Amaziah smites Edom in the Valley of Salt, then challenges Jehoash of Israel and hears the parable of the thistle and the cedar; Jerusalem's wall is breached. Jeroboam son of Joash restores the border of Israel, according to the word of Jonah son of Amittai.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel began Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah to reign.
verse value 3295
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 51 letters. The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Joahaz" (בֶּן־יוֹאָחָ֖ז, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: king, he·reigned, king. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "son·of·Joahaz" (בֶּן־יוֹאָחָ֖ז). The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "son·of·Joahaz" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root אמציהו ("Amaziah") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: בִּשְׁנַ֣ת [in·year·of] (752) + שְׁתַּ֔יִם [two] (750) + לְיוֹאָ֥שׁ [to·Joash] (347) + בֶּן־יוֹאָחָ֖ז [son·of·Joahaz] (84) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + מָלַ֛ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + אֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ [Amaziah] (152) + בֶן־יוֹאָ֖שׁ [son·of·Joash] (369) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 3295.
Radak
"In the second year of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz." How so? In the thirty-ninth year of Joash, the king of Judah, Ahaziah died, and his son Joash reigned. Even though he had begun to reign during his father's lifetime, as we have explained, his reign is now counted from after his father's death. Thus, there were thirty-nine years, and in the fortieth year, Joash, the king of Judah, died, and his son Amaziah reigned in that same year. Hence, it was in the second year of Joash, the king of Israel, that Amaziah reigned.
Metzudat David
"In the second year." Although Joash reigned for two years during his father's lifetime, nevertheless, the calculation of the days of his reign began only after his father's death. This was in the thirty-ninth year of Joash, king of Judah. Joash, king of Judah, reigned for forty years, and his reign ended at the beginning of the second year of Joash, king of Israel. At that time, Amaziah began to reign.
He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.
verse value 5303
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 72 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָה֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "from·Jerusalem" (מִן־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 355: year, year. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Jehoaddan" (יְהוֹעַדָּ֖ן), "from·Jerusalem" (מִן־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם). The root שנה appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·his·reigning" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "was" (root היה, 119x in II Kings); "year" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings). First appearance of the root תשע ("and·nine") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 5 words.
And he did that which was right in the eyes of Hashem, yet not like David his father; he did according to all that Joash his father had done.
verse value 3110
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 49 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "only" (רַ֕ק, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·he·did" (אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֛ה, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 19: his·father, his·father. The root עשה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·he·did" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "and·did" (root עשה, 142x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·father', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֤עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + הַיָּשָׁר֙ [straight] (515) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + רַ֕ק [only] (300) + לֹ֖א [not] (31) + כְּדָוִ֣ד [like·David] (34) + אָבִ֑יו [his·father] (19) + כְּכֹ֧ל [as·them] (70) + אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֛ה [that·he·did] (876) + יוֹאָ֥שׁ [Joash] (317) + אָבִ֖יו [his·father] (19) + עָשָֽׂה [did] (375) = 3110.
Malbim
“Only not like his father David”: This means that he did what was right according to the commandments of men, a learned tradition, because his father had done so, not out of love for God as David did. For Joash also acted only because the priest Jehoiada instructed him, and he turned away from God upon the death of Jehoiada. And in Chronicles it is stated: “He did what was right, but not with a whole heart.”
However the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and offered in the high places.
verse value 2207
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "only" (רַ֥ק, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·burning·incense" (וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים, 7 letters). The root במה appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·people" (root עם, 65x in II Kings); "not·they·turned·aside" (root סור, 27x in II Kings); "the·high·places" (root במה, 25x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'not·they·turned·aside', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 5 words. Full calculation: רַ֥ק [only] (300) + הַבָּמ֖וֹת [the·high·places] (453) + לֹא־סָ֑רוּ [not·they·turned·aside] (297) + ע֥וֹד [still] (80) + הָעָ֛ם [the·people] (115) + מְזַבְּחִ֥ים [sacrificing] (107) + וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים [and·burning·incense] (405) + בַּבָּמֽוֹת [in·the·high·places] (450) = 2207.
And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he slew his servants who had slain the king his father;
verse value 1993
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 47 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·slew" (וַיַּךְ֙) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "and·he·slew" (וַיַּךְ֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "his·servants" (אֶת־עֲבָדָ֔יו, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "it·was·established" (חָזְקָ֥ה), "his·servants" (אֶת־עֲבָדָ֔יו). The root נכה appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "as" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "and·it·was" (root היה, 119x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·his·hand', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֕י [and·it·was] (31) + כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר [as] (521) + חָזְקָ֥ה [it·was·established] (120) + הַמַּמְלָכָ֖ה [kingdom] (140) + בְּיָד֑וֹ [in·his·hand] (22) + וַיַּךְ֙ [and·he·slew] (36) + אֶת־עֲבָדָ֔יו [his·servants] (493) + הַמַּכִּ֖ים [blow] (115) + אֶת־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ [the·king] (496) + אָבִֽיו [his·father] (19) = 1993.
but the children of the murderers he put not to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as Hashem commanded saying: ‘The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.’
verse value 7644
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 102 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֜ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 7644 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·the·book·of·law·Moses" (בְּסֵֽפֶר־תּֽוֹרַת־מֹ֠שֶׁ֠ה, 11 letters). Words sharing gematria 493: they·shall·not·be·put·to·death, they·shall·not·be·put·to·death. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "in·the·book·of·law·Moses" (בְּסֵֽפֶר־תּֽוֹרַת־מֹ֠שֶׁ֠ה), "fathers" (אָב֤וֹת), "upon·sons" (עַל־בָּנִים֙). The root מות appears 5 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that·commanded" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'he·put·to·death', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 16 words.
Radak
"Parents shall not be put to death for the children." For this is the literal meaning of the verse, as it states, "Each person shall be put to death for his own sin." However, our Sages of blessed memory received the tradition that this prohibition also encompasses the testimony of close relatives, as Onkelos translated it: "by the mouth of their children and by the mouth of their fathers." But the primary warning is that parents shall not be put to death for the sin of their children, nor children for the sin of their parents, as he brought proof here from the verse:
"Yamut." There is a written form and a read form: it is written "yamut" and read "yumat," and the meaning is the same.
