, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "pillars·of" (אֶת־מַצְּב֥וֹת), "and·burned·them" (וַֽיִּשְׂרְפֽוּהָ). 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "house·of·Baal" (root בית, 141x in II Kings); "and·they·brought·out" (root יצא, 48x in II Kings). First appearance of the root מצבה ("pillars·of") in II Kings. First appearance of the root שרף ("and·burned·them") in II Kings. Full calculation: וַיֹּצִ֛אוּ [and·they·brought·out] (113) + אֶת־מַצְּב֥וֹת [pillars·of] (939) + בֵּית־הַבַּ֖עַל [house·of·Baal] (519) + וַֽיִּשְׂרְפֽוּהָ [and·burned·them] (607) = 2178.
Radak
"And they brought out." The first instance, "matzevot," is in the plural, and the second instance, "matzevat," is in the singular.
“And they burned it.” Each one of the pillars.
Metzudat Zion
And they burned them. Each and every one:
Malbim
And they brought out and burned the pillars of the house of Baal that were of wood, and that were around the house of Baal.
And they tore down one large monument of stones called the monument of Baal. Only the sins of Jeroboam, insofar as he caused Israel to sin in this matter, etc., were regarded as a good and righteous thing for them; but the individual sins of Jeroboam, which all of Israel did not follow him in, Jehu did not follow him in.
And they broke down the pillar of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a draught-house, to this day.
verse value 4744
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "pillar" (מַצְּבַ֣ת, 4 letters) and the longest is "to·draught-houses" (לְמֽוֹצָא֖וֹת, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 512: and·they·pulled·down, and·they·pulled·down. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "pillar" (מַצְּבַ֣ת), "and·made·it" (וַיְשִׂמֻ֥הוּ), "to·draught-houses" (לְמֽוֹצָא֖וֹת). The root נתץ appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·house·of" (root בית, 141x in II Kings); "until·the·day" (root יום, 79x in II Kings); "the·Baal" (root בעל, 26x in II Kings). First appearance of the root נתץ ("and·they·pulled·down") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·Baal', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words.
Rashi
To latrines. The language of a latrine, and so (Isaiah 36:12): to eat their feces:
Radak
"le-moḥra'ot" – [This is] the ketiv, and the qere is "le-motza'ot," and both are of the same meaning, only that the qere uses a more refined term. The sense is that they would relieve themselves there.
Ralbag
"לְמַחֲרָאוֹת" – this means: to latrines, in order to relieve oneself there, thereby defiling the idols.
Metzudat David
The monument of Baal. The base upon which the image of Baal stood:
Metzudat Zion
And they smashed. From the word smash and break:
To latrines. To relieve oneself there for a 'great [need]' [a euphemism for defecation]:
Verse structure: 4 words, 21 letters. The shortest word is "Jehu" (יֵה֛וּא, 4 letters) and the longest is "Baal" (אֶת־הַבַּ֖עַל, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·destroyed" (וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד), "from·Israel" (מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל). 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "from·Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings); "Jehu" (root יהוא, 41x in II Kings); "Baal" (root בעל, 26x in II Kings). Full calculation: וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד [and·destroyed] (360) + יֵה֛וּא [Jehu] (22) + אֶת־הַבַּ֖עַל [Baal] (508) + מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל [from·Israel] (581) = 1471.
However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan.
verse value 4495
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 69 letters. The shortest word is "only" (רַ֠ק, 2 letters) and the longest is "Israel" (אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "sins·of" (חֲטָאֵ֞י), "from·after·them" (מֵאַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם), "calves·of" (עֶגְלֵי֙). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Beth-el" (root בית, 141x in II Kings); "son·of·Nebat" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root חטא ("sins·of") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·after·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 6 words.
Rashi
Only the sins of Jeroboam and so on. From the fear that the kingdom should not return to the house of David, as Jeroboam was afraid:
Radak
“Which is Bethel.” Like “in Bethel” [i.e., with an implied “in”]. And likewise, “that was found [in] the house of the LORD” [follows the same construction].
Metzudat David
The golden calves. This refers back to the beginning of the verse, to say: And what were the sins of Jeroboam? The golden calves that were in Bethel, etc.
And Hashem said to Jehu: ‘Because you have done well in executing that which is right in Mine eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in My heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.’
verse value 6181
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 87 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֜ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֖, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·you·did·well" (אֲשֶׁר־הֱטִיבֹ֙תָ֙, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "that·you·did·well" (אֲשֶׁר־הֱטִיבֹ֙תָ֙), "in·my·heart" (בִּלְבָבִ֔י), "fourth" (רְבִעִ֔ים). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that·you·did·well" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings). First appearance of the root רביעי ("fourth") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ahab', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 6 words.
Rashi
And the Lord said to Jehu. By the hand of Jonah:
Your sons of the fourth generation. Four generations, in place of that you destroyed the house of Ahab, who reigned four generations, Omri, and Ahab, and Achaziah, and Jehoram:
Radak
"And the Lord said to Jehu." By means of a prophet. And in Seder Olam, who said it to him? Jonah, the son of Amittai.
“Sons of the fourth [generation].” Like “sons, fourth [generation]”: Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam, Zechariah. And they said: By virtue of the merit that he destroyed the house of Ahab—since four generations reigned from Ahab's house: Omri, Ahab, Ahaziah, and Joram—four generations of his sons reigned. And Jehu eradicated Baal, but he did not eradicate the calves, because those were made for the sake of the Lord. And even so, it was a great sin, as it is written: “You shall not make with Me…” etc.
