Azariah is smitten with leprosy and dwells in a house set apart; in Israel the throne changes by conspiracy — Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah — and Tiglath-pileser carries the first captivity to Assyria.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.
verse value 3788
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Amaziah" (בֶן־אֲמַצְיָ֖ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: king, he·reigned, king. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "of·Jeroboam" (לְיָרׇבְעָ֖ם), "son·of·Amaziah" (בֶן־אֲמַצְיָ֖ה). The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "son·of·Amaziah" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root עזריה ("Azariah") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: בִּשְׁנַ֨ת [in·year·of] (752) + עֶשְׂרִ֤ים [twenty] (620) + וָשֶׁ֙בַע֙ [and·seven] (378) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + לְיָרׇבְעָ֖ם [of·Jeroboam] (352) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + מָלַ֛ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + עֲזַרְיָ֥ה [Azariah] (292) + בֶן־אֲמַצְיָ֖ה [son·of·Amaziah] (198) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 3788.
Rashi
In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam and so on. It is possible to say so, but were not Uzziah and Jeroboam reigning together, as is explained nearby, but what does the verse come to teach in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam Azariah reigned, that he reigned a lepers' reign, we learned that he was stricken with leprosy in the twenty-seventh year of his reign:
Radak
"In the twenty-seventh year." But was it not in the fourteenth year of Jeroboam's reign that Azariah became king? For Jeroboam began his reign in the fifteenth year of Amaziah, and Amaziah reigned for twenty-nine years. Thus, it turns out that Amaziah died in the fourteenth year of Jeroboam, and Azariah became king. Rather, the explanation is that "twenty-seven" refers to Jeroboam's reign at the end of his kingship, which corresponds to the fourteenth year from the beginning of his reign, when Azariah became king. For if Jeroboam reigned forty-one years, and we add fourteen and twenty-seven, we arrive at forty-one. And in Seder Olam it states: "In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam, king of Israel, Azariah became king," etc. But how can one say this, when Jeroboam and Azariah reigned concurrently? Rather, it means that he reigned a "tainted kingship." That is, for those twenty-seven or twenty-six years, he ruled independently. If they reigned concurrently, meaning that the beginning of their reigns was at the same time, and from then on he reigned a "tainted kingship," then half of his reign was a "tainted kingship." If so, according to this view, why did it say "in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam"? It should have said, "In the twenty-seventh year of his reign, he reigned a tainted kingship." Why did it connect the matter to Jeroboam's reign?
And in the words of our Sages of blessed memory as well, it is stated that Jotham was not born to Uzziah except during the days of his leprosy. For he was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, upon the death of his father. Thus, Uzziah had only one year of Jotham's life when he became leprous, from the time Jotham was born. Therefore, he performed marital relations during the days of his leprosy. And from this they learned that it is permitted for a leper to perform marital relations during the days of his leprosy. And what the verse states, "And he shall dwell outside his tent for seven days," refers to the days of his isolation. Now, their opinion agrees with the view of the author of Seder Olam, that Jeroboam and Uzziah reigned concurrently. But I do not know from where they derived this, and this is not possible according to the verses, unless Uzziah reigned during the lifetime of his father Amaziah for fourteen years. And we have already written above that this does not appear to be the case according to the verses, not even for a single year did he reign during his father's lifetime.
Ralbag
"In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah began to reign." It is known that when Amaziah died, Jeroboam had reigned for fifteen years; from this it becomes clear that Azariah had already begun to reign in the sixteenth year of Jeroboam's reign. And what appears to me is that he counts twenty-seven years that were yet to come, until the dynasty of the house of Jehu would come to an end. This is because Jeroboam reigned for twenty-six years after this, and his son reigned for six months, making a total of twenty-seven years, albeit in fragments.
Metzudat David
"In the twenty-seventh year." This is recorded in Seder Olam: that in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam, Azariah was struck with leprosy, and he reigned as a leprous king. However, the beginning of Azariah's reign was concurrent with the reign of Jeroboam. [That is to say: the fact that he reigned after the death of his father Joash did not constitute the start of the reckoning of his regnal years, because Jeroboam had reigned for three years during his father's lifetime, and from that point onward the reckoning of his regnal years began.] For Azariah reigned for fifteen years during his father's lifetime, and this was at the time of Joash's death. [And therefore, the leprous period of his reign was not attributed to his own independent reign, because we would not have known whether the count was from the time he reigned during his father's lifetime or from the time his father died. But now, it is as if it says: "In the twenty-seventh year of his reign," which corresponds to the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam. If so, the count is from the time he reigned during his father's lifetime, which is the same time that Jeroboam reigned after his father's death.]
Metzudat Zion
Azariah. He is Uzziah, as stated in Chronicles (II 26:1, 3), and below (verses 30, 32, 34):
Malbim
"In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam's reign"—according to this calculation, they found no way to reconcile the hands of all the men of valor, for surely Jeroboam reigned in the fifteenth year of Amaziah, and Amaziah's reign was twenty-nine years; it turns out that Amaziah reigned until the fourteenth year of Jeroboam. And in Seder Olam it is explained that what is stated, "in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam, Uzziah reigned," means that then he reigned a leprosy-afflicted kingship. And Abarbanel raised a difficulty against this: he should have said, "in the twenty-seventh year of his own reign, a leprosy-afflicted kingship reigned," for according to the opinion of our Sages of blessed memory, Uzziah and Jeroboam reigned concurrently. And Abarbanel explained that what is stated, "in the twenty-seventh year," means that he was destined to reign for another twenty-seven years. And this too is not correct, for it states later, "in the thirty-eighth year of Azariah, Zechariah reigned," and it should have said "in the twenty-seventh year." And in truth, in the calculation that states Zechariah reigned in the thirty-eighth year of Uzziah, we cannot interpret it in any way, for thus the order proceeds subsequently with the reigns of Shallum and Menachem son of Gadi. And from this we know that Jeroboam son of Joash reigned three years prior to Uzziah, and therefore his reign, which extended forty-one years, ended in the thirty-eighth year of Uzziah. And thus Uzziah reigned twelve years during the lifetime of his father Amaziah. However, we have already written that when Joash conquered Amaziah, the kingdom of Judah was subdued under the kingdom of Israel, and this lasted until the twenty-fourth year of Uzziah's reign, which is the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam, until which time it was under the dominion of Israel. And in the twenty-seventh year, Uzziah strengthened himself and reigned a strong, independent kingship, not subdued under Jeroboam. And similarly below, 17:1, is an example of this, and it elucidates in Chronicles that in his strength his heart was lifted up, and he entered to burn incense and became leprous. And if we say according to the words of our Sages of blessed memory that this occurred in the middle of Uzziah's reign, and they stated that Jotham was born during his leprosy, this was three years thereafter. And it is already proven that Uzziah became leprous during the actual lifetime of Jeroboam, for Amos prophesied in the days of Uzziah and in the days of Jeroboam, two years before the earthquake; behold, two years before the earthquake Jeroboam was still alive. And from what is stated in Chronicles, "and they were in their families in the days of Jeroboam and in the days of Jotham," which he said regarding Jotham judging the house, it is clear that he was already leprous in the days of Jeroboam, which was in the thirty-seventh year of Uzziah. And we know that he was leprous for fifteen years at the very least. And regarding his being leprous prior to this time, there is no explicit proof, only from logical reasoning: since we know that in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam he strengthened himself in his kingship, as stated, "in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam, Uzziah reigned," logically it is close to this time that he entered to burn incense, for thus it is written that in his strength his heart was lifted up to his ruin. And from what is stated in the prophecy of Hosea and Amos, that they prophesied in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, etc., and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash: why is Jeroboam mentioned? If he wished to mention the kings of Israel during whose days they prophesied, were there not several other kings after Jeroboam in these days? Therefore, he mentioned Jeroboam because at the beginning of Uzziah's reign he was already under the hand of Jeroboam, and the kingdom was named after Jeroboam. And regarding this he said, "in the days of Uzziah and in the days of Jeroboam," meaning at the time when Uzziah was under the hand of Jeroboam, when the kingdom was called by the name of Jeroboam. And "in the days of Uzziah" means from the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam onwards, when the days of Uzziah began, when he reigned independently. And from this we know that two years before the earthquake, when Amos prophesied, he was still under the hand of Jeroboam. And since in the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam Uzziah reigned independently, this was one or two years before the earthquake in any case. And it is clear that the earthquake was in the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth year of Uzziah, and Jotham was born during his leprosy, as stated by our Sages of blessed memory. And similarly, it is clear from what is stated in Isaiah (7:8): "Yet sixty-five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people," which is counted from the prophecy of Amos, which was two years before the earthquake, until the sixth year of Hezekiah, when the ten tribes were exiled. It is clear that from that time it was twenty-eight years of Uzziah, fifteen of Jotham, sixteen of Ahaz, and six of Hezekiah, which is sixty-five. It is clear that the verse states that Uzziah lived twenty-six years after the earthquake, as stated by our Sages of blessed memory.
Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
verse value 4993
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָה֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·Jerusalem" (בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 355: year, year. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Jecoliah" (יְכׇלְיָ֖הוּ). The root שנה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 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). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: בֶּן־שֵׁ֨שׁ [son·of·six] (652) + עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה [ten] (575) + שָׁנָה֙ [year] (355) + הָיָ֣ה [was] (20) + בְמׇלְכ֔וֹ [in·his·reigning] (98) + וַחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים [and·fifty] (404) + וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙ [and·two] (756) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + מָלַ֖ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם [in·Jerusalem] (588) + וְשֵׁ֣ם [and·name·of] (346) + אִמּ֔וֹ [his·mother] (47) + יְכׇלְיָ֖הוּ [Jecoliah] (81) + מִירוּשָׁלִָֽם [from·Jerusalem] (626) = 4993.
Metzudat David
And fifty-two: fifteen during his father’s lifetime, and thirty-seven after his father’s death.
And he did that which was right in the eyes of Hashem, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
verse value 2186
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "as·them" (כְּכֹ֥ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·he·did" (אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה, 6 letters). 8 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 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + הַיָּשָׁ֖ר [straight] (515) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + כְּכֹ֥ל [as·them] (70) + אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֖ה [that·he·did] (876) + אֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ [Amaziah] (152) + אָבִֽיו [his·father] (19) = 2186.
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 Hashem smote the king, so that he was a leper to the day of his death, and dwelt in a house set apart. And Jotham the king’s son was over the household, judging the people of the land.
verse value 5525
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 73 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֜ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 5525 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "his·death" (מֹת֔וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·king" (אֶת־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ, 6 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·afflicted" (וַיְנַגַּ֨ע), "until·day" (עַד־י֣וֹם), "his·death" (מֹת֔וֹ). The root בית appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "in·the·house·of" (root בית, 141x in II Kings). First appearance of the root יותם ("and·Jotham") in II Kings. First appearance of the root שפט ("judging") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'separateness', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 6 words.
Rashi
And the Lord struck the king. It is explained in Chronicles (II 26:16-21) that he entered the Temple to burn the incense on the altar:
In the house of the separate. He made for himself a house in the cemetery, as it is said (Psalms 88:6): among the dead, free. In the Jerusalem Talmud:
Radak
"And the Lord smote the king." In Chronicles it says: "Why did He smite him?" Because he entered the Temple to burn incense. Our Sages interpreted that this alludes to Moses, as it is stated in the dispute of Korah: "as the Lord spoke by the hand of Moses to him." When Moses' hand was struck with leprosy, it was a hint to him that anyone who disputes the priesthood will be struck with leprosy. Therefore, Uzziah was struck with leprosy.
“And he dwelt in beit hachofshit [the house of the free].” Our Sages of blessed memory stated that kingship is a form of servitude, for the king must bear the entire burden of the people upon himself, listen to them, and judge their cases, whether he wishes to do so or not. Thus, kingship is servitude. When Uzziah became a leper and secluded himself in a single house, he was thereby freed from the servitude he had previously endured; therefore the house is called beit hachofshit (“the house of the free”). Furthermore, they stated that he built himself a house in the cemetery, as it is said, “Among the dead he is free.” And the Targum translates: “And he dwelt outside Jerusalem.”
He judged the common people. According to our interpretation, for all the days that his father was a leper, he was the one judging the common people; and this is also the meaning of the verse. And according to the words of our Sages of blessed memory, since he was born in the year that his father became a leper, he did not judge the common people until after he grew up and attained the age of discretion; and prior to that, the elders and the princes were the ones judging the common people.
Ralbag
"And the LORD struck the king, and he became a leper." It has already been explained in [the Book of] Chronicles that this happened to him because he intended to burn incense on the altar of incense. Now, at that time, Jotham, the king's son, was judging the people of the land during his father's lifetime. And from the time that he became a leper, he dwelt in the house of separation, because he was required to dwell alone, outside the camp. And the leper's house was called the house of separation because the leper has no dealings with people, and for this reason he is free from occupations and labors.
Metzudat David
"And the Lord smote him." And in Chronicles (II 26:18) it is stated that it came upon him in his own anger with the priests, at the time when he came to offer incense and they opposed him.
“in the house of freedom.” This means: He abandoned the governance of the kingdom, and was free from this toil, as our Sages of blessed memory stated that kingship is considered as slavery, due to the abundance of toil.
"Over the house." He was appointed over the king's house, to judge the people's cases under the king:
Cross-references: Judges 9:5; II Chronicles 26:16; II Chronicles 26:19
Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
verse value 3542
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "did" (עָשָׂ֑ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "Azariah" (עֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ, 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): "Azariah" (עֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 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 'did', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֛תֶר [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + עֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ [Azariah] (298) + וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר [all·that] (557) + עָשָׂ֑ה [did] (375) + הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם [not·they] (81) + כְּתוּבִ֗ים [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 3542.
In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.
verse value 5554
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 69 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Azariah" (לַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: king, he·reigned. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·Azariah" (לַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ), "Zechariah" (זְכַרְיָ֨הוּ), "son·of·Jeroboam" (בֶן־יָרׇבְעָ֧ם). The root שנה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "upon·Israel" (root על, 116x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: בִּשְׁנַ֨ת [in·year·of] (752) + שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים [thirty] (680) + וּשְׁמֹנֶה֙ [eight] (401) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + לַעֲזַרְיָ֖הוּ [to·Azariah] (328) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + מָ֠לַ֠ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + זְכַרְיָ֨הוּ [Zechariah] (248) + בֶן־יָרׇבְעָ֧ם [son·of·Jeroboam] (374) + עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל [upon·Israel] (641) + בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן [in·Samaria] (598) + שִׁשָּׁ֥ה [six] (605) + חֳדָשִֽׁים [months] (362) = 5554.
Rashi
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah Zechariah reigned. Even from here there is to learn that Azariah reigned from the death of Joash king of Israel fifteen years in the lifetime of Amaziah his father, for if he did not stand until his father died, it turns out that he did not stand until the fifteenth year of Jeroboam son of Joash, and Jeroboam reigned forty-one, and it turns out that Jeroboam died in the twenty-seventh year of Uzziah, and how does he say in the thirty-eighth year, but of necessity, Uzziah and Jeroboam reigned together, but Jeroboam reigned in the lifetime of his father Joash three years, therefore he says and Jeroboam sat on his throne, that he already sat, and Uzziah stood from the death of Joash, and Jeroboam reigned a complete reign. And in Seder Olam I saw that Jeroboam reigned in his father's lifetime one year, and I do not know if it is a scribal error, for it cannot settle in the thirty-eighth year of Azariah Zechariah reigned, except in this matter:
Radak
"In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah." If, according to the words of our Sages of blessed memory, Uzziah and Jeroboam reigned concurrently, it should have said, "In the forty-first year of Azariah, Zechariah, son of Jeroboam, reigned." Rather, it was stated according to their understanding, that Zechariah reigned for three years during his father's lifetime. And we have not found this written in the Scripture, nor did the author of Seder Olam speak of this matter at all. And those three years he counted them to Zechariah. And also according to our words, there remain eleven years, and we shall say that those eleven years Zechariah reigned in the days of his father. And we do not know why, except that this appears to be the case according to the calculation.
Ralbag
"In the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Azariah, king of Judah." Since Jeroboam had already reigned for twenty-six years during his lifetime, this [event] would therefore be in the twenty-seventh year of Azariah's reign. And this resembles the case of Azariah, who reigned for eleven years during his father's lifetime, because they conspired against him in Jerusalem from the time he turned away from the Lord, and he fled to Lachish. Then all the people of Judah made Azariah king, and he reigned for eleven years during his father's lifetime. And the trustworthy proof for this is their statement: "He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers." This serves as partial evidence that he reigned during his father's lifetime, and he was sixteen years old when they made him king during his father's lifetime.
Metzudat David
"In the thirty-eighth year." For Jeroboam reigned for three years during his father's lifetime, and not after his father's death; and the total of all these years is forty-one. Thus, they concluded in the thirty-eighth year of Uzziah. For the beginning of Uzziah's reign was counted from when he reigned during his father's lifetime, and the beginning of Jeroboam's reign was counted from after his father's death; these two starting points occurred at the same time. Therefore, Jeroboam's reign preceded Uzziah's reign by three years, corresponding to the period Jeroboam reigned during his father's lifetime. Consequently, the completion of his forty-first year coincided with the thirty-eighth year of Uzziah, and at that time Zechariah reigned.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Hashem, as his fathers had done; he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.
verse value 4811
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 63 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "Israel" (אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל, 7 letters). The root עשה appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "as" (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·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
verse value 3162
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 44 letters. The shortest word is "Shallum" (שַׁלֻּ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·He·slew·him" (וַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּ, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "son·of·Jabesh" (בֶּן־יָבֵ֔שׁ), "before·the·people" (קׇֽבׇל־עָ֖ם). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·reigned" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "upon·him" (root על, 116x in II Kings); "son·of·Jabesh" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·He·slew·him', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְשֹׁ֤ר [and·bound] (616) + עָלָיו֙ [upon·him] (116) + שַׁלֻּ֣ם [Shallum] (370) + בֶּן־יָבֵ֔שׁ [son·of·Jabesh] (364) + וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ [and·he·struck·him] (47) + קׇֽבׇל־עָ֖ם [before·the·people] (242) + וַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּ [and·He·slew·him] (477) + וַיִּמְלֹ֖ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 3162.
Rashi
And he struck him opposite the people. And he struck him before the people; in the sight of the people:
Radak
“Kabal am.” These are two words, and it is like “neged ha’am” [“before the people”]. The Targum renders “neged” as “kabal,” and Targum Yonatan renders it as “kadam ama” [“before the people”].
Metzudat Zion
Before the people. The Targum of 'against' is 'before':
Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
verse value 3079
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 46 letters. The shortest word is "behold·they" (הִנָּ֣ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "written" (כְּתוּבִ֗ים, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. 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); "Israel" (root ישראל, 101x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Zechariah', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֖תֶר [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֣י [words·of] (216) + זְכַרְיָ֑ה [Zechariah] (242) + הִנָּ֣ם [behold·they] (95) + כְּתוּבִ֗ים [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 3079.
This was the word of Hashem which He spoke to Jehu, saying: ‘Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit upon the throne of Israel.’ And so it came to pass.
verse value 2860
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 57 letters. Verse gematria: 2860 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·you" (לְךָ֖, 2 letters) and the longest is "the·word·of·Hashem" (דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "fourth" (רְבִיעִ֔ים), "and·was·so" (וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 1 words. Full calculation: ה֣וּא [it] (12) + דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה [the·word·of·Hashem] (232) + אֲשֶׁ֨ר [that] (501) + דִּבֶּ֤ר [He·spoke] (206) + אֶל־יֵהוּא֙ [to·Jehu] (53) + לֵאמֹ֔ר [saying] (271) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + רְבִיעִ֔ים [fourth] (332) + יֵשְׁב֥וּ [they·will·dwell] (318) + לְךָ֖ [to·you] (50) + עַל־כִּסֵּ֣א [upon·throne] (181) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן [and·was·so] (101) = 2860.
Rashi
And it was so. Not that his reign was worthy to be extended so much, but to fulfill the word of a king, as it is said (Isaiah 55:11): so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth and so on:
Radak
"This was the word of the LORD, which He had spoken." The word "this" (הוא) refers back to what precedes: "and he put him to death and reigned in his stead" — [that] was as the LORD had spoken. And as soon as he reigned, whether for a long time or a short time, the word of the Lord had already been fulfilled, and the kingship was transferred to others, for they were all wicked. Had they been righteous, their reign would have lasted longer. Moreover, their reign had already been deserving of termination prior to this on account of their sins. And Zechariah did not reign those six months except to fulfill the word of the Lord, so that the people would know that the word which the prophet had spoken to Jehu in the name of the Lord was true, when He said to him, "Sons of the fourth generation shall sit for you upon the throne of Israel."
Metzudat David
"This is the word of the Lord." This phrase refers back to the preceding verse, as it is stated, "And he reigned in his place," and [then] "This is the word of the Lord," etc.
"And it was so." For Jehoahaz, Joash, Jeroboam, and Zechariah reigned, and the monarchy was cut off from his lineage.
Malbim
"He is the word of the Lord" means that it was not fitting for the kingdom of Jehu to last four generations, except because of the "word of the Lord" that a decree for good is not revoked, and therefore it came to pass. For according to the natural course, they would have rebelled against him, since he struck Zechariah publicly, without fear; only until now was the kingdom sustained by the "word of the Lord."
Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned the space of a month in Samaria.
verse value 4667
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 60 letters. Verse gematria: 4667 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "he·reigned" (מָלַ֔ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "month·sea" (יֶֽרַח־יָמִ֖ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: he·reigned, king. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "of·Uzziah" (לְעֻזִּיָּ֖ה), "month·sea" (יֶֽרַח־יָמִ֖ים). The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "he·reigned" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "son·of·Jabesh" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root עזיה ("of·Uzziah") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 3 words. Full calculation: שַׁלּ֤וּם [belonging·to] (376) + בֶּן־יָבֵישׁ֙ [son·of·Jabesh] (374) + מָלַ֔ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + בִּשְׁנַ֨ת [in·year·of] (752) + שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים [thirty] (680) + וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ [and·nine] (776) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + לְעֻזִּיָּ֖ה [of·Uzziah] (122) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + יֶֽרַח־יָמִ֖ים [month·sea] (318) + בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן [in·Samaria] (598) = 4667.
Metzudat David
"In the thirty-ninth year." For Zechariah reigned in the thirty-eighth year of Uzziah, and he reigned for six months; and after him Shallum reigned, which was the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah.
Metzudat Zion
The moon. The month, for it is counted in the moon's course:
And Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.
verse value 4865
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 65 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·struck" (וַיַּ֛ךְ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "and·he·struck" (וַיַּ֛ךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·He·slew·him" (וַיְמִיתֵ֖הוּ, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "belonging·to" (אֶת־שַׁלּ֥וּם). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·reigned" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "and·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "son·of·Gadi" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root מנחם ("Menahem") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Samaria', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֩עַל֩ [and·went·up] (116) + מְנַחֵ֨ם [Menahem] (138) + בֶּן־גָּדִ֜י [son·of·Gadi] (69) + מִתִּרְצָ֗ה [from·Tirzah] (735) + וַיָּבֹא֙ [and·came] (19) + שֹׁמְר֔וֹן [Samaria] (596) + וַיַּ֛ךְ [and·he·struck] (36) + אֶת־שַׁלּ֥וּם [belonging·to] (777) + בֶּן־יָבֵ֖ישׁ [son·of·Jabesh] (374) + בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן [in·Samaria] (598) + וַיְמִיתֵ֖הוּ [and·He·slew·him] (477) + וַיִּמְלֹ֥ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 4865.
Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
verse value 4926
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "written" (כְּתוּבִ֗ים, 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): "and·his·treason" (וְקִשְׁר֖וֹ). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·the·kings·of" (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 'bound', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֙תֶר֙ [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֣י [words·of] (216) + שַׁלּ֔וּם [belonging·to] (376) + וְקִשְׁר֖וֹ [and·his·treason] (612) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + קָשָׁ֑ר [bound] (600) + הִנָּ֣ם [behold·they] (95) + כְּתוּבִ֗ים [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 4926.
Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the borders thereof, from Tirzah; because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.
verse value 5132
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 63 letters. Notable word values: "and·he·struck·it" (וַיַּ֑ךְ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "then" (אָ֣ז, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·all·that·in·her" (וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֤הּ, 10 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "smote·Menahem" (יַכֶּֽה־מְ֠נַחֵ֠ם), "Tiphsah" (אֶת־תִּפְסַ֨ח), "and·all·that·in·her" (וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֤הּ). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·all·that·in·her" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "not" (root לא, 106x in II Kings); "for" (root כי, 76x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·he·struck·it', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 3 words.
Rashi
For he did not open. The commander of the city did not open to him the city, to receive him as king over them:
Her pregnant women. The pregnant women in her, he broke open:
Radak
"Tiphsah, and all that is in it." Tiphsah was not from the Land of Israel, but from beyond the [Euphrates] River, in Aram; and so it is written: "For he ruled over all the region beyond the River, from Tiphsah to Gaza." It appears that it stood at the border of the Land of Israel, opposite Tirzah — and Tirzah was in the Land of Israel, the home of Menahem. Menahem came to wage war against Tiphsah and called out to it for peace, demanding that it become subject to him, but the city did not open [its gates] to him. This is what is meant by "for it did not open," and he struck it and smote it and all its borders from Tirzah — that is, from the border of Tirzah onward, everything found within all its borders he struck. Moreover, all the pregnant women within it he ripped open, by way of vengeance and disgrace.
"Her pregnant women." [Written] with two [instances of the] definite article, just as in [the word] "within my tent".
Ralbag
"And her borders from Tirzah, because it did not surrender." It seemed to him that Tiphsah was not part of the Land of Israel, and Menahem called to her for peace, but she did not agree to make peace with him, and she did not surrender to him; therefore he struck her, and all that was in her, and her borders which are outside the city, from Tirzah onward, and also all the strong towers built in the mountains within her, he broke down.
Metzudat David
"From Tirzah." [Meaning:] from the region of Tirzah.
"For it did not open." Because Tiphsah did not open the gate of the city for him to enter it, and therefore he struck Tiphsah and its borders, which are across from Tirzah.
"He ripped open." He opened the wombs of the pregnant women, to bring forth their offspring:
Malbim
"For he did not leave an opening" — this is the law: when besieging a city, one does not encircle it from all four sides, but rather leaves one side open so that whoever wishes may flee. And likewise is the law that one does not kill women and children, as stated by Maimonides in Chapter 6 of the Laws of Kings. And it was he who struck Tiphsah, which was from Aram, and its borders, which were on the side of Tirzah, and all that was in it; no man escaped, because he did not leave the fourth side open in accordance with the law. And furthermore, he ripped open all her pregnant women, which is also contrary to the laws of war and contrary to the religion of Israel.
In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.
verse value 5511
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 62 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·Israel" (עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: king, he·reigned. The root שנה appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "upon·Israel" (root על, 116x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: בִּשְׁנַ֨ת [in·year·of] (752) + שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים [thirty] (680) + וָתֵ֙שַׁע֙ [and·nine] (776) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה [of·Azariah] (322) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + מָ֠לַ֠ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + מְנַחֵ֨ם [Menahem] (138) + בֶּן־גָּדִ֧י [son·of·Gadi] (69) + עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל [upon·Israel] (641) + עֶ֥שֶׂר [ten] (570) + שָׁנִ֖ים [years] (400) + בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן [in·Samaria] (598) = 5511.
Metzudat David
"In the thirty-ninth year": This means that after the thirty-ninth year of Azariah had passed, for Shallum reigned at the end of the thirty-ninth year of Azariah, and was put to death after a period of one month; and in the following year, upon the completion of the thirty-ninth year of Azariah, at the beginning of the fortieth year, Menahem reigned.
Ten, etc. And they were fragmented:
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Hashem; he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.
verse value 3711
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 59 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 "that·made·to·sin" (אֲשֶׁר־הֶחֱטִ֥יא, 8 letters). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·made·to·sin" (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 9 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + הָרַ֖ע [the·evil] (275) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + סָ֠ר [turned·aside] (260) + מֵעַ֨ל [from·upon] (140) + חַטֹּ֜אות [sins·of] (424) + יָרׇבְעָ֧ם [Jeroboam] (322) + בֶּן־נְבָ֛ט [son·of·Nebat] (113) + אֲשֶׁר־הֶחֱטִ֥יא [that·made·to·sin] (534) + אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל [Israel] (942) + כׇּל־יָמָֽיו [all·his·days] (116) = 3711.
There came against the land Pul the king of Assyria; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
verse value 3583
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "went·in" (בָּ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Assyria" (מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Pul" (פ֤וּל), "to·Pul" (לְפ֔וּל), "to·strengthen" (לְהַחֲזִ֥יק). The root פול appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "went·in" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "to·be" (root היה, 119x in II Kings); "upon·the·land" (root ארץ, 67x in II Kings). First appearance of the root אשור ("king·of·Assyria") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'round·silver', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Metzudat David
"Pul came." When Pul came, Menachem promised to give him a thousand talents of silver, to assist him in securing the kingship.
Metzudat Zion
His hands. The strength of his hands:
To hold. From the word strength:
And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.
verse value 6424
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 88 letters. Notable word values: "one" (אֶחָ֑ד) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "upon" (עַ֚ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·Israel" (עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 507: Assyria, Assyria. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "shekels" (שְׁקָלִ֛ים), "and·did·not·stand" (וְלֹא־עָ֥מַד). The root כסף appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "to·man" (root איש, 119x in II Kings); "upon·Israel" (root על, 116x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'one', dividing the verse into phrases of 15 and 6 words.
Radak
"And he did not remain there in the land." He did not linger there, but rather returned to his land as soon as he received the money, and he did not guard it from another enemy. And the Targum [renders]: "and I shall not harm [it] there in the land."
Metzudat David
"And Menahem brought out." He took the money from others [not from his own resources], and imposed it upon Israel; and it specifies that he imposed it upon the mighty warriors of the army, each one fifty shekels.
"And he did not stand." – He did not linger.
Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
verse value 3899
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 57 letters. The shortest word is "he·did" (עָשָׂ֑ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·that" (וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, speech. The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (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 'he·did', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֛תֶר [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + מְנַחֵ֖ם [Menahem] (138) + וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר [all·that] (557) + עָשָׂ֑ה [he·did] (375) + הֲלוֹא־הֵ֣ם [not?·they] (87) + כְּתוּבִ֗ים [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [speech] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [king] (130) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 3899.
And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 2196
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 34 letters. Verse gematria: 2196 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "his·son" (בְנ֖וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו, 7 letters). 7 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 פקחיה ("Pekahiah") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·his·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב [and·he·slept] (338) + מְנַחֵ֖ם [Menahem] (138) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + פְּקַחְיָ֥ה [Pekahiah] (203) + בְנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 2196.
In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.
verse value 4469
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·Israel" (עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 90: king, he·reigned. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "son·of·Menahem" (בֶן־מְנַחֵ֧ם), "years" (שְׁנָתָֽיִם). The root שנה appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "upon·Israel" (root על, 116x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: בִּשְׁנַת֙ [in·year·of] (752) + חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים [fifty] (398) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה [of·Azariah] (322) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + מָ֠לַ֠ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + פְּקַֽחְיָ֨ה [Pekahiah] (203) + בֶן־מְנַחֵ֧ם [son·of·Menahem] (190) + עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל [upon·Israel] (641) + בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן [in·Samaria] (598) + שְׁנָתָֽיִם [years] (800) = 4469.
Metzudat David
"In the fiftieth year." For Menachem reigned in the fortieth year of Azariah, and he reigned ten years, but in fragments; thus, his reign concluded in the forty-ninth year of Azariah. In the following year, Pekahiah reigned, and that was the fiftieth year of Azariah, for two years. And they were in fragments.
And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the castle of the king’s house, by Argob and by Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites; and he slew him, and reigned in his stead.
verse value 7172
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 104 letters. The shortest word is "Pekah" (פֶּ֨קַח, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Remaliah" (בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֜הוּ, 8 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "his·captain" (שָׁלִישׁ֗וֹ), "in·citadel·of" (בְּאַרְמ֤וֹן), "house·of·the·king" (בֵּית־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "house·of·the·king" (root בית, 141x in II Kings); "man" (root איש, 119x in II Kings). First appearance of the root ארי ("and·with·the·Arieh") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Gileadite', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 3 words.
Rashi
His third-commander. His mighty man:
Argob and the lion. All [instances of] Argob are a term for stately palaces, and all 'tarconim' in the Aramean language [likewise], stately palaces of the kingdom in the great palace which is near the Argob:
And the lion. One should say that there was a lion of gold standing in that palace:
Radak
"In the palace of the house of the king." Thus it is written [ketiv: מלך, without the article], and it is read [kri]: 'the king' [with the article], and the meaning is the same.
"Argob and Arieh." [Meaning] with Argob and with Arieh — these were the names of two mighty men — and with them he came, along with fifty of the sons of Gilead, and they killed him.
Ralbag
"In the palace of the king's house, Argob and the Lion." I am inclined to think that Argob was the name of the official in charge of the entire district of Argob, and "the Lion" was the name of another warrior, who was called "Lion" by way of metaphor due to his great strength. And behold, Pekah conspired against him, together with these two officials, and there were also with him fifty men from the sons of Gilead, for the district of Argob belonged to the sons of Gilead, according to my understanding.
Metzudat David
In the palace. In the hall of the king’s house:
"Argob and Arieh." With Argob and with Arieh — these are the names of two warriors. Perhaps Argob was so called because he governed the region of Argob, and Arieh was so called for his valor [lit. 'the lion']. Pekah allied with them, and there were also fifty men, and they killed Pekahiah.
Metzudat Zion
His third-commander. His officer:
Malbim
"Argob" — the name of a mighty man who stood in the king's palace, and with him was a lion trained to devour its prey, [attacking] all who entered without permission. And with Argob were fifty of the sons of Gilead. Some say that the word "and with him" refers to Pekah, for fifty men were in his support in the rebellion.
Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
verse value 3972
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "did" (עָשָׂ֑ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·that" (וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 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 'did', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֛תֶר [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + פְקַחְיָ֖ה [Pekahiah] (203) + וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר [all·that] (557) + עָשָׂ֑ה [did] (375) + הִנָּ֣ם [behold·they] (95) + כְּתוּבִ֗ים [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 3972.
In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.
verse value 5538
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 66 letters. Verse gematria: 5538 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Remaliah" (בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֧הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 355: year, year. The root שנה appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "upon·Israel" (root על, 116x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: בִּשְׁנַ֨ת [in·year·of] (752) + חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים [fifty] (398) + וּשְׁתַּ֙יִם֙ [and·two] (756) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + לַעֲזַרְיָ֖ה [of·Azariah] (322) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָ֑ה [Judah] (30) + מָ֠לַ֠ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + פֶּ֣קַח [Pekah] (188) + בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֧הוּ [son·of·Remaliah] (343) + עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל [upon·Israel] (641) + בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן [in·Samaria] (598) + עֶשְׂרִ֥ים [twenty] (620) + שָׁנָֽה [year] (355) = 5538.
Metzudat David
"In the fifty-second year." For Pekahiah reigned in the fiftieth year of Azariah, and he reigned two years, but in fragments, and it concluded in the fifty-first year of Azariah; and in the following year Pekah reigned, and that was the fifty-second year of Azariah.
Twenty years. And they were fragmented:
And he did that which was evil in the sight of Hashem; he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.
verse value 3545
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 52 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·sins·of" (מִן־חַטֹּאות֙, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "from·sins·of" (מִן־חַטֹּאות֙). 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) + מִן־חַטֹּאות֙ [from·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.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maacah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.
verse value 8857
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 113 letters. The shortest word is "went·in" (בָּא֮, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·the·Galilee" (וְאֶת־הַגָּלִ֔ילָה, 9 letters). 9 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Ijon" (אֶת־עִיּ֡וֹן), "and·Abel" (וְאֶת־אָבֵ֣ל), "Beth-maacah" (בֵּֽית־מַעֲכָ֡ה). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 21 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·Israel" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "went·in" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings); "Beth-maacah" (root בית, 141x in II Kings). First appearance of the root גלה ("and·he·exiled·them") in II Kings. First appearance of the root אשורה ("to·Assyria") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Naphtali', dividing the verse into phrases of 20 and 2 words.
Ralbag
"And he took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maacah, and Janoah, and Kedesh." Behold, this was, according to what I think, what is mentioned in the Book of Chronicles: that Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, exiled the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and the river Gozan. Since these lands were part of the land of Assyria, it says in this place, "and he exiled them to Assyria."
Metzudat Zion
Abel-beth-maacah. Such was the name of the city:
The Galilee. The land of Galilee:
And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.
verse value 5772
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 72 letters. Verse gematria: 5772 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "Hoshea" (הוֹשֵׁ֣עַ, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·he·conspired·a·conspiracy" (וַיִּקְשׇׁר־קֶ֜שֶׁר, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·he·conspired·a·conspiracy" (וַיִּקְשׇׁר־קֶ֜שֶׁר), "upon·Pekah" (עַל־פֶּ֙קַח֙), "of·Jotham" (לְיוֹתָ֖ם). The root בין appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·reigned" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "son·of·Elah" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root הושע ("Hoshea") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·his·stead', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְשׇׁר־קֶ֜שֶׁר [and·he·conspired·a·conspiracy] (1216) + הוֹשֵׁ֣עַ [Hoshea] (381) + בֶּן־אֵלָ֗ה [son·of·Elah] (88) + עַל־פֶּ֙קַח֙ [upon·Pekah] (288) + בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֔הוּ [son·of·Remaliah] (343) + וַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙ [and·he·struck·him] (47) + וַיְמִיתֵ֔הוּ [and·He·slew·him] (477) + וַיִּמְלֹ֖ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + תַּחְתָּ֑יו [in·his·stead] (824) + בִּשְׁנַ֣ת [in·year·of] (752) + עֶשְׂרִ֔ים [twenty] (620) + לְיוֹתָ֖ם [of·Jotham] (486) + בֶּן־עֻזִּיָּֽה [son·of·Uzziah] (144) = 5772.
Rashi
In the twentieth year of Jotham. He should have said in the fourth year of Ahaz, for all the days of Jotham's reign were sixteen years, but since Ahaz was wicked, the verse wanted to count them to Jotham in the grave, and not to Ahaz in life, so it is in Seder Olam:
Radak
"In the twentieth year of Jotham." How was this possible? Did not Jotham reign for only sixteen years? And how could he be counted as having twenty years? The twenty years of Pekah were completed in the fourth year of Ahaz. If so, it should have said, "In the fourth year of Ahaz." Yet the Seder Olam states: Is it possible to say this? Rather, a decree had been issued in the days of Jotham. Another explanation: The verse intended to count for Jotham in his grave, and not for Ahaz while he was alive.
Metzudat David
"The twentieth year of Jotham." For Pekah was king in the fifty-second year of Azariah, and at the end of that year Azariah died, and at the beginning of the following year his son Jotham reigned, and the days of his reign were sixteen years. And Pekah reigned twenty years: one year of them was during the reign of Azariah, sixteen during the reign of Jotham, and three years after the death of Jotham. Thus, they ended in the nineteenth year from the beginning of Jotham's reign. And at the beginning of the following year Hoshea reigned, which was the twentieth year from the beginning of Jotham's reign. And Scripture chose to count the years of Hoshea according to the days of Jotham the righteous, even though he was in the grave, rather than according to the days of his son Ahaz the wicked, who was alive.
Malbim
The Questions: The statement "in the twentieth year of Jotham" is puzzling — was it not the case that Jotham reigned for only sixteen years?
"In the twentieth year," because Pekah fought against Ahaz and sought to abolish his kingship, as it is stated, "Let us go up against Judah... and let us set a king over her, the son of Tabeal." They did not count [this year] toward the reign of Ahaz, but rather toward the reign of Jotham, even though Jotham was already deceased, and this occurred in the fourth year of Ahaz.
Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
verse value 3957
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "did" (עָשָׂ֑ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "words·of·Pekah" (דִּבְרֵי־פֶ֖קַח, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "words·of·Pekah" (דִּבְרֵי־פֶ֖קַח). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 10 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·Pekah" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'did', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֥תֶר [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵי־פֶ֖קַח [words·of·Pekah] (404) + וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר [all·that] (557) + עָשָׂ֑ה [did] (375) + הִנָּ֣ם [behold·they] (95) + כְּתוּבִ֗ים [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יִשְׂרָאֵֽל [Israel] (541) = 3957.
In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.
verse value 3510
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 50 letters. Verse gematria: 3510 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Remaliah" (בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֖הוּ, 8 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·Uzziah" (בֶּן־עֻזִּיָּ֖הוּ). The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "in·year·of" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "son·of·Remaliah" (root בין, 106x 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) + לְפֶ֥קַח [of·Pekah] (218) + בֶּן־רְמַלְיָ֖הוּ [son·of·Remaliah] (343) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [Israel] (541) + מָלַ֛ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + יוֹתָ֥ם [Jotham] (456) + בֶּן־עֻזִּיָּ֖הוּ [son·of·Uzziah] (150) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 3510.
Radak
"In the second year of Pekah." At the beginning of his second year — Pekah had become king in the fifty-second year of Uzziah, and Uzziah died at the end of his fifty-second year, and Jotham reigned — behold, in the second year of Pekah, Jotham reigned.
Ralbag
"In the second year of Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham reigned." This means: at the beginning of the second year. For at the beginning of the fifty-second year of Uzziah, king of Judah, Pekah began to reign, and Uzziah died in that same year.
Metzudat David
"In the second year." For Pekah reigned for one year in the days of Uzziah, and Jotham reigned in the following year, which was the second year of Pekah.
Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.
verse value 5225
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 59 letters. The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָה֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·twenty" (בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים, 7 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): "Jerusha" (יְרוּשָׁ֖א), "daughter·of·Zadok" (בַּת־צָדֽוֹק). The root שנה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 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). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֨ים [son·of·twenty] (672) + וְחָמֵ֤שׁ [and·five] (354) + שָׁנָה֙ [year] (355) + הָיָ֣ה [was] (20) + בְמׇלְכ֔וֹ [in·his·reigning] (98) + וְשֵׁשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה [and·six·ten] (1181) + שָׁנָ֔ה [year] (355) + מָלַ֖ךְ [he·reigned] (90) + בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם [in·Jerusalem] (588) + וְשֵׁ֣ם [and·name·of] (346) + אִמּ֔וֹ [his·mother] (47) + יְרוּשָׁ֖א [Jerusha] (517) + בַּת־צָדֽוֹק [daughter·of·Zadok] (602) = 5225.
Metzudat David
"And sixteen [years]," etc. And they were in a state of fragmentation:
And he did that which was right in the eyes of Hashem; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
verse value 2507
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 38 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "as·them" (כְּכֹ֧ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "that·he·did" (אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֛ה, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Uzziah" (עֻזִּיָּ֥הוּ). The root עשה appears 2 times in this verse. 8 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 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥עַשׂ [and·did] (386) + הַיָּשָׁ֖ר [straight] (515) + בְּעֵינֵ֣י [in·eyes·of] (142) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + כְּכֹ֧ל [as·them] (70) + אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֛ה [that·he·did] (876) + עֻזִּיָּ֥הוּ [Uzziah] (98) + אָבִ֖יו [his·father] (19) + עָשָֽׂה [did] (375) = 2507.
However the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and offered in the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of Hashem.
verse value 3856
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 60 letters. The shortest word is "only" (רַ֤ק, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·burning·incense" (וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "they·turned·aside" (סָ֔רוּ), "gate" (אֶת־שַׁ֥עַר), "upper" (הָעֶלְיֽוֹן). The root במה appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·house·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "not" (root לא, 106x in II Kings); "the·people" (root עם, 65x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·high·places', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 5 words. Full calculation: רַ֤ק [only] (300) + הַבָּמוֹת֙ [the·high·places] (453) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + סָ֔רוּ [they·turned·aside] (266) + ע֗וֹד [still] (80) + הָעָ֛ם [the·people] (115) + מְזַבְּחִ֥ים [sacrificing] (107) + וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים [and·burning·incense] (405) + בַּבָּמ֑וֹת [in·the·high·places] (450) + ה֗וּא [he] (12) + בָּנָ֛ה [he·built] (57) + אֶת־שַׁ֥עַר [gate] (971) + בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֖ה [the·house·of·Hashem] (438) + הָעֶלְיֽוֹן [upper] (171) = 3856.
Radak
He built the upper gate of the House of the LORD. This gate was located between the House of the LORD and the King's House, as we saw in the matter of Joash: "And they brought the king down from the House of the LORD, and they went by way of the gate of the runners to the King's House." And what is meant by the statement that he built it? That he added to its construction, or that it had collapsed and he rebuilt it. For Solomon had built a gate between his house and the House of the LORD, as it is stated: "and his ascent by which he would go up to the House of the LORD" [I Kings 10:5].
Metzudat David
"He built it." This means: He constructed for it a noble and great structure, greater than it had been previously; or perhaps it had collapsed and he rebuilt it anew. And perhaps this is what is referred to as (Jeremiah 26:10): "the new gate of the Lord."
Malbim
"He built" means that he constructed great buildings, for this gate already existed, and they entered through it from the King's House to the House of the Lord, as stated in II Chronicles (23:20) regarding Jehoash: "And he went in through the upper gate of the King's House."
Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
verse value 3644
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֣ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "written" (כְּתוּבִ֗ים, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·the·kings·of" (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 'did', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְיֶ֛תֶר [and·remainder·of] (616) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + יוֹתָ֖ם [Jotham] (456) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + עָשָׂ֑ה [did] (375) + הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם [not·they] (81) + כְּתוּבִ֗ים [written] (478) + עַל־סֵ֛פֶר [in·the·book·of] (440) + דִּבְרֵ֥י [words·of] (216) + הַיָּמִ֖ים [day] (105) + לְמַלְכֵ֥י [of·the·kings·of] (130) + יְהוּדָֽה [Judah] (30) = 3644.
In those days Hashem began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.
verse value 2255
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 51 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "abundance" (הָהֵ֔ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Remaliah" (בֶּן־רְמַלְיָֽהוּ, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·send" (לְהַשְׁלִ֙יחַ֙). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "son·of·Remaliah" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). First appearance of the root רצין ("Rezin") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Aram', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words. Full calculation: בַּיָּמִ֣ים [in·the·days] (102) + הָהֵ֔ם [abundance] (50) + הֵחֵ֣ל [he·began] (43) + יְהֹוָ֗ה [Hashem] (26) + לְהַשְׁלִ֙יחַ֙ [to·send] (383) + בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה [in·Judah] (32) + רְצִ֖ין [Rezin] (350) + מֶ֣לֶךְ [king] (90) + אֲרָ֑ם [Aram] (241) + וְאֵ֖ת [and] (407) + פֶּ֥קַח [Pekah] (188) + בֶּן־רְמַלְיָֽהוּ [son·of·Remaliah] (343) = 2255.
Rashi
In those days. In the last days of Jotham:
To send. To provoke:
Radak
"In those days, the LORD began." After the death of Jotham.
Ralbag
"In those days the LORD began to send Rezin against Judah." This means either to incite [trouble] in Judah or to send [an enemy]. This occurred after the death of Jotham, for in the days of Ahaz these kings united against Jerusalem because of the multitude of Ahaz's sins, as explained in the Book of Chronicles. They struck them with a great blow, and afterwards they besieged Jerusalem but could not wage war against it, for the Lord had compassion on Judah and did not decree its destruction.
Metzudat David
"In those days." After the death of Joatham:
Metzudat Zion
He began. He started:
To send. To provoke and incite, so too (Exodus 8:17): behold I am sending against you:
And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 3489
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "David" (דָּוִ֣ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 529: with·his·fathers, with·his·fathers. The root עם appears 2 times in this verse. 11 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 אחז ("Ahaz") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·father', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב [and·he·slept] (338) + יוֹתָם֙ [Jotham] (456) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + וַיִּקָּבֵר֙ [and·he·was·buried] (318) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֔יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + בְּעִ֖יר [in·city·of] (282) + דָּוִ֣ד [David] (14) + אָבִ֑יו [his·father] (19) + וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + אָחָ֥ז [Ahaz] (16) + בְּנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 3489.
Rashi
Radak
Ralbag
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion
Malbim