Ralbag
"And he did not put to death the children of the assassins, as it is written in the Book of the Torah of Moses." This is a sign that the intent of the verse in stating, "Fathers shall not be put to death for children, and children shall not be put to death for fathers," is that fathers shall not be put to death for the sin of the children, nor shall children be put to death for the sin of their fathers.
Metzudat Zion
For sons. For the sake of sons:
Malbim
As it is written in the Book of the Torah of Moses. And although our Sages of blessed memory expounded "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children" [to mean] on the testimony of children, this they derived from the superfluous wording of the verse, "a person shall be put to death for his own sin" — yet [the first clause's] plain meaning remains its plain meaning. Therefore, they cited the latter part of the verse: "but a person shall be put to death for his own sin."
Cross-references: Deuteronomy 24:16; II Chronicles 25:4
He slew of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called the name of it Joktheel, to this day.
verse value 5034
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "until" (עַ֖ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "he·struck" (הוּא־הִכָּ֨ה, 6 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "in·Valley·of·Salt" (בְּגֵי־מֶ֙לַח֙), "salt" ((המלח)), "and·took" (וְתָפַ֥שׂ). 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "day" (root יום, 79x in II Kings); "this" (root זה, 56x in II Kings); "and·called" (root קרא, 50x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'battle', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Rashi
And he called her name Joktheel. For it became for him a cause of his teeth being set on edge, as it is written in Chronicles (II 25:14): after Amaziah came from striking the Edomites, and he brought the gods of the children of Seir and set them up for himself as gods, and before them he would bow and so on. And the prophet rebuked him and said to him (verse 16): I know that God counseled to destroy you, and what is the counsel? That it incited him to provoke the king of Israel:
Radak
"The sons of Melach." It is a ketiv and qere: [the qere reads] "Gei Melach," and the matter is one [i.e., the meaning is the same either way].
Ten thousand. He mentioned those who were struck in the Valley of Salt, but did not mention the rest, about whom it is stated in Chronicles: "And another ten thousand were taken captive alive, and they brought them to the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, and all of them burst open."
And he seized the rock in battle. The Targum of Jonathan: “And he conquered the city in battle.” The fortress was situated on a rock.
Yokte'el. After he captured the fortress, he changed its name and called it Yokte'el, based on a known matter among them:
Metzudat David
"The rock." A fortress built upon the rock:
Cross-references: II Kings 16:6; II Chronicles 25:11
Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying: ‘Come, let us look one another in the face.’
verse value 2942
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 61 letters. The shortest word is "then" (אָ֣ז, 2 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Jehoahaz" (בֶּן־יְהוֹאָחָ֧ז, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·Jehoash" (אֶל־יְהוֹאָ֨שׁ), "let·us·look·at·one·another" (נִתְרָאֶ֥ה). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·Jehoash" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'saying', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 3 words. Full calculation: אָ֣ז [then] (8) + שָׁלַ֤ח [sent] (338) + אֲמַצְיָה֙ [Amaziah] (146) + מַלְאָכִ֔ים [messengers] (141) + אֶל־יְהוֹאָ֨שׁ [to·Jehoash] (353) + בֶּן־יְהוֹאָחָ֧ז [son·of·Jehoahaz] (89) + בֶּן־יֵה֛וּא [son·of·Jehu] (74) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [Israel] (541) + לֵאמֹ֑ר [saying] (271) + לְכָ֖ה [come] (55) + נִתְרָאֶ֥ה [let·us·look·at·one·another] (656) + פָנִֽים [face] (180) = 2942.
Rashi
Then Amaziah sent messengers and so on let us meet face to face. In battle:
Radak
"Let us meet face to face." Explanation: This refers to battle. The matter is that he desired to fight against him. In the Book of Chronicles it is stated that when Amaziah went out to fight against Edom, he hired from Israel one hundred thousand mighty men to go with him. However, he dismissed them in accordance with the prophet’s command, telling them to return to their places. Their anger was kindled, and they raided the cities of Judah, killing three thousand of them and plundering great wealth. Because of this, Amaziah desired to fight against the king of Israel.
Ralbag
"Let us meet face to face." This means the encounter of faces in battle.
Metzudat David
“Let us meet face to face.” For in Chronicles (II 25:3) it is stated that the men of Jehoash raided the cities of Judah and struck them down. To this, he sent him a message saying: “This is not valor—to come suddenly and strike. Rather, let us meet face to face, and we shall know with whom valor resides.”
Malbim
The Questions: Why did Amaziah the righteous fall into the hands of Joash?
"At that time" — the word "at that time" indicates that there was then a cause for this. And in Chronicles it is explained that when he went against Edom, he hired a hundred thousand men of Ephraim to help him, and according to the prophet's testimony, he sent them back to their homes. And in their anger over this, they raided the cities of Judah and struck down three thousand and plundered greatly. Therefore, he desired to fight Joash to avenge the great slaughter that his people had suffered at their hands. Moreover, there was then a providential cause: God led him astray in this, for when he came from Seir, he brought with him the gods of Seir and set them up for himself as gods, as the prophet said to him, "I know that God has devised to destroy you." And He incited him to fight with Joash so that he would fall into his hand.
And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: ‘The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying: Give your daughter to my son to wife; and there passed by the wild beasts that were in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.
verse value 8934
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 121 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·Israel" (מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that, that. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·Amaziah" (אֶל־אֲמַצְיָ֣הוּ), "thorn" (הַח֜וֹחַ), "to·the·cedar" (אֶל־הָאֶ֜רֶז). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Israel" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings). First appearance of the root לבנון ("in·Lebanon") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·wife', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 7 words.
Rashi
The thorn that is in Lebanon. Shechem son of Hamor:
He sent to the cedar. Jacob:
And the beast of the field passed. The children of Jacob came upon the slain; so too here, you come to compare yourself to me, and it is a parable of contempt, for he likened him to a thornbush, and himself to a cedar:
And the beast of the field that is in Lebanon passed and trampled and so on. For you have become arrogant, even you shall be trampled by my armies:
Radak
"The thistle that is in Lebanon." He [Jehoash] told this parable, calling the king of Judah "the thistle" and calling himself "the cedar." And the parable "Give your daughter to my son" means that even if he wanted to join with him peacefully, it would be despised in his eyes to join with him — how much more so in the way of war.
Ralbag
"The thorn that is in Lebanon." He called himself a cedar, and called the king of Judah a thorn, in a sense of contempt, and said, by way of parable, that even if [Amaziah] were to ask him to ally with him, so that there would be peace between them, nevertheless this matter would be despised in his eyes, loathsome and utterly contemptible. "A beast of the field that is in Lebanon shall pass over and trample down the thorn"—all the more so when he desires to fight against him. And behold, he despised him so greatly because he was from the seed of Ahaziah, who was of the house of Ahab, whom his ancestors had killed, and they killed all the house of Ahab. For this reason, you will find in this place, when Joash defeated him, that he traced his lineage to Ahaziah. This is what it says: "And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah." This was the reason for his defeating him, because he walked in the way of Ahaziah, and also Joash his father, after the death of Jehoiada. And it has already been told in Chronicles that Amaziah brought the gods of the sons of Seir, and bowed down before them. And on account of this sin, he fell into the hands of Joash, he and Judah with him.
Metzudat David
“The thistle.” He likened Amaziah to the thistle, and himself to the cedar, as if saying: “Even if you spoke for peace, it would be considered a disgrace for me to join with you; all the more so to go down with you to war.”
"And it trampled." Because he raised his heart to speak such a thing, it alluded to him that his men would trample him.
Metzudat Zion
The thistle. A kind of thorn:
And trample. From the word trample and tread:
Malbim
"The thistle" — this was a common saying among the Children of Israel concerning the matter of Shechem, son of Hamor, who sought to marry into Jacob's household, and the tribes, who were likened to wild beasts, trampled him. As it is stated in the Midrash, they cited this well-known parable: Just as Shechem brought harm upon himself and upon all his people, so too will he bring harm upon himself and upon the House of Judah.
You have indeed smitten Edom, and will your heart lift you up? glory therein, and remain at home; for why should you meddle with evil, that you should fall, even you, and Judah with you?
verse value 4628
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 64 letters. Notable word values: "and·Judah" (וִיהוּדָ֥ה) = 36, double chai. Verse gematria: 4628 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "strike" (הַכֵּ֤ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "Edom" (אֶת־אֱד֔וֹם, 6 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·he·lifted·you" (וּֽנְשָׂאֲךָ֖), "your·heart" (לִבֶּ֑ךָ), "glory" (הִכָּבֵד֙). The root נכה appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·your·house" (root בית, 141x in II Kings); "with" (root עם, 65x in II Kings); "and·Judah" (root יהודה, 64x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'your·heart', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 10 words.
Ralbag
"Be honored, and sit in your house." This is from the root meaning "to be honored," as if it were saying that his honor would be that he sit in his house, for he would attain disgrace from this war.
Metzudat David
"Strike." Because you struck Edom, your heart became arrogant:
"Be honored and sit in your house." This means: If you sit in your house and cease fighting against me, then you will remain in the honor that you acquired through your victory over Edom.
And why do you provoke evil? Why do you provoke me, in order to bring evil upon yourself, and you and your people will fall.
Metzudat Zion
And your heart be lifted up. A matter of exaltation and arrogance:
You provoke. A matter of beginning a quarrel:
But Amaziah would not hear. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
verse value 4376
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "he" (ה֖וּא, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·Israel" (מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·not·heard" (וְלֹא־שָׁמַ֣ע), "and·they·looked·at·one·another" (וַיִּתְרָא֣וּ), "and·Amaziah" (וַאֲמַצְיָ֣הוּ). The root אמציהו appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Israel" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "in·Beth-shemesh" (root בית, 141x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'king·Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְלֹא־שָׁמַ֣ע [and·not·heard] (447) + אֲמַצְיָ֔הוּ [Amaziah] (152) + וַיַּ֨עַל [and·went·up] (116) + יְהוֹאָ֤שׁ [Jehoash] (322) + מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ [king·Israel] (631) + וַיִּתְרָא֣וּ [and·they·looked·at·one·another] (623) + פָנִ֔ים [face] (180) + ה֖וּא [he] (12) + וַאֲמַצְיָ֣הוּ [and·Amaziah] (158) + מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֑ה [king·Judah] (120) + בְּבֵ֥ית [in·Beth-shemesh] (414) + שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ [sun] (640) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + לִיהוּדָֽה [to·Judah] (60) = 4376.
Radak
“in Beth-shemesh, which is in the territory of Judah.” Why does it say “which is in the territory of Judah,” since it is well known that Beth-shemesh belongs to Judah? Rather, to inform us that the king of Israel came to fight against him within the borders of the children of Judah.
Ralbag
"In Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah." Behold, due to Joash's great confidence that he would defeat the king of Judah, he went to fight him in his land; therefore, the text specifies that the battle took place in Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.
And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his tent.
verse value 1405
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֥ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·he·was·smitten" (וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·he·was·smitten" (וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף), "to·his·tent" (לְאֹהָלָֽו). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "man" (root איש, 119x in II Kings); "Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings); "to·face·of" (root פנים, 72x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּנָּ֥גֶף [and·he·was·smitten] (149) + יְהוּדָ֖ה [Judah] (30) + לִפְנֵ֣י [to·face·of] (170) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ [and·they·fled] (132) + אִ֥ישׁ [man] (311) + לְאֹהָלָֽו [to·his·tent] (72) = 1405.
Radak
"And Judah was smitten." On account of the sin that the king of Judah brought the gods of the children of Seir, and before them he bowed down, as it states in Chronicles; therefore, it says, "to destroy him."
And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.
verse value 8440
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 115 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵת֩, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·Judah" (מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֜ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 586: Jerusalem, Jerusalem. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "son·of·Jehoash" (בֶּן־יְהוֹאָ֣שׁ), "he·seized" (תָּפַ֛שׂ), "and·he·breached" (וַיִּפְרֹץ֩). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Judah" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "and·they·went·in" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "in·Beth" (root בית, 141x in II Kings). First appearance of the root אמה ("cubit") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sun', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 13 words.
Radak
"By the gate of Ephraim." There was a gate in Jerusalem that was called the Gate of Ephraim, which opened facing the border of Ephraim, and through that gate the people of Ephraim would enter when they came to Jerusalem.
“Until the Corner Gate.” This is the Inner Gate; it is called so because the corner of the wall was there.
Ralbag
“From the gate of Ephraim to the gate of the corner.” It might seem that there was a gate there, through which the tribe of Ephraim would enter when they came to Jerusalem. And the “gate of the corner” was the gate that was adjacent to the House of the Lord. It is called the “gate of the corner” because it served as the corner and the foundation for the holiness of Israel.
Metzudat David
At the gate of Ephraim. This was indeed the name of the gate, and from there he began to break through, and he broke through until the gate that stood at the corner of the city, and the breach was four hundred cubits in length.
Malbim
"And he broke through the wall of Jerusalem." Abarbanel explains that this was not done in order to destroy the wall of Jerusalem, but rather to honor himself. For such was the custom of the Caesars in Rome, and even to this day it is the custom of great kings: when they go to war and achieve great salvation and tremendous victory, when they enter the city they do not enter through the city gate, but rather they demolish a portion of the wall so that they may enter through that breach, to testify that they broke through a great breach in their enemies. And so did Joash do, to publicize his victory.
And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Hashem, and in the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.
verse value 5704
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 78 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵ֨ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·gold·and·the·silver" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַזָּֽהָב־וְ֠הַכֶּ֠סֶף, 13 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: and, and. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·he·shall·take" (וְלָקַ֣ח), "all·the·gold·and·the·silver" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַזָּֽהָב־וְ֠הַכֶּ֠סֶף), "the·hostages" (הַתַּעֲרֻב֑וֹת). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "the·house·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "house·of" (root בית, 141x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·hostages', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 2 words. Full calculation: וְלָקַ֣ח [and·he·shall·take] (144) + אֶת־כׇּל־הַזָּֽהָב־וְ֠הַכֶּ֠סֶף [all·the·gold·and·the·silver] (641) + וְאֵ֨ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־הַכֵּלִ֜ים [all·the·vessels] (155) + הַנִּמְצְאִ֣ים [who·were·present] (236) + בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֗ה [the·house·of·Hashem] (438) + וּבְאֹֽצְרוֹת֙ [and·in·treasuries·of] (705) + בֵּ֣ית [house·of] (412) + הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ [king] (95) + וְאֵ֖ת [and] (407) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + הַתַּעֲרֻב֑וֹת [the·hostages] (1083) + וַיָּ֖שׇׁב [and·he·returned] (318) + שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה [Samaria] (601) = 5704.
Rashi
And the children of the pledges. The children of the princes, who were given in the king's house as a pledge, that their fathers should not rebel against him, and so too Yonatan translated: children of the great ones:
Radak
"[The vessels] found [in the] house of the LORD." Like [saying] "in the house of the LORD" [with the prefix omitted], and there are many like it [i.e., this elliptical construction occurs often].
"And the sons of the hostages." [These are] the sons of the officers who were placed as pledges to the king so that they [their fathers] would not rebel against him; and Targum Yonatan [renders]: "sons of the nobles."
"And he returned to Samaria." It is stated in Seder Olam, in that very chapter, that Jehoash king of Israel died, and Amaziah came to Jerusalem. And this is true, for the king of Israel died in the fourteenth year of Amaziah, according to the calculation of the years. However, it has not been clarified for us in which year of Amaziah's reign the war with Edom and the war with Israel took place.
Ralbag
"And the sons of the hostages." These are the sons of the nobles, who served as a pledge (or security) for the king, so that their fathers would not rebel against him. And behold, it is mentioned that Amaziah lived fifteen years after Joash, as if to allude to the fact that because Joash became so arrogant and said to Amaziah, "You have indeed fallen, and Judah with you," behold, he died fifteen years before Amaziah. And indeed it was so, for Joash had already reigned two years before Amaziah, and he reigned for fourteen years during Amaziah's lifetime, leaving fifteen years for Amaziah.
Metzudat David
"Children of the hostages": These are the children of the princes, who are in the king's hand as hostages, so that their fathers will not rebel against him.
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
verse value 5661
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 85 letters. The shortest word is "with" (עִ֖ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·Judah" (מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֑ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Judah" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "words·of" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'king·Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 7 words.
Malbim
The rest of the words of Joash have already been mentioned above, and I have already explained that there he said this as an allusion to his moral deeds, whereas here it refers to his acts of might and valor. And it can also be said that Joash died prematurely on account of this deed—whether because he became arrogant in his victory, or because it was in his mind to destroy the seed of the House of David. And God showed that the conquered man lived fifteen years after the death of the conqueror. And so it was with Abijah and Jeroboam, according to one opinion, that Abijah died prematurely.
And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 4166
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "with" (עִ֖ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 322: Jehoash, Jeroboam. The root עם appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "kings·of" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings); "his·son" (root בן, 66x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב [and·he·slept] (338) + יְהוֹאָשׁ֙ [Jehoash] (322) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + וַיִּקָּבֵר֙ [and·he·was·buried] (318) + בְּשֹׁ֣מְר֔וֹן [in·Samaria] (598) + עִ֖ם [with] (110) + מַלְכֵ֣י [kings·of] (100) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + יָרׇבְעָ֥ם [Jeroboam] (322) + בְּנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 4166.
And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.
verse value 3660
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Jehoahaz" (בֶּן־יְהוֹאָחָ֖ז, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: king, king. The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "year" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "son·of·Jehoahaz" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיְחִ֨י [and·lived] (34) + אֲמַצְיָ֤הוּ [Amaziah] (152) + בֶן־יוֹאָשׁ֙ [son·of·Joash] (369) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + אַחֲרֵ֣י [after] (219) + מ֔וֹת [surely] (446) + יְהוֹאָ֥שׁ [Jehoash] (322) + בֶּן־יְהוֹאָחָ֖ז [son·of·Jehoahaz] (89) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + חֲמֵ֥שׁ [five] (348) + עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [ten] (575) + שָׁנָֽה [year] (355) = 3660.
Rashi
And Amaziah lived and so on. All fifteen years his son Uzziah reigned in his lifetime, for so it is written in Chronicles (there verse 27): from the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord:
Radak
Fifteen years. This is the straightforward calculation: for Amaziah reigned in the second year of Joash, and Joash reigned for fifteen years; thus, Joash reigned for fourteen years concurrently with Amaziah. And since Amaziah reigned for twenty-nine years, behold, Amaziah lived for fifteen years after Joash.
Metzudat David
Fifteen years. For Amaziah began to reign in the second year of Joash, and Joash reigned sixteen years, excluding the two years that he reigned during his father’s lifetime; thus, his reign concluded in the fifteenth year of Amaziah. And since Amaziah reigned twenty-nine years, it follows that with the year in which Joash died, Amaziah survived him for fifteen years.
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
verse value 2458
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 48 letters. The shortest word is "and·remainder·of" (וְיֶ֖תֶר, 4 letters) and the longest is "Amaziah" (אֲמַצְיָ֑הוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "written" (כְּתֻבִ֗ים). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·the·kings·of" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "words·of" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings); "is·not·they" (root לא, 106x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Amaziah', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֖תֶר [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֣י [words·of] (216) + אֲמַצְיָ֑הוּ [Amaziah] (152) + הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם [is·not·they] (81) + כְּתֻבִ֗ים [written] (472) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 2458.
And they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.
verse value 4174
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "there" (שָֽׁם, 2 letters) and the longest is "in·Jerusalem" (בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 365: Lachish, Lachish. The root קשר appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon·him" (root על, 116x in II Kings); "and·they·sent" (root שלח, 67x in II Kings); "and·they·killed·him" (root מות, 61x in II Kings). First appearance of the root לכישה ("Lachish") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Lachish', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְשְׁר֨וּ [and·they·conspired] (622) + עָלָ֥יו [upon·him] (116) + קֶ֛שֶׁר [treason] (600) + בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם [in·Jerusalem] (588) + וַיָּ֣נׇס [and·fled] (126) + לָכִ֑ישָׁה [Lachish] (365) + וַיִּשְׁלְח֤וּ [and·they·sent] (360) + אַחֲרָיו֙ [after·him] (225) + לָכִ֔ישָׁה [Lachish] (365) + וַיְמִתֻ֖הוּ [and·they·killed·him] (467) + שָֽׁם [there] (340) = 4174.
Rashi
And they conspired against him and so on. From when they heard what the prophet said, for God counseled to destroy you:
And he fled to Lachish. There he was all fifteen years:
Metzudat David
In Jerusalem. For even though Jehoash had seized him [Amaziah], nevertheless he restored him to his kingship.
Malbim
"And they conspired" is explained in Chronicles, where it is stated: "When Amaziah turned away from the Lord, they conspired against him in Jerusalem." This is because in Jerusalem were the priests of the Lord and His servants, the disciples of Jehoiada; whereas in Lachish he found supporters who strengthened his hand during all these years. And what is stated, "and all the people of the land took [him],"—this occurred during the lifetime of Amaziah, as will be explained below, that this was three years after the war between Joash and Amaziah. And it is possible that at that time he fled to Lachish, and he reigned in Lachish while Uzziah reigned in Jerusalem. And after twelve years, the conspirators gained the upper hand, and they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. The conspiracy began in secret, starting from the time he turned away from the Lord, which was upon his return from the war against Edom. And it is possible that the conspirators themselves advised him of this evil counsel to fight with Joash, so that he might fall into his hand. And after he fell into the hands of Joash, he still reigned for three years in Jerusalem. Then the conspiracy broke out, and he fled to Lachish, and he dwelt there for twelve years until they killed him.
And they brought him upon horses; and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.
verse value 2742
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 42 letters. The shortest word is "him" (אֹת֖וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·the·horses" (עַל־הַסּוּסִ֑ים, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "upon·the·horses" (עַל־הַסּוּסִ֑ים). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "with·his·fathers" (root עם, 65x in II Kings); "in·city·of" (root עיר, 61x in II Kings); "in·Jerusalem" (root ירושלם, 49x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'upon·the·horses', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ [and·they·lifted] (323) + אֹת֖וֹ [him] (407) + עַל־הַסּוּסִ֑ים [upon·the·horses] (281) + וַיִּקָּבֵ֧ר [and·he·was·buried] (318) + בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם [in·Jerusalem] (588) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֖יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + בְּעִ֥יר [in·city·of] (282) + דָּוִֽד [David] (14) = 2742.
Radak
"On the horses." On a chariot drawn by two horses:
And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.
verse value 4111
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 58 letters. Notable word values: "and·he" (וְה֕וּא) = 18, chai, 'life'. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֑ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "Azariah" (אֶת־עֲזַרְיָ֔ה, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Azariah" (אֶת־עֲזַרְיָ֔ה). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·made·king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "year" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "son·of·six" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'year', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְח֞וּ [and·took] (130) + כׇּל־עַ֤ם [all·with] (160) + יְהוּדָה֙ [Judah] (30) + אֶת־עֲזַרְיָ֔ה [Azariah] (693) + וְה֕וּא [and·he] (18) + בֶּן־שֵׁ֥שׁ [son·of·six] (652) + עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [ten] (575) + שָׁנָ֑ה [year] (355) + וַיַּמְלִ֣כוּ [and·they·made·king] (112) + אֹת֔וֹ [him] (407) + תַּ֖חַת [in·place·of] (808) + אָבִ֥יו [his·father] (19) + אֲמַצְיָֽהוּ [Amaziah] (152) = 4111.
He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
verse value 2459
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "he" (ה֚וּא, 3 letters) and the longest is "lying·down·of·the·king" (שְׁכַֽב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·he·restored·it" (וַיְשִׁבֶ֖הָ), "lying·down·of·the·king" (שְׁכַֽב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "with·his·fathers" (root עם, 65x in II Kings); "to·Judah" (root יהודה, 64x in II Kings); "and·he·restored·it" (root שוב, 53x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: ה֚וּא [he] (12) + בָּנָ֣ה [he·built] (57) + אֶת־אֵילַ֔ת [Elath] (842) + וַיְשִׁבֶ֖הָ [and·he·restored·it] (323) + לִֽיהוּדָ֑ה [to·Judah] (60) + אַחֲרֵ֥י [after] (219) + שְׁכַֽב־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ [lying·down·of·the·king] (417) + עִם־אֲבֹתָֽיו [with·his·fathers] (529) = 2459.
Rashi
After the king lay down with his fathers. After the death of Amaziah his father, from here you learn that Uzziah reigned in the days of his father, and in any case Elath was not given into his hand until after the death of his father, for if he did not reign in his father's lifetime why did he say after the king lay down with his fathers, and when you count the days of the house according to the years of the kings, if you do not subtract those fifteen years which were counted to Amaziah and to Uzziah, you will find that it stood four hundred and twenty-five:
Radak
He built Eilat. And in Chronicles it says “Eiloth,” and it is one and the same. It belonged to the King of Edom, as it is written in the Torah: “From our brothers, the sons of Seir, from Eilat and from Ezion-Geber.” And so it says in Chronicles: “Then Solomon went to Ezion-Geber and to Eiloth, on the shore of the sea in the land of Edom.” It is possible that David took it from the King of Edom, for he ruled over all the land of Edom, as it says, “And David set garrisons in Edom.” And in the days of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, Edom rebelled from under the hand of Judah, and they returned Eiloth, which David had taken, to them. And now, when Uzziah reigned, he took Eilat from the King of Edom and restored it to Judah. And Uzziah built it after he had restored it to Judah, for he did not build it while it was in the hand of Edom, but only after he had taken it from the hand of Edom. And it is possible that its walls were destroyed at the time of the conquest, so that he was compelled to rebuild it.
And this “vav” [conjunction] is like: “You were angry, and we had sinned”—meaning that after we sinned, You became angry. And in the phrase “after the king slept with his fathers,” it appears that before his father died, he [Uzziah] reigned; for otherwise, there would have been no need to say “after the king slept with his fathers.” And when was this? Only after his father’s death. Rather, before he reigned, since his father fled from Jerusalem because of those who conspired against him, and we do not know when this conspiracy occurred, when he fled to Lachish. And behold, it appears from the verses that immediately after he fled there, they sent after him and killed him there, and they brought him to Jerusalem and buried him, and they anointed his son as king. And it is possible that “and they sent after him,” as stated, was not immediate while he was in Lachish, but after a period of time. And according to the words of the author of Seder Olam, it appears that upon his return from the war against Edom, and after Israel fought [against him], his servants conspired against him. And a verse supports this in Chronicles: “And from the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they conspired against him,” etc. And his turning away from following the Lord upon his return from the war against Edom was that he brought the gods of Seir. And the author of Seder Olam said that in the thirteenth year of Amaziah, he waged war against Edom. And if so, upon his return from the war, after he fought with Israel, his servants conspired against him and killed him. All of this was in the thirteenth year of Amaziah, or in the fourteenth year. And behold, there remained from his reign sixteen years or fifteen years, for the text says that he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And how was this? And in Seder Olam it also says: “What does the Scripture mean by saying ‘after the king slept with his fathers’? Rather, that he reigned during his father’s lifetime.” And it did not specify how many years. And furthermore, it gives another reason for it: “Just as Jehoram, Ahaziah, and Joash died of illness at the hands of others, so too Amaziah died of illness at the hands of others. Therefore, it says ‘after the king slept with his fathers,’ meaning he died like his fathers.”
And Rashi of blessed memory wrote that those fifteen years of Amaziah were from the time they conspired against him and Uzziah reigned, and Amaziah sat in Lachish all those fifteen years, and Uzziah his son reigned. This appears to be so according to the verses, for the text says that after Amaziah was buried, all the people of Judah took Uzziah his son and anointed him king in place of his father, and he was sixteen years old. How could he have reigned fifteen years during his father’s lifetime? And if one were to say that “and all the people of Judah took Uzziah” refers to when they conspired against Amaziah and he fled to Lachish, then they anointed his son then, and he was then sixteen years old—this does not appear to be so, neither in Kings nor in Chronicles, for after his father’s death it says that they anointed him. And furthermore, how does the text say of Amaziah that he reigned twenty-nine years, when he did not reign but fourteen years? And if he was hiding in Lachish for fifteen years, what kingship was that? And furthermore, for his son, they count only fifty-two years, and these are after his father’s death, for so it is written: “He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years.” And those fifteen years, if you count them for his son, behold, he reigned sixty-seven years. And the proof that he brings from the days that the Temple stood is not a proof, for you will find two calculations for the days of the Temple: for if you count from the beginning of the building of the Temple until the third year of Jehoiakim, when Nebuchadnezzar came upon him, you will find four hundred and ten years and three months; and if you count until the Temple was destroyed completely in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, you will find four hundred and nine years and six months. And furthermore, according to his statement that the conspiracy was fifteen years and he was standing in Lachish, how was this, when the text says that when he fled to Lachish, they sent after him and killed him there? And if it was after fifteen years, it would not have said “and they sent after him,” for “after him” appears to mean immediately after he fled there, they sent after him.
Rather, what appears here is that the war of Amaziah against Edom and against Israel was until the fourteenth year of Amaziah, for from the fourteenth year onward it could not have been, for in the fourteenth year of Amaziah the King of Israel died. And if you wish to say that in the thirteenth year of Amaziah there was the war, as it says in Seder Olam, but the conspiracy that they conspired against him was only close to his death, and what it says in Chronicles, “And from the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they conspired against him,” means that from the time he turned away from following the Lord, the evil began to come upon him, for he was struck in the war with Israel. And furthermore, day by day his trouble was in evil until the end of his days, when his servants conspired against him, and this is the hardest of all, that he fled from them to Lachish, and they sent after him and killed him there. And the Scripture abbreviated and related the last evil, for so is the way of the Scripture in many places. And what it says, “after the king slept with his fathers,” is to say that immediately after his father died, success began to come, as it was the opposite during his father’s lifetime, as it says in Chronicles: “And in the days that they sought the Lord, God prospered them.” And the beginning of his success was that he returned Eilat to Judah.
Metzudat David
"He built up Eilat and restored it to Judah." It is possible that it once belonged to Judah, and the children of Edom took it from them. When Amaziah struck down Edom, he took it from their hands, and Uzziah built its wall to make it a fortified city, thereby returning it to Judah; for as long as it was undefended, it was not possible to strengthen one's hold on it and maintain possession of it.
"After the king slept" refers to Amaziah, for even though he captured it, it was not yet returned to their control to possess it until he died, and Azariah came and made it a fortified city.
Malbim
He built Eilat. It was from Edom, as it is stated, "From Eilat and from Ezion-Geber," and similarly it says in Chronicles: "Then Solomon went to Ezion-Geber and to Eilat, on the shore of the sea, in the land of Edom." It belonged to David and Solomon, who ruled over Edom. In the days of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, Edom rebelled, and Amaziah took it from them and destroyed it. And Uzziah, his son, rebuilt it and restored it to Judah, for until then it had been desolate, belonging neither to Edom nor to Judah. After the death of Amaziah, he rebuilt it.
Cross-references: II Kings 16:6; II Chronicles 26:2
In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.
verse value 5804
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 76 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·Israel" (מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 369: son·of·Joash, son·of·Joash. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "five·ten" (חֲמֵשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה), "of·Amaziah" (לַאֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ). The root שנה appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "Judah" (root יהודה, 64x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Ralbag
"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Amaziah." This is clear, for already fourteen years had he reigned when Joash, king of Israel, died.
Metzudat David
"In the fifteenth year." For Amaziah reigned in the second year of Joash, and the years of Joash's reign were sixteen years; thus, his reign concluded in the fifteenth year of Amaziah. At that time, Jeroboam reigned for forty [years], etc., and the chronology was fragmented.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Hashem; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.
verse value 3545
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 53 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·all·sins·of" (מִכׇּל־חַטֹּאות֙, 8 letters). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "and·did" (root עשה, 142x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 8 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + הָרַ֖ע [the·evil] (275) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + סָ֗ר [turned·aside] (260) + מִכׇּל־חַטֹּאות֙ [from·all·sins·of] (514) + יָרׇבְעָ֣ם [Jeroboam] (322) + בֶּן־נְבָ֔ט [son·of·Nebat] (113) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + הֶחֱטִ֖יא [made·to·sin] (33) + אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (942) = 3545.
He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the sea of the Arabah, according to the word of Hashem, the God of Israel, which He spoke by the hand of His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher.
verse value 5768
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 90 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "he" (ה֗וּא, 3 letters) and the longest is "by·hand·of·His·servant" (בְּיַד־עַבְדּ֞וֹ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 541: Israel, Israel. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "border" (אֶת־גְּב֣וּל), "from·entrance·of" (מִלְּב֥וֹא), "to·sea·of" (עַד־יָ֣ם). The root ישראל appears 2 times in this verse. 18 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 חמת ("Hamath") in II Kings. First appearance of the root ערבה ("the·arabah") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·arabah', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 13 words.
Rashi
He restored it. From the kings of Aram:
Jonah son of Amittai. He who anointed Jehu, who said to him your sons of the fourth generation shall sit for you, but our Sages (Yevamos 91a) were precise: (Jonah 3:1) the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, and not the third, for he sought the honor of the son, and did not seek the honor of the father, and this verse was difficult for them, and they answered it, as the word of the Lord which He spoke by the hand of Jonah to Nineveh, and the evil decree was changed to good, so it was changed for Israel in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, from evil in which they were, that the king of Aram destroyed them and made them as dust to tread, and now it was changed for them to good:
Radak
He restored the border of Israel. Now, his father Joash restored the cities of Israel; only that Joash restored those cities which the king of Aram had taken, whereas his son Jeroboam restored from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah from the hands of the kings of the nations who had taken them, and we do not see in whose hands they had been. And there is a dispute among the words of our Sages of blessed memory on this matter: there is one who says that he conquered what Joshua had conquered, and there is one who says that he conquered more than what Joshua had conquered. And we see that the border of Lebo Hamath and the Sea of the Arabah is from the land conquered by both Moses and Joshua. And furthermore, the verse says “restored,” which teaches that it had already been conquered.
“Which He spoke by the hand of His servant Jonah, son of Amittai.” This prophecy was not written down, and there is a dispute among our Sages of blessed memory regarding this matter. They stated that Jonah sought the honor of the son rather than the honor of the Father; that is to say, he was concerned for the honor of Israel. Therefore, he fled outside the Land [of Israel], which is not a place for prophecy, so that God would not send him to Nineveh, for he knew that they were close to repentance, and this would result in punishment for Israel. He did not concern himself with the honor of God. What is said about him? “And the word of the Lord came to Jonah, son of Amittai, the second time.” He spoke with him a second time, but not a third time. They raised a difficulty: But is it not written, “Which He spoke by the hand of His servant Jonah, son of Amittai, the prophet”? They answered: Regarding the affairs of Nineveh, He spoke with him only a second time, and not a third time. And some of them said: He did not speak with him either concerning Nineveh or concerning any other matter, except a second time. And what is meant by “Which He spoke by the hand of His servant Jonah, son of Amittai”? It means: Just as they in Nineveh were transformed from bad to good, so too in the days of Jeroboam they were transformed from bad to good.
Metzudat David
He restored: In the days of his ancestors, the kings, the kings of the idolaters had taken that border from Israel, and he returned and restored it to them.
“From the entrance of Hamath.” From the place from which they enter into Hamath.
“Until the Sea of the Arabah.” This means: facing the Sea of the Arabah, which is the Salt Sea.
"By the hand of His servant Jonah, etc." That prophecy was not mentioned in Scripture, and our Sages of blessed memory said (Yevamot 91a): Just as through Jonah Nineveh was transformed from evil to good, so too Israel was transformed in the days of Jeroboam.
Malbim
The Questions: After they had done evil, why did the Lord save them in order to expand the borders of their land? And was it not sufficient that their father had already prevailed and defeated Aram? And regarding what is stated, "And the Lord did not speak to blot out [the name of Israel from under heaven]," etc.—this does not obligate [the conclusion] that He would expand the borders of their land.
"He restored" [the border] — for Yoash restored only what the kings of Aram had taken, and Jeroboam his son restored everything. And what is written "according to the word of the Lord" – according to its plain meaning – Jonah prophesied concerning this salvation. And according to the opinion of our Sages of blessed memory, he likened the matter to the decree that was decreed through Jonah and was turned for the good; and likewise, he turned for the good what had been decreed as destruction upon Israel.
For Hashem saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for there was none shut up nor left at large, neither was there any helper for Israel.
verse value 3284
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 54 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֛ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "bitter" (מֹרֶ֣ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "for·Israel" (לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 147: and·ceasing, and·ceasing. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "for·he·saw" (כִּי־רָאָ֧ה), "the·affliction·of" (אֶת־עֳנִ֥י), "bitter" (מֹרֶ֣ה). The root ישראל appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings); "for·he·saw" (root ראה, 66x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'very', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: כִּי־רָאָ֧ה [for·he·saw] (236) + יְהֹוָ֛ה [Hashem] (26) + אֶת־עֳנִ֥י [the·affliction·of] (531) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [Israel] (541) + מֹרֶ֣ה [bitter] (245) + מְאֹ֑ד [very] (45) + וְאֶ֤פֶס [and·ceasing] (147) + עָצוּר֙ [shut·up] (366) + וְאֶ֣פֶס [and·ceasing] (147) + עָז֔וּב [forsaken] (85) + וְאֵ֥ין [and·nothing] (67) + עֹזֵ֖ר [help] (277) + לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל [for·Israel] (571) = 3284.
Rashi
Very bitter. Very constrained, a 'kontraeis' in the vernacular, like (Joshua 1:18): whoever shall rebel against your word; (Deuteronomy 9:24): you have been rebellious; (Genesis 26:34) and they were a bitterness of spirit. And there are those who explain: very bitter, very lowly, the language of (Exodus 15:1): he cast into the sea:
Radak
"Because the Lord saw": Not on account of the repentance they performed, but rather because He had compassion on them, for He saw that they were poor.
“Very bitter.” It changes and shifts from one evil to another. And the Targum renders: “The servitude of Israel was exceedingly severe.”
Ralbag
"Because the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, [which was] very rebellious." That is to say: even though [Israel] was very rebellious against the word of God, blessed be He, in that they had abandoned His covenant.
"And neither bond nor free [remained] in Israel." This means that their possessions were gone — those kept safe in the house and those left in the field.
Metzudat David
"For He saw..." — Not on account of their merit, but rather because He saw their affliction, which changes and fluctuates from bad to worse, and His heart was moved with compassion.
"And nothing shall be left." They were left with neither the wealth that had been gathered in the house, nor the livestock that had been left out in the field.
Metzudat Zion
Moreh [i.e., changed/extreme]. From the word exchange and change:
And nothing. It is like 'no':
Malbim
"For He saw": He means that this was not because they had done repentance, but rather that God saw that through their affliction they were becoming exceedingly rebellious, and, as though despairing of all hope, they were exceeding in their wickedness. And since the path of punishment was not effective, and He also saw that if He left them in this state they would perish, for "there is no restraint," etc.
And Hashem said not that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
verse value 4427
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 54 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "in·hand·of" (בְּיַ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·He·saved·them" (וַיּ֣וֹשִׁיעֵ֔ם, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·not·he·spoke" (וְלֹא־דִבֶּ֣ר), "to·wipe" (לִמְחוֹת֙), "the·name·of" (אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "and·not·he·spoke" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings); "Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings). First appearance of the root מחה ("to·wipe") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'heaven', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְלֹא־דִבֶּ֣ר [and·not·he·spoke] (243) + יְהֹוָ֔ה [Hashem] (26) + לִמְחוֹת֙ [to·wipe] (484) + אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם [the·name·of] (741) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל [Israel] (541) + מִתַּ֖חַת [from·under] (848) + הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם [heaven] (395) + וַיּ֣וֹשִׁיעֵ֔ם [and·He·saved·them] (442) + בְּיַ֖ד [in·hand·of] (16) + יָרׇבְעָ֥ם [Jeroboam] (322) + בֶּן־יוֹאָֽשׁ [son·of·Joash] (369) = 4427.
Metzudat David
"And He did not speak." This means: And the Lord did not wish to blot out their names, and therefore He saved them through the hand of Jeroboam.
Metzudat Zion
To blot out. From the word blot and erase:
Malbim
"And He did not speak" means to say: there was then no divine will to destroy them, because the decree had not yet been issued at that time; therefore He saved them through the hand of Jeroboam.
Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, for Judah in Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
verse value 8456
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 103 letters. The shortest word is "did" (עָשָׂה֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·his·might" (וּגְבוּרָת֣וֹ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "that·he·fought" (אֲשֶׁר־נִלְחָ֔ם), "Damascus" (אֶת־דַּמֶּ֧שֶׂק), "and·Hamath" (וְאֶת־חֲמָ֛ת). The root אשר appears 3 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·the·kings·of" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "all·that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "words·of" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 7 words.
Radak
"And he restored." Damascus and Hamath belonged to Aram; if so, how can it say "he restored"? It must be stated that King David fought against Aram and struck them a great blow, until they became his servants, and he placed governors in Damascus and also in Hamath. Even though this is not explicitly written in the Scripture regarding Hamath—that governors were placed there—it appears that the battle took place in Hamath. And if he took Damascus, all the more so did he take Hamath. And it says, "And Aram became servants to David." And this is what is said concerning Judah: that the King of Israel took them and restored them to Judah, for the right belonged to them, since David had taken them. And what is said concerning Israel is to indicate that even though he was the King of Israel, and he restored them to the King of Judah, he did not object to this, since he restored them within Israel.
Metzudat David
"And he restored it." For the kings of Judah had conquered Hamath and Damascus from that time, and Aram returned and took them from their hand, and now he restored them to Judah.
"In Israel." This implies: by the strength of the mighty men of Israel, the men of his people, and not by the strength of the men of Judah.
Malbim
The questions: Regarding what is stated, “To Judah in Israel,” there is no explanation.
And regarding the restoration: from the time that Joash gained the upper hand over Amaziah, the tribe of Judah was subjugated under the kings of Israel. This was so both in the days of Amaziah, when his servants conspired against their master, and also after his death, when Uzziah reigned; for Uzziah did not succeed in throwing off the yoke of Jeroboam until the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Jeroboam, as will be explained in the following chapter. Therefore, when he conquered Aram, he restored Hamath and Damascus so that they would belong to Judah (for they had been under his authority in the days of David, as it is stated, "And Aram became servants to David"). Thus, Judah, along with Damascus and Hamath which were under its jurisdiction, were subjugated to Israel. This is what is written, "For Judah and Israel," for Judah was like a province placed together with its king under the dominion of Israel.
And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 3170
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 46 letters. The shortest word is "with" (עִ֖ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו, 7 letters). The root עם appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "kings·of" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings); "his·son" (root בן, 66x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב [and·he·slept] (338) + יָֽרׇבְעָם֙ [Jeroboam] (322) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + עִ֖ם [with] (110) + מַלְכֵ֣י [kings·of] (100) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + זְכַרְיָ֥ה [Zechariah] (242) + בְנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 3170.
Radak
Metzudat David