Ralbag
"And the Lord said to Jehu." He said to him: This [command] was conveyed through a prophet, for Jehu was not a prophet.
Metzudat David
And the Lord said. Through a prophet:
“You have done well, etc.” – You have done what is right in My eyes, in the best possible manner, and according to the thoughts of My heart you have acted, etc.
"Children of the fourth generation." Four generations from your seed shall reign.
Malbim
(30–31) "And [the LORD] said" — the text relates that the LORD promised Jehu that his descendants would sit on the throne of Israel for four generations. Yet despite all this, Jehu did not take care to walk in the Torah of the LORD, etc., and did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam. This means that if the Holy One, blessed be He, had not promised him that his sons would reign after him for four generations, he would have had an excuse, fearing that the kingdom might return to the House of David through the people ascending to Jerusalem, just as Jeroboam made the golden calves for this very reason. But since Jehu did not fear that the monarchy would depart from his descendants, because he had a promise from the LORD, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against him. And since He had already promised him the kingship, He could not fully consume His wrath against him. Therefore:
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Hashem, the God of Israel, with all his heart; he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.
verse value 5445
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֥א, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·the·law·of·Hashem" (בְּתֽוֹרַת־יְהֹוָ֥ה, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 31: not, not. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "in·the·law·of·Hashem" (בְּתֽוֹרַת־יְהֹוָ֥ה). The root לא appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "from·upon" (root על, 116x in II Kings); "not" (root לא, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root תורה ("in·the·law·of·Hashem") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·all·his·heart', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
In those days Hashem began to cut Israel short; and Hazael smote them in all the borders of Israel:
verse value 2146
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 46 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "abundance" (הָהֵ֔ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·all·border·of" (בְּכׇל־גְּב֥וּל, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·cut·off" (לְקַצּ֖וֹת), "in·all·border·of" (בְּכׇל־גְּב֥וּל). The root ישראל appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "in·Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings); "in·the·days" (root יום, 79x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: בַּיָּמִ֣ים [in·the·days] (102) + הָהֵ֔ם [abundance] (50) + הֵחֵ֣ל [began] (43) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + לְקַצּ֖וֹת [to·cut·off] (626) + בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [in·Israel] (543) + וַיַּכֵּ֥ם [and·struck·them] (76) + חֲזָאֵ֖ל [Hazael] (46) + בְּכׇל־גְּב֥וּל [in·all·border·of] (93) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 2146.
Rashi
To diminish. Like (Genesis 27:46): I am disgusted with my life:
Radak
"To cut off/reduce in Israel." To destroy, as in [the verse]: "He who cuts off [his own] feet drinks violence."
Ralbag
"In those days the Lord began to cut off Israel." Behold, from this place it will be clarified to you that those of the house of Ahab whom Jehu killed were spared from the sword of Hazael, for in the days of the house of Ahab his sword did not rule over Israel; but in the days of Jehu the Lord began to cut down and destroy Israel through Hazael. And behold, "cutting off" (katzot) and "cutting down" (katzutz) are two roots with the same meaning.
Metzudat David
"The Lord began." The Lord began to cut off [the people] from among Israel.
In every border of Israel. Not in one place alone:
Metzudat Zion
To cut off. To eradicate, so too (Deuteronomy 25:12): and you shall cut off her hand:
Malbim
“The Lord began to cut off Israel” means that He began to strike those dwelling in the borderlands, beyond the Jordan to the east.
from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.
verse value 4877
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "place·of·sunrise" (מִזְרַ֣ח, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Reubenite" (וְהָראוּבֵנִ֖י, 8 letters). 12 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "from·Jordan" (מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙), "place·of·sunrise" (מִזְרַ֣ח), "all·land" (כׇּל־אֶ֣רֶץ). The root גלעד appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·upon·torrent·of" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "all·land" (root ארץ, 67x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Manassites', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 5 words.
Metzudat David
"From the east of the sun." To the east, he struck all the land of Gilead, etc.
"From Aroer, etc." From Aroer he struck, until the end of the boundary.
"And Gilead." The city of Gilead was the metropolis for all the land of Gilead. And it states: besides that He smote the land of Gilead, as stated above, He also smote its metropolis.
And Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 3243
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 50 letters. The shortest word is "him" (אֹת֖וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו, 7 letters). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·reigned" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "his·son" (root בן, 66x in II Kings); "with·his·fathers" (root עם, 65x in II Kings). First appearance of the root יהואחז ("Jehoahaz") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Samaria', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב [and·he·slept] (338) + יֵהוּא֙ [Jehu] (22) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ [and·they·buried] (324) + אֹת֖וֹ [him] (407) + בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן [in·Samaria] (598) + וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + יְהוֹאָחָ֥ז [Jehoahaz] (37) + בְּנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 3243.
And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
verse value 3339
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֨ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "twenty·eight" (עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה, 10 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·the·days" (וְהַיָּמִ֗ים), "twenty·eight" (עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·reigned" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "upon·Israel" (root על, 116x in II Kings). Full calculation: וְהַיָּמִ֗ים [and·the·days] (111) + אֲשֶׁ֨ר [that] (501) + מָלַ֤ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + יֵהוּא֙ [Jehu] (22) + עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [upon·Israel] (641) + עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה [twenty·eight] (1021) + שָׁנָ֖ה [year] (355) + בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן [in·Samaria] (598) = 3339.
Rashi
Radak
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim