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Nach YomiII Kings · מלכים ב׳Chapter 15

II Kings 15

מלכים ב׳ ׀ךק ט׮ו

Section: נביאים · נביאים ךאשונים | Book: II Kings | Chapter: 15 of 25 | Day: 137 of 742

Date: June 28, 2026

קלאוד על הנ׮ך

Chapter 15 is one of the most chronologically dense and politically turbulent chapters in the book of Kings, spanning the long, stable reigns of two righteous Judahite kings — Azariah (Uzziah) and his son Jotham — against the backdrop of a Northern Kingdom collapsing into anarchy. In the space of these thirty-eight verses, no fewer than five kings of Israel rise and fall (Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, and Pekah), four of them by assassination, as the house of Jehu is extinguished and the throne becomes the prize of repeated military coups. The contrast is the chapter’s organizing theme: Judah’s Davidic continuity, however imperfect, against Israel’s violent instability, which sets the stage for the Assyrian deportations that begin here and will culminate in Samaria’s destruction.

The chapter opens with Azariah/Uzziah, whose fifty-two-year reign was the longest in Judah’s history but is recorded here in remarkably few verses, since Kings reserves the dramatic episode for elsewhere. The text states only that God struck him with leprosy (tzaraat) until his death, so that he lived in “isolated quarters” (beit ha-chofshit) while his son Jotham governed (verse 5). Rashi and Radak fill in from Chronicles the cause the commentators all stress: Uzziah entered the Sanctuary to burn incense, usurping the priestly role, and was stricken on the spot. The commentators mine the phrase beit ha-chofshit (“house of freedom”) richly — Radak, citing the Sages in Horayot, explains that kingship is itself a form of servitude (bearing the people’s burdens and judging their cases), so that the leprous king, removed from office, became “free”; alternatively (per the Yerushalmi) the house stood in a cemetery, since a metzora is reckoned as among the dead, “free among the dead” (Psalms 88).

The bulk of the chapter is given over to the Northern Kingdom’s disintegration, and the commentators — especially Rashi and Radak — labor mightily over its tangled chronology, particularly the famous problem of verses 1 and 8, where Azariah’s accession is dated to Jeroboam’s twenty-seventh year. Rashi resolves it by reading “he reigned a plagued kingship” — the twenty-seventh year marks not Azariah’s accession but the year he was stricken with leprosy and his “diminished” reign began. The dynasty of Jehu reaches its prophesied end with Zechariah, the fourth generation, who reigns only six months before Shallum assassinates him “before the people” (verse 10); the narrator pauses to note that this fulfilled God’s word to Jehu that four generations would sit on Israel’s throne (verse 12). Shallum lasts a single month before Menahem kills him and seizes power, then brutally sacks Tiphsah, ripping open its pregnant women for refusing to surrender (verse 16) — a measure of how far Israelite kingship has fallen.

The chapter’s gravest historical turn is the entry of Assyria. Menahem buys off King Pul (Tiglath-pileser) with a thousand talents of silver, exacted at fifty shekels a head from the men of means (verses 19-20) — the first time Israel pays tribute to the empire that will eventually destroy it. After Menahem’s son Pekahiah is murdered by his officer Pekah (verse 25), Pekah’s twenty-year reign sees the first great deportation: Tiglath-pileser captures Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and “the entire region of Naphtali,” exiling its inhabitants to Assyria (verse 29) — the beginning of the end for the ten tribes. Pekah himself is then killed by Hoshea son of Elah, the last king of Israel. The chapter closes by returning to Judah and Jotham son of Uzziah, who “did what was pleasing to God” and built the Upper Gate of the Temple, but in whose final days “God began to incite Rezin of Aram and Pekah against Judah” (verse 37) — the Syro-Ephraimite threat that will dominate the reign of his wicked son Ahaz in the next chapter. A telling detail the commentators note (verse 30): Hoshea’s accession is dated to Jotham’s twentieth year even though Jotham reigned only sixteen, because Scripture preferred to reckon by the righteous Jotham “in the grave” rather than by his wicked living son Ahaz.

׀ךק ט׮ו · Chapter 15

׀סוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

ב֌֎שְׁנַ֚ת עֶשְׂך֎րים ו֞שֶׁ֙בַע֙ שׁ֞נ֞֔ה לְי֞ךׇבְע֖֞ם מֶ֣לֶךְ י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֑ל מ֞לַ֛ךְ עֲזַךְי֥֞ה בֶן֟אֲמַ׊ְי֖֞ה מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהו֌ד֞֜ה׃

English:

In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam of Israel, Azariah son of King Amaziah of Judah became king.

Azariah (Uzziah) son of Amaziah becomes king of Judah, dated to the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam of Israel. Rashi and Metzudat David (citing Seder Olam) resolve the difficulty -- since Uzziah and Jeroboam reigned concurrently -- by explaining that the twenty-seventh year marks when Uzziah was stricken with leprosy and began 'a plagued kingship,' not the start of his reign; Radak notes the date refers to the end of Jeroboam's reign.
▶Commentaries (2)
ךש׎יRashi
ב֌֎שְׁנַת עֶשְׂך֎ים ו֞שֶׁבַע שׁ֞נ֎ים לְי֞ך֞בְע֞ם וְגוֹ'. אֶ׀ְשׁ֞ך לוֹמַך כ֌ֵן, וַהֲלֹא עֻז֌֎י֌֞ה וְי֞ך֞בְע֞ם מ֞לְכו֌ כ֌ְאַחַת, כ֌ְמוֹ שֶׁ׀֌ֵךֵשׁ ב֌ְס֞מו֌ךְ, אֶל֌֞א מַה ת֌ַלְמו֌ד לוֹמַך ב֌֎שְׁנַת עֶשְׂך֎ים ו֞שֶׁבַע לְי֞ך֞בְע֞ם מ֞לַךְ עֲזַךְי֞ה, שֶׁמ֌֞לַךְ מַלְכו֌ת מְנֻג֌ַעַת, ל֞מַדְנו֌ שֶׁנ֌֎תְנַג֌ַע ב֌֎שְׁנַת עֶשְׂך֎ים ו֞שֶׁבַע לְמַלְכו֌תוֹ.
In the twenty-seventh year of Yorovom, etc. Is it possible to say so? Did not Uzziyoh1Azaryoh and Uzziyohu refer to the same person. See below verses 13 and 32. and Yorovom reign simultaneously, as was explained just before? What, then, is the meaning of the verse, "In the twenty-seventh year of Yorovom 
 Azaryoh 
 became king"? That [from that year] he reigned a plagued kingship, [i.e.,] that he was stricken with tzora'as in the twenty-seventh year of his reign.
מ׊ודת דודMetzudat David
בשנת עשךים ושבע. שנויה בסדך עולם: שבשנת כ׮ז ליךבעם נתנגע עזךיה, ומלך מלכות מנוגעת, אבל התחלת מלכות עזךיה היתה כאחת עם מלכות יךבעם, [ ׹שה לומ׹: מה שמלך אח׹י מות אביו יואש, ולא התחלת חשבון ימי מלכותו, כי יךבעם מלך שלשה שנים בחיי אביו, מאז היתה חשבון ימי מלכותו ], כי עזךיה מלך ט׮ו שנים בחיי אביו, והוא בעת מת יואש [ ולכך לא תלה מלכותו המנוגעת במלכות ע׊מו, כי לא היינו יודעין אם חושב מהזמן שמלך בחיי אביו, או משמת אביו, אבל עתה כאילו יאמ׹ בשנת כ׮ז למלכותו, והוא כ׮ז ליךבעם, אם כן חושב מזמן שמלך הוא בחיי אביו, והוא הזמן אשך מלך יךבעם משמת אביו ]:
It is taught in Seder Olam that in the 27th year of Jeraboam, Azariah was afflicted with Leprosy and he reigned an afflicted kingdom. However, the beginning of Azariah's reign began in the same year Jeraboam began to rule. (NOT DONE)

׀סוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

ב֌ֶן֟שֵׁ֚שׁ עֶשְׂךֵրה שׁ֞נ֞ה֙ ×”Öž×™ÖžÖ£×” בְמׇלְכ֔וֹ וַחֲמ֎שׁ֌֎րים ו֌שְׁת֌ַ֙י֎ם֙ שׁ֞נ֞֔ה מ֞לַ֖ךְ ב֌֎יךו֌שׁ֞ל֑֞͏֎ם וְשֵׁ֣ם א֎מ֌֔וֹ יְכׇלְי֖֞הו֌ מ֎יךו֌שׁ֞ל֞֜͏֎ם׃

English:

He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; his mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

Uzziah was sixteen when he became king and reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; his mother was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. Metzudat David explains the fifty-two years as fifteen during his father Amaziah's lifetime and thirty-seven after his father's death.
▶Commentaries (1)
מ׊ודת דודMetzudat David
וחמשים ושתים. ט׮ו בחיי אביו, ול׮ז אח׹י מות אביו:
15 in the life of his father and 37 after the death of his father.

׀סוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַי֌ַ֥עַשׂ הַי֌֞שׁ֖֞ך ב֌ְעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹו֑֞ה כ֌ְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁך֟ע֞שׂ֖֞ה אֲמַ׊ְי֥֞הו֌ א֞ב֎֜יו׃

English:

He did what was pleasing to GOD, just as his father Amaziah had done.

׀סוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

ךַ֥ק הַב֌֞מ֖וֹת לֹא֟ס֑֞ךו֌ ע֥וֹד ה֞ע֛֞ם מְזַב֌ְח֎֥ים ו֌֜מְקַט֌ְך֎֖ים ב֌ַב֌֞מ֜וֹת׃

English:

However, the shrines were not removed; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings at the shrines.

׀סוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיְנַג֌ַ֚ע יְהֹו֞֜ה אֶת֟הַמ֌ֶ֗לֶךְ וַיְה֎րי מְ׊ֹך֞ע֙ עַד֟י֣וֹם מֹת֔וֹ וַי֌ֵ֖שֶׁב ב֌ְבֵ֣ית הַחׇ׀ְשׁ֎֑ית וְיוֹת֞րם ב֌ֶן֟הַמ֌ֶ֙לֶךְ֙ עַל֟הַב֌ַ֔י֎ת שֹׁ׀ֵ֖ט אֶת֟עַ֥ם ה֞א֞֜ךֶץ׃

English:

GOD struck the king with a plague, and he was a leper until the day of his death; he lived in isolated quarters,ain isolated quarters Meaning of Heb. uncertain. while Jotham, the king’s son, was in charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

God struck Uzziah with leprosy until his death; he lived in isolated quarters (beit ha-chofshit) while his son Jotham governed the people. Rashi and Radak explain (from Chronicles) that he was stricken for entering the Sanctuary to burn incense, usurping the priestly role; they read beit ha-chofshit as 'house of freedom' -- freed from the servitude of kingship -- or (per the Yerushalmi) a house in the cemetery, since a metzora is reckoned 'free among the dead.'
▶Commentaries (3)
ךש׎יRashi
וַיְנַג֌ַע ה' אֶת הַמ֌ֶלֶךְ. מְ׀ֹך֞שׁ ב֌ְד֎בְךֵי הַי֌֞מ֎ים שֶׁנ֌֎כְנַס ל֞הֵיכ֞ל לְהַקְט֎יך עַל הַמ֌֎זְב֌ֵחַ הַק֌ְטֹךֶת. ב֌ְבֵית הַח֞׀ְשׁ֎ית. ע֞שׂ֞ה לוֹ ב֌ַי֎ת ב֌ְבֵית הַק֌ְב֞ךוֹת, כ֌ְמ֞ה ד֌ְאַת֌ְ אֲמַך ב֌ַמ֌ֵת֎ים ח֞׀ְשׁ֎י.
Adonoy brought a plague upon the king. It is explained in Divrei Hayomim2II Divrei Hayomim 26:16-21. that he entered the Temple to burn incense on the Incense Altar.3He was punished with tzora'as for attempting to assume the role of the kohein gadol and burn incense on the altar. See II Divrei Hayomim 26-16:21 and Rashi in Bamidbar 17:5. In a retirement house. He made himself a house in the cemetery,4The word ח׀שי means freedom. The Gemara in Maseches Horiyos 10a explains that Uzziyohu became "free" of the duties of being king. Targum indicates that he lived outside the walls of Yerusholayim. The reason is because a metzora is forced to live in isolation. He was therefore unable to attend to his royal duties and was thus "freed" from his responsibilities. 5The house was in the cemetery because our Rabbis taught in Maseches Nedarim 12b that a metzora is accounted as dead. And like the dead who is free from the many toils of life, as it states in Tehilim 88:6, "I am [considered] among the dead who are free," so is a metzora. as it is stated, "I am [considered] among the dead who are free."6Tehilim 88:6. In [Talmud] Yerushalmi.
מ׊ודת דודMetzudat David
וינגע ה׳. ובדב׹י הימים (ב כו יח) נאמך שבא לו בזע׀ו עם הכהנים, בעת בא להקטי׹ ומיחו בו: בבית הח׀שית. ׹שה לומ׹: עזב הנהגת המלכות, והיה ח׀שי מזה העמל, וכמו שאמךו ךבותינו ז׮ל שהמלכות יחשב לעבדות, ל׀י ׹וב העמל: על הבית. היה ממונה על בית המלך, להיות שו׀ט מש׀ט העם תחת המלך:
In Chronicles it says that Azariah came to the Beit Hamikdash out of anger with the priests and gave incense despite the priests' objections. As if to say, he resigned as leader of the kingdom, and was exempt from work. And this is like what our rabbis say, may they be remembered for a blessing, that kingship is like slavery because of the large amount of work required. he was appointed over the palace as a judge who judged the nation in place of the king.
׹ד׮קRadak
וינגע ה' את המלך. בדב׹י הימים אומ׹ למה נגעהו ל׀י שנכנס להיכל להקטי׹ קטךת ודךשו כי למשה ׹מז בזה הדב׹ וזהו שאמך במחלוקת ק׹ח כאשך דב׹ ה' ביד משה לו כשלקתה יד משה ב׊ךעת ׹מז לו כי כל החולק על הכהונה ילקה ב׊ךעת ל׀יכך לקה עוזיהו ב׊ךעת: וישב בבית הח׀שית. אמ׹ו ׹ז"ל כי המלכות היא עבודה שהךי ש׹יך לשאת כל משא העם עליו ולשמוע אליהם ולש׀וט מש׀טיהם בין ב׹שונו בין שלא ב׹שונו אם כן המלכות היא עבדות וכשנ׊טךע עוזיהו וישב לו בבית אחד לבדו הנה הוא ח׀שי מן העבודה שהיה בה ל׀יכך נקךאת הבית בית הח׀שית ועוד אמ׹ו שעשה לו בית בבית הקבךות כד"א במתים ח׀שי וי"ת ויתב מב׹א ליךושלם: שו׀ט את עם האךץ. לדב׹ינו כל הימים שאביו היה מ׊וךע הוא היה שו׀ט את עם האךץ וכן הוא משמעות הכתוב ולדב׹י ׹ז"ל כי בשנה שנ׊טךע נולד ולא ש׀ט את עם האךץ אלא אח׹ שגדל והיה בן דעת וקודם לכן היו הזקנים והשךים שו׀טים את עם האךץ:
Our sages of blessed memory said in Horayot:10, that being a King is work; You need to carry the burdens of the nation, listen to them, and judge their cases in court whether you want to or not. If being a King is work, and the leprosy caused him to lived alone, then he was free from the work of being a king. Therefore, it was called a House of Freedom. Alternatively, the sages said this 'house of freedom' was a cemetery as it says in the verse (Psalms 88:6) "...among the dead who are free".

׀סוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֛תֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י עֲזַךְי֖֞הו֌ וְכׇל֟אֲשֶׁ֣ך ע֞שׂ֑֞ה הֲלֹא֟הֵ֣ם כ֌ְתו֌ב֎֗ים עַל֟סֵ֛׀ֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י הַי֌֞מ֎֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהו֌ד֞֜ה׃

English:

The other events of Azariah’s reign, and all his actions, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Judah.

׀סוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎שְׁכ֌ַրב עֲזַךְי֞ה֙ ע֎ם֟אֲבֹת֞֔יו וַי֌֎קְב֌ְך֥ו֌ אֹת֛וֹ ע֎ם֟אֲבֹת֖֞יו ב֌ְע֎֣יך ד֌֞ו֎֑ד וַי֌֎מְלֹ֛ךְ יוֹת֥֞ם ב֌ְנ֖וֹ ת֌ַחְת֌֞֜יו׃ {×€}

English:

Azariah rested with his ancestors, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David; his son Jotham succeeded him as king.

׀סוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

ב֌֎שְׁנַ֚ת שְׁלֹשׁ֎րים ו֌שְׁמֹנֶה֙ שׁ֞נ֞֔ה לַעֲזַךְי֖֞הו֌ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהו֌ד֑֞ה מ֞֠לַ֠ךְ זְכַךְי֚֞הו֌ בֶן֟י֞ךׇבְע֧֞ם עַל֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֛ל ב֌ְשֹׁמְך֖וֹן שׁ֎שׁ֌֥֞ה חֳד֞שׁ֎֜ים׃

English:

In the thirty-eighth year of King Azariah of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in Samaria—for six months.

Zechariah son of Jeroboam becomes king over Israel in Samaria, in the thirty-eighth year of Azariah, reigning only six months. Rashi and Metzudat David work through the chronology (Jeroboam reigned three years in his father's lifetime), and Rashi candidly notes the difficulty in reconciling Seder Olam's figures with the verse.
▶Commentaries (2)
ךש׎יRashi
ב֌֎שְׁנַת שְׁלשׁ֎ים ו֌שְׁמֹנֶה שׁ֞נ֞ה לַעֲזַךְי֞הו֌ מֶלֶךְ יְהו֌ד֞ה מ֞לַךְ זְכַךְי֞הו֌. אַף מ֎כ֌֞אן יֵשׁ ל֎לְמֹד שֶׁמ֌֞לַךְ עֲזַךְי֞ה מ֎ש֌ֶׁמ֌ֵת יוֹא֞שׁ מֶלֶךְ י֎שְׂך֞אֵל ח֞מֵשׁ עֶשְׂךֵה שׁ֞נ֞ה ב֌ְחַי֌ֵי אֲמַ׊ְי֞ה א־ב֮יו, שֶׁא֎ם לֹא ע֞מַד עַד שֶׁמ֌ֵת א־ב֮יו, נ֮מְש־א שֶׁל֌ֹא ע֞מַד עַד ב֌֎שְׁנַת ח֞מֵשׁ עֶשְׂךֵה לְי֞ך֞בְע֞ם ב֌ֶן יוֹא֞שׁ, וְי֞ך֞בְע֞ם מ֞לַךְ אַךְב֌֞ע֎ים וְאַחַת, נ֮מְש־א שֶׁמ֌ֵת י֞ך֞בְע֞ם ב֌֎שְׁנַת עֶשְׂך֎ים ו֞שֶׁבַע לְעֻז֌֎י֌֞ה, וְהֵיאַךְ הו֌א אוֹמֵך ב֌֎שְׁנַת שְׁלשׁ֎ים ו֌שְׁמוֹנֶה. אֶל֌֞א עַל כ֌֞ךְחֲך֞, עֻז֌֎י֌֞ה וְי֞ך֞בְע֞ם מ֞לְכו֌ כ֌ְאַחַת, אֶל֌֞א שֶׁי֌֞ך֞בְע֞ם מ֞לַךְ ב֌ְחַי֌ֵי א־ב֮יו יְהוֹא֞שׁ שׁ֞לשׁ שׁ֞נ֎ים, לְכ־ךְ הו֌א אוֹמֵך וְי֞ך֞בְע֞ם י֞שַׁב עַל כ֌֎סְאוֹ, שֶׁי֌֞שַׁב כ֌ְב֞ך, וְעֻז֌֎י֌֞ה ע֞מַד מ֎ש֌ֶׁמ֌ֵת יוֹא֞שׁ, ו֌מ֞לַךְ י֞ך֞בְע֞ם מַלְכו֌ת שְׁלֵמ֞ה. ו֌בְסֵדֶך עוֹל֞ם ך֞א֎ית֎י, שֶׁי֌֞ך֞בְע֞ם מ֞לַךְ ב֌ְחַי֌ֵי א־ב֮יו שׁ֞נ֞ה, וְאֵינ֎י יוֹדֵעַ א֎ם שׁ֎ב֌ו֌שׁ הַס֌וֹ׀ְך֎ים הו֌א, שֶׁאֵינוֹ י֞כוֹל לְיַש֌ֵׁב ב֌֎שְׁנַת שְׁלשׁ֎ים ו֌שְׁמוֹנֶה לַעֲזַךְי֞ה מ֞לַךְ זְכַךְי֞ה, אֶל֌֞א ב֌ְע֎נְי֞ן זֶה.
In the thirty-eighth year of Azaryohu king of Yehudah, Zecharyoh 
 became king. From here too, it is possible to deduce that Azaryoh[u] reigned from the time that Yoash king of Yisroel died, fifteen years during the lifetime of Amatzyoh his father, for if he did not become [king] until his father died, it follows that he did not become [king] until the fifteenth year of Yorovom son of Yoash. Now, since Yorovom reigned forty-one years, it follows that Yorovom died in the twenty-seventh year of Uzziyoh. So, how does [Scripture] state, "In the thirty-eighth year?" Rather, we are forced [to deduce] that Uzziyoh and Yorovom reigned simultaneously, except that Yorovom reigned during the lifetime of his father Yehoash—three years. Therefore [Scripture] states, "and Yorovom had sat on his throne,"7Above, 13:13. [i.e., on the throne] that he had already sat. And Uzziyoh became [king] when Yoash died and Yorovom reigned over a complete monarchy. I saw in Seder Olam that Yorovom reigned one year during his father's lifetime, and I do not know whether it is the writers' error, for I cannot reconcile, "In the thirty-eighth year of Azaryohu 
 Zecharyohu 
 reigned," except in this manner.
מ׊ודת דודMetzudat David
בשנת שלשים ושמנה. כי יךבעם מלך שלש שנים בחיי אביו, ולא אח׹י מות אביו, ובין כולם מ׮א, וכלו אם כן בל׮ח לעזךיה, כי התחלת מלכות עזךיה, משמלך בחיי אביו, והתחלת מלכות יךבעם, משמת אביו היו בזמן אחד, אם כן קדמה מלכות יךבעם למלכות עזךיה שלש שנים מה שמלך בחיי אביו, וכלתה שנת מ׮א שלו בל׮ח לעזךיה, ואז מלך זכ׹יה:
Jeroboam was king 3 years in the life of his father and 38 years after the death of his father, in total 41 years. His term ended in the 38th year of Azariah, because the beginning of Azariah's reign during his father's reign and the beginning of Jeraboam's reign from the death of his father happened at the same time. If so, Jeraboam reigned for three years prior to the reign of Azariah in his father's life, and he ruled in his 41st year during the 38th year of Azariah's reign, and then Zechariah took over.

׀סוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַי֌ַրעַשׂ ה֞ךַע֙ ב֌ְעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹו֞֔ה כ֌ַאֲשֶׁ֥ך ע֞שׂ֖ו֌ אֲבֹת֑֞יו לֹ֣א ס֞֗ך מֵ֜חַט֌ֹאות֙ י֞ךׇבְע֣֞ם ב֌ֶן֟נְב֞֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ך הֶחֱט֎֖יא אֶת֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃

English:

He did what was displeasing to GOD, as his predecessors had done; he did not depart from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

׀סוק י׳ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎קְשֹׁրך ע֞ל֞יו֙ שַׁל֌ֻ֣ם ב֌ֶן֟י֞בֵ֔שׁ וַי֌ַכ֌ֵ֥הו֌ קׇ֜בׇל֟ע֖֞ם וַיְמ֎יתֵ֑הו֌ וַי֌֎מְלֹ֖ךְ ת֌ַחְת֌֞֜יו׃

English:

Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him and struck him down before the peoplebbefore the people Some Septuagint mss. read “at Ibleam.” and killed him, and succeeded him as king.

Shallum son of Jabesh conspires against Zechariah, strikes him down before the people, kills him, and reigns in his place. Rashi and Radak explain 'kaval am' (per Targum) as 'before the people' -- in the sight of the nation -- ending the dynasty of Jehu with its fourth generation.
▶Commentaries (1)
ךש׎יRashi
וַי֌ַכ֌ֵהו֌ קֳב֞ל ע֞ם. (ת֌ַךְג֌ו֌ם:) ו֌מְח֞ה֎י קֳד֞ם עַמ֌֞א, לְעֵינֵי ה֞ע֞ם.
And struck him before the people. [Targum Yonoson renders,] he struck him before the people [i.e.,] before the eyes of the people.8קבל in Aramaic means opposite, i.e., he struck him opposite the people.—Metzudas Tzion

׀סוק י׮א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֖תֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֣י זְכַךְי֑֞ה ה֎נ֌֣֞ם כ֌ְתו֌ב֎֗ים עַל֟סֵ֛׀ֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י הַי֌֞מ֎֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃

English:

The other events of Zechariah’s reign are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

׀סוק י׮ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

ה֣ו֌א דְבַך֟יְהֹו֞֗ה אֲשֶׁ֚ך ד֌֎ב֌ֶրך אֶל֟יֵהו֌א֙ לֵאמֹ֔ך ב֌ְנֵ֣י ךְב֎יע֎֔ים יֵשְׁב֥ו֌ לְך־֖ עַל֟כ֌֎ס֌ֵ֣א י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֑ל וַ֜יְה֎י֟כֵ֜ן׃ {×€}

English:

This was in accord with the word that GOD had spoken to Jehu:cthe word that GOD had spoken to Jehu Cf. 10.30. “Four generations of your descendants shall occupy the throne of Israel.” And so it came about.

Zechariah's death fulfilled God's word to Jehu that four generations of his descendants would sit on Israel's throne. Rashi explains the dynasty endured not by its own merit but to fulfill the divine promise; Metzudat David lists the four (Jehoahaz, Joash, Jeroboam, Zechariah), after which the kingship passed from Jehu's line.
▶Commentaries (2)
ךש׎יRashi
וַיְה֎י כֵן. לֹא שֶׁה֞יְת֞ה כ֌ְדַאי מַלְכו֌תוֹ ל֎מ֌֞שֵׁךְ כ֌֞ל כ֌֞ךְ, אֶל֌֞א לְקַי֌ֵם ד֌ְבַך מֶלֶךְ, שֶׁנ֌ֶאֱמַך: כ֌ֵן י֎הְיֶה דְב־׹֮י אֲשֶׁך יֵ׊ֵא מ֎׀֌֎י וְגוֹ'.
And it was so. Not that his kingdom deserved to last that long, but to fulfill the word of the King,9I.e., the word of God stated in 10:30 above. as it is stated, "So shall be My word, which will go forth from My mouth etc."10Yeshayohu 55:11.
מ׊ודת דודMetzudat David
הוא דב׹ ה׳. מוסב על המק׹א של׀ני ׀ניו, שנאמך וימלוך תחתיו, והוא דב׹ ה׳ וגו׳: ויהי כן. כי מלכו יהואחז ויואש ויךבעם וזכ׹יה, ונ׀סק מזךעו המלוכה:
When Jehoachaz, Joash, Jeraboam, and Zechariah reigned, their royal bloodline ceased.

׀סוק י׮ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

שַׁל֌րו֌ם ב֌ֶן֟י֞בֵישׁ֙ מ֞לַ֔ךְ ב֌֎שְׁנַ֚ת שְׁלֹשׁ֎րים ו֞תֵ֙שַׁע֙ שׁ֞נ֞֔ה לְעֻז֌֎י֌֖֞ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהו֌ד֑֞ה וַי֌֎מְלֹ֥ךְ יֶ֜ךַח֟י֞מ֎֖ים ב֌ְשֹׁמְך֜וֹן׃

English:

Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria one month.

Shallum son of Jabesh becomes king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah and reigns just one month in Samaria. Metzudat David explains the date: Zechariah's six-month reign began in Uzziah's thirty-eighth year and ran into the thirty-ninth, when Shallum briefly succeeded him.
▶Commentaries (1)
מ׊ודת דודMetzudat David
בשנת שלשים ותשע. כי זכ׹יה מלך בל׮ח לעוזיה, ומלך ששה חדשים, ואח׹יו מלך שלום, והוא ל׮ט לעוזיה:
Because Zechariah reigned for 38 years during Uziah's reign, and he reigned for 6 more months, and Shalum reigned during the 39th year of Uziah.

׀סוק י׮ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַי֌ַ֩עַל֩ מְנַחֵ֚ם ב֌ֶן֟ג֌֞ד֎֜י מ֎ת֌֎ךְ׊֞֗ה וַי֌֞בֹא֙ שֹׁמְך֔וֹן וַי֌ַ֛ךְ אֶת֟שַׁל֌֥ו֌ם ב֌ֶן֟י֞בֵ֖ישׁ ב֌ְשֹׁמְך֑וֹן וַיְמ֎יתֵ֖הו֌ וַי֌֎מְלֹ֥ךְ ת֌ַחְת֌֞֜יו׃

English:

Then Menahem son of Gadi set out from Tirzah and came to Samaria; he attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him, and he succeeded him as king.

׀סוק ט׮ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֙תֶך֙ ד֌֎בְךֵ֣י שַׁל֌֔ו֌ם וְק֎שְׁך֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ך ק֞שׁ֑֞ך ה֎נ֌֣֞ם כ֌ְתו֌ב֎֗ים עַל֟סֵ֛׀ֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י הַי֌֞מ֎֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃

English:

The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy that he formed, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

׀סוק ט׮ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

א֣֞ז יַכ֌ֶ֜ה֟מְ֠נַחֵ֠ם אֶת֟ת֌֎׀ְסַ֚ח וְאֶת֟כ֌ׇל֟אֲשֶׁך֟ב֌֞րה֌ וְאֶת֟ג֌ְבו֌לֶ֙יה֞֙ מ֎ת֌֎ךְ׊֞֔ה כ֌֎֛י לֹ֥א ׀֞תַ֖ח וַי֌ַ֑ךְ אֵ֛ת כ֌ׇל֟הֶה֥֞ךוֹתֶ֖יה֞ ב֌֎ק֌ֵ֜עַ׃ {×€}

English:

At that time, [marching] from Tirzah,d[marching] from Tirzah Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Menahem subdued Tiphsah and all who were in it, and its territory; and because it did not surrender, he massacred [its people] and ripped open all its pregnant women.

Menahem sacks Tiphsah and its territory from Tirzah, and because it would not surrender he massacred its people and ripped open its pregnant women. Rashi and Metzudat David explain 'because it did not open' means the city's governor refused to open its gates to accept him as king; Radak notes the savagery was an act of vengeance and intimidation.
▶Commentaries (3)
ךש׎יRashi
כ֌֎י לֹא ׀֞תַח. שַׂך ה֞ע֎יך לֹא ׀֞תַח לוֹ אֶת ה֞ע֎יך, לְקַב֌ְלוֹ ל֎מְלֹךְ עֲלֵיהֶם. הֶה֞ךוֹתֶיה֞. אֶת הַנ֌֞שׁ֎ים הֶה֞ךוֹת שֶׁב֌֞ה֌, ב֌֎ק֌ֵע.
Because it would not open. The governor of the city did not open the city for him, to accept him as king over them. Its pregnant women. The pregnant women therein, he ripped open.
מ׊ודת דודMetzudat David
מתך׊ה. מעבך תך׊ה: כי לא ׀תח. על שלא ׀תח ת׀סח את שעך העיך לבוא בה, ולזה הכה את ת׀סח ואת גבוליה, אשך מעבך תך׊ה: בקע. ׀תח בטני ההךות, להושיא וולדותיהן:
From across Tirzah. On the matter that the guards of Tiphsah did not open the gates of the city to gain entry to it. This is the reason he smote Tiphsah and it's borders that were across Tirzah. He opened the stomachs of the pregnant women to extract their fetuses.
׹ד׮קRadak
את ת׀סח ואת כל אשך בה. ת׀סח לא היתה מאךץ ישךאל אלא מעבך הנה׹ מאךם וכן כתוב כי הוא ׹ודה בכל עבך הנה׹ מת׀סח ועד עזה ונ׹אה כי היתה לגבול אךץ ישךאל נכח תך׊ה ותך׊ה היתה מאךץ ישךאל מקומו של מנחם ומנחם בא להלחם על ת׀סח וק׹א לשלום אליה להיות לו למס ולא ׀תח לו עם העיך וזהו שאמך כי לא ׀תח ויך והכה אותה ואת כל גבוליה מתך׊ה כלומ׹ מגבול תך׊ה ואילך כל הנמשא בכל גבוליה הכה ועוד כי כל ההךות שבה בקע ד׹ך נקמה ובזיון: ההךותיה. בשתי ידיעות כמו בתוך האהלי:
...He split open all the pregnant women as an act of vengeance and disgrace...

׀סוק י׮ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

ב֌֎שְׁנַ֚ת שְׁלֹשׁ֎րים ו֞תֵ֙שַׁע֙ שׁ֞נ֞֔ה לַעֲזַךְי֖֞ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהו֌ד֑֞ה מ֞֠לַ֠ךְ מְנַחֵ֚ם ב֌ֶן֟ג֌֞ד֎֧י עַל֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֛ל עￜￜ֥שֶׂך שׁ֞נ֎֖ים ב֌ְשֹׁמְך֜וֹן׃

English:

In the thirty-ninth year of King Azariah of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel in Samaria—for ten years.

Menahem son of Gadi becomes king over Israel in Samaria in the thirty-ninth year of Azariah, reigning ten years. Metzudat David explains the chronology: Shallum reigned only a month at the end of Uzziah's thirty-ninth year and was killed, so Menahem's reign began as that year closed and the fortieth began.
▶Commentaries (1)
מ׊ודת דודMetzudat David
בשנת שלשים ותשע. ׹שה לומ׹: אח׹ שעבך ל׮ט לעזךיה, כי שלום מלך בסוף ל׮ט לעזךיה, ונה׹ג אח׹ י׹ח ימים, ובשנה הבאה בכלות ל׮ט לעזךיה, בתחלת מ׳, מלך מנחם: עשך וגו׳. ומקוטעות היו:
It wanted to say, after 39 years passed at Azariah, Shallum reigned at the end of Azariah's 39th year and was killed after a month. And in the next year at the end of Azariah's 39th year and the beginning of the 40th year Menachem ruled.

׀סוק י׮ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַי֌ַ֥עַשׂ ה֞ךַ֖ע ב֌ְעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹו֑֞ה לֹ֣א ס֞֠ך מֵעַ֚ל חַט֌ֹ֜אות י֞ךׇבְע֧֞ם ב֌ֶן֟נְב֛֞ט אֲשֶׁך֟הֶחֱט֎֥יא אֶת֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֖ל כ֌ׇל֟י֞מ֞֜יו׃

English:

He did what was displeasing to GOD; throughout his days he did not depart from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

׀סוק י׮ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

ב֌֣֞א ׀րו֌ל מֶ֜לֶךְ֟אַשׁ֌ו֌ך֙ עַל֟ה֞א֞֔ךֶץ וַי֌֎ת֌ֵրן מְנַחֵם֙ לְ׀֔ו֌ל אֶ֖לֶף כ֌֎כ֌ַך֟כ֌֑֞סֶף ל֎הְיրוֹת י־ד־יו֙ א֎ת֌֔וֹ לְהַחֲז֎֥יק הַמ֌ַמְל֞כ֖֞ה ב֌ְי֞ד֜וֹ׃

English:

King Pul of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver that he might support him and strengthen his hold on the kingdom.

King Pul (Tiglath-pileser) of Assyria invades, and Menahem gives him a thousand talents of silver to support him and secure his hold on the throne. Metzudat David explains Menahem pledged the silver so that Pul would back his kingship -- the first Israelite tribute to the Assyrian empire that would later destroy the kingdom.

׀סוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַי֌ֹ׊ֵא֩ מְנַחֵ֚ם אֶת֟הַכ֌ֶ֜סֶף עַל֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֗ל עַ֚ל כ֌ׇל֟ג֌֎ב֌וֹךֵ֣י הַחַ֔י֎ל ל֞תֵת֙ לְמֶ֣לֶךְ אַשׁ֌֔ו֌ך חֲמ֎שׁ֌֎֧ים שְׁק֞ל֎֛ים כ֌ֶ֖סֶף לְא֎֣ישׁ אֶח֑֞ד וַי֌֞֙שׇׁב֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשׁ֌֔ו֌ך וְלֹא֟ע֥֞מַד שׁ֖֞ם ב֌֞א֞֜ךֶץ׃

English:

Menahem exacted the money from Israel: every man of means had to pay fifty shekels of silver for the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria withdrew and did not remain in the land.

Menahem exacts the silver from Israel's men of means, fifty shekels each, to pay Assyria; the king of Assyria then withdraws and does not remain in the land. Metzudat David explains Menahem raised the money from others rather than himself, levying it on the wealthy; Radak notes Pul left once paid, without protecting Israel from any other enemy.
▶Commentaries (1)
׹ד׮קRadak
ולא עמד שם באךץ. לא נתעכב שם אלא שב לו לא׹שו כיון שקבל הכסף ולא שמךה מאויב אח׹ וי"ת ולא אנזיק תמן באךעא:
He did not stay there but returned to his home seeing that he recived the money and no longer protect him from other enemies

׀סוק כ׮א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֛תֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י מְנַחֵ֖ם וְכׇל֟אֲשֶׁ֣ך ע֞שׂ֑֞ה הֲלוֹא֟הֵ֣ם כ֌ְתו֌ב֎֗ים עַל֟סֵ֛׀ֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י הַי֌֞מ֎֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃

English:

The other events of Menahem’s reign, and all his actions, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

׀סוק כ׮ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎שְׁכ֌ַ֥ב מְנַחֵ֖ם ע֎ם֟אֲבֹת֑֞יו וַי֌֎מְלֹ֛ךְ ׀֌ְקַחְי֥֞ה בְנ֖וֹ ת֌ַחְת֌֞֜יו׃ {×€}

English:

Menahem rested with his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah succeeded him as king.

׀סוק כ׮ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

ב֌֎שְׁנַת֙ חֲמ֎שׁ֌֎֣ים שׁ֞נ֞֔ה לַעֲזַךְי֖֞ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהו֌ד֑֞ה מ֞֠לַ֠ךְ ׀֌ְקַ֜חְי֚֞ה בֶן֟מְנַחֵ֧ם עַל֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֛ל ב֌ְשֹׁמְך֖וֹן שְׁנ֞ת֞֜י֎ם׃

English:

In the fiftieth year of King Azariah of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king over Israel in Samaria—for two years.

Pekahiah son of Menahem becomes king over Israel in Samaria in the fiftieth year of Azariah, reigning two years. Metzudat David explains the chronology: Menahem began in Uzziah's fortieth year and his ten years ended in the forty-ninth, so Pekahiah's reign began in the fiftieth.

׀סוק כ׮ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַי֌ַ֥עַשׂ ה֞ךַ֖ע ב֌ְעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹו֑֞ה לֹ֣א ס֞֗ך מֵ֜חַט֌ֹאות֙ י֞ךׇבְע֣֞ם ב֌ֶן֟נְב֞֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ך הֶחֱט֎֖יא אֶת֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃

English:

He did what was displeasing to GOD; he did not depart from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

׀סוק כ׮ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎קְשֹׁ֣ך ע֞ל֞יו֩ ׀֌ֶ֚קַח ב֌ֶן֟ךְמַלְי֞֜הו֌ שׁ֞ל֎ישׁ֗וֹ וַי֌ַכ֌ֵ֚הו֌ בְשֹׁמְך֜וֹן ב֌ְאַךְמրוֹן ב֌ֵית֟[הַמ֌ֶ֙לֶךְ֙] (מלך) אֶת֟אַךְג֌ֹ֣ב וְאֶת֟ה֞אַךְיֵ֔ה וְע֎מ֌֛וֹ חֲמ֎שׁ֌֎֥ים א֎֖ישׁ מ֎ב֌ְנֵ֣י ג֎לְע֞ד֎֑ים וַיְמ֎תֵ֖הו֌ וַי֌֎מְלֹ֥ךְ ת֌ַחְת֌֞֜יו׃

English:

His aide, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him and struck him down in the royal palace in Samaria; with him were fifty Gileadites, with men from Argob and Arieh;ewith men from Argob and Arieh Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and he killed him and succeeded him as king.

Pekah son of Remaliah, Pekahiah's aide, conspires against him and strikes him down in the royal palace with Argob and Arieh and fifty Gileadites, then reigns in his place. Rashi reads 'Argob' and the lion as parts of the palace (or, per Metzudat David and Radak, the names of two warriors who joined Pekah); Rashi also suggests a golden lion stood in that palace.
▶Commentaries (1)
ךש׎יRashi
שׁ֞ל֎ישׁוֹ. ג֌֎ב֌וֹך שֶׁל֌וֹ. אֶת אַךְג֌ֹב וְאֶת ה֞אַךְיֵה. כ֌֞ל אַךְג֌וֹב לְשׁוֹן ׀֌ַל֌֞ט֎ין הַחֲשׁו֌ב֎ין, וְכ־ל 'טַךְכוֹנ֎ין' ב֌ְל֞שׁוֹן אֲךַמ֌֎י, ׀֌ַל֌֞ט֎ין הַחֲשׁו֌ב֎ין לַמ֌ַלְכו֌ת. ב֌֞אַךְמוֹן הַג֌֞דוֹל אֲשֶׁך אֵ׊ֶל ה֞אַךְג֌וֹב. וְאֶת ה֞אַךְיֵה. יֵשׁ לוֹמַך, שֶׁה֞י֞ה אַךְיֵה שֶל ז־ה־ב עוֹמֵד ב֌ְאוֹתוֹ אַךְמוֹן.
His mighty warrior. His mighty warrior.11Alternatively, "his officer."—Metzudas Tzion [Near] the palace and [near] the lion. Every א׹גוב is an expression of important palaces, and every ט׹כונין in Aramaic [means] important palaces of the kingdom.12See Rashi in Devarim 3:4. Alternatively, "Argov" and "Aryeh" are names of two mighty warriors who were with Pekach, in addition to the fifty men.—Metzudas Tzion In the great chamber that was next to the palace. [Near] the palace and [near] the lion. Every א׹גוב is an expression of important palaces, and every ט׹כונין in Aramaic [means] important palaces of the kingdom.12See Rashi in Devarim 3:4. Alternatively, "Argov" and "Aryeh" are names of two mighty warriors who were with Pekach, in addition to the fifty men.—Metzudas Tzion In the great chamber that was next to the palace. And [near] the lion. It is possible to say that a golden lion was standing in that palace.

׀סוק כ׮ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֛תֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י ׀ְקַחְי֖֞ה וְכׇל֟אֲשֶׁ֣ך ע֞שׂ֑֞ה ה֎נ֌֣֞ם כ֌ְתו֌ב֎֗ים עַל֟סֵ֛׀ֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י הַי֌֞מ֎֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃ {×€}

English:

The other events of Pekahiah’s reign, and all his actions, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

׀סוק כ׮ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

ב֌֎שְׁנַ֚ת חֲמ֎שׁ֌֎րים ו֌שְׁת֌ַ֙י֎ם֙ שׁ֞נ֞֔ה לַעֲזַךְי֖֞ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהו֌ד֑֞ה מ֞֠לַ֠ךְ ׀֌ֶ֣קַח ב֌ֶן֟ךְמַלְי֧֞הו֌ עַל֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֛ל ב֌ְשֹׁמְך֖וֹן עֶשְׂך֎֥ים שׁ֞נ֞֜ה׃

English:

In the fifty-second year of King Azariah of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel and Samaria—for twenty years.

Pekah son of Remaliah becomes king over Israel in Samaria in the fifty-second year of Azariah, reigning twenty years. Metzudat David explains the chronology: Pekahiah's two years ended in Uzziah's fifty-first year, so Pekah's reign began in the fifty-second.

׀סוק כ׮ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וַי֌ַ֥עַשׂ ה֞ךַ֖ע ב֌ְעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹו֑֞ה לֹ֣א ס֞֗ך מ֎ן֟חַט֌ֹאות֙ י֞ךׇבְע֣֞ם ב֌ֶן֟נְב֞֔ט אֲשֶׁ֥ך הֶחֱט֎֖יא אֶת֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃

English:

He did what was displeasing to GOD; he did not depart from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit.

׀סוק כ׮ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

ב֌֎ימֵ֞י ׀֌ֶ֣קַח מֶ֜לֶךְ֟י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֗ל ב֌֞א֮ ת֌֎גְלַ֣ת ׀֌֎לְאֶ֘סֶך֮ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַשׁ֌ו֌ך֒ וַי֌֎ק֌ַ֣ח אֶת֟ע֎י֌֡וֹן וְאֶת֟א֞בֵ֣ל ב֌ֵ֜ית֟מַעֲכ֞֡ה וְאֶת֟י֞֠נ֠וֹחַ וְאֶת֟קֶ֚דֶשׁ וְאֶת֟ח֞׊րוֹך וְאֶת֟הַג֌֎לְע֞ד֙ וְאֶת֟הַג֌֞ל֎֔יל֞ה כ֌ֹ֖ל אֶ֣ךֶץ נַ׀ְת֌֞ל֎֑י וַי֌ַגְלֵ֖ם אַשׁ֌֜ו֌ך֞ה׃

English:

In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor—Gilead, Galilee, the entire region of Naphtali; and he deported the inhabitantsfthe inhabitants Heb. “them.” to Assyria.

׀סוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎קְשׇׁך֟קֶ֜שֶׁך הוֹשֵׁ֣עַ ב֌ֶן֟אֵל֞֗ה עַל֟׀֌ֶ֙קַח֙ ב֌ֶן֟ךְמַלְי֞֔הו֌ וַי֌ַכ֌ֵ֙הו֌֙ וַיְמ֎יתֵ֔הו֌ וￜￜי֌֎מְלֹ֖ךְ ת֌ַחְת֌֑֞יו ב֌֎שְׁנַ֣ת עֶשְׂך֎֔ים לְיוֹת֖֞ם ב֌ֶן֟עֻז֌֎י֌֞֜ה׃

English:

Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah, attacked him, and killed him. He succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

Hoshea son of Elah conspires against Pekah, kills him, and reigns in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain that although Jotham reigned only sixteen years, Scripture dates this to his 'twentieth year' (reckoning past his death) because it preferred to count by the righteous Jotham in the grave rather than by his wicked son Ahaz, then alive.
▶Commentaries (1)
ךש׎יRashi
ב֌֎שְׁנַת עֶשְׂך֎ים לְיוֹת֞ם. ה־י־ה לוֹ לוֹמַך ב֌֎שְׁנַת אַךְב֌ַע לְא־ח־ז, שֶׁהֲךֵי כ֌֞ל יְמֵי מַלְכו֌ת יוֹת֞ם שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂךֵה שׁ֞נ֞ה, אֶל֌֞א לְ׀֎י שֶׁה֞י֞ה א־ח־ז ך֞שׁ֞ע, ׹־ש־ה הַכ֌֞תו֌ב ל֎מְנוֹת֞ם לְיוֹת֞ם ב֌ַק֌ֶבֶך, וְלֹא לְא־ח־ז ב֌ַחַי֌֎ים, כ֌֞ךְ הו֌א ב֌ְסֵדֶך עוֹל֞ם.
In the twentieth year of Yosam. He should have said, "in the fourth year of Achaz," because Yosam's entire reign lasted [only] sixteen years, but since Achaz was wicked, Scripture prefers to count [the years with reference] to Yosam who was in the grave, rather than to Achaz, who was alive.13Alternatively, because the Divine decree of destruction had been passed against Pekach during Yosam's reign, therefore its fulfillment is reckoned in terms of his reign even though it took place after his death.—Radak Thus it is [stated] in Seder Olam.

׀סוק ל׮א · Verse 31

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֥תֶך ד֌֎בְךֵי֟׀ֶ֖קַח וְכׇל֟אֲשֶׁ֣ך ע֞שׂ֑֞ה ה֎נ֌֣֞ם כ֌ְתו֌ב֎֗ים עַל֟סֵ֛׀ֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י הַי֌֞מ֎֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֜ל׃ {×€}

English:

The other events of Pekah’s reign, and all his actions, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

׀סוק ל׮ב · Verse 32

Hebrew:

ב֌֎שְׁנַ֣ת שְׁת֌ַ֔י֎ם לְ׀ֶ֥קַח ב֌ֶן֟ךְמַלְי֖֞הו֌ מֶ֣לֶךְ י֎שְׂך֞אֵ֑ל מ֞לַ֛ךְ יוֹת֥֞ם ב֌ֶן֟עֻז֌֎י֌֖֞הו֌ מֶ֥לֶךְ יְהו֌ד֞֜ה׃

English:

In the second year of King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel, Jotham son of King Uzziah of Judah became king.

Jotham son of Uzziah becomes king of Judah in the second year of Pekah of Israel. Metzudat David and Radak explain that Pekah reigned one year in Uzziah's lifetime, Uzziah died at the end of his fifty-second year, and Jotham then took the throne in Pekah's second year.

׀סוק ל׮ג · Verse 33

Hebrew:

ב֌ֶן֟עֶשְׂך֎֚ים וְח֞מֵրשׁ שׁ֞נ֞ה֙ ×”Öž×™ÖžÖ£×” בְמׇלְכ֔וֹ וְשֵׁשׁ֟עֶשְׂךֵ֣ה שׁ֞נ֞֔ה מ֞לַ֖ךְ ב֌֎יךו֌שׁ֞ל֑֞͏֎ם וְשֵׁ֣ם א֎מ֌֔וֹ יְךו֌שׁ֖֞א ב֌ַת֟׊֞ד֜וֹק׃

English:

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; his mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.

Jotham was twenty-five when he became king and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; his mother was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. Metzudat David notes the sixteen years were 'cut off' (i.e., not all full calendar years).

׀סוק ל׮ד · Verse 34

Hebrew:

וַי֌ַ֥עַשׂ הַי֌֞שׁ֖֞ך ב֌ְעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹו֑֞ה כ֌ְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁך֟ע֞שׂ֛֞ה עֻז֌֎י֌֥֞הו֌ א־ב֖֮יו ע֞שׂ֞֜ה׃

English:

He did what was pleasing to GOD, just as his father Uzziah had done.

׀סוק ל׮ה · Verse 35

Hebrew:

ךַրק הַב֌֞מוֹת֙ לֹ֣א ס֞֔ךו֌ ע֗וֹד ה֞ע֛֞ם מְזַב֌ְח֎֥ים ו֌֜מְקַט֌ְך֎֖ים ב֌ַב֌֞מ֑וֹת ה֗ו֌א ב֌֞נ֛֞ה אֶת֟שַׁ֥עַך ב֌ֵית֟יְהֹו֖֞ה ה֞עֶלְי֜וֹן׃

English:

However, the shrines were not removed; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings at the shrines. It was he who built the Upper Gate of the House of GOD.

Though the high places remained, Jotham did right and built the Upper Gate of the House of God. Metzudat David explains he constructed an impressive new structure over the existing gate (or rebuilt it after it fell), perhaps the gate later called 'the New Gate of the Lord'; Radak locates it between the Temple and the palace, expanding Solomon's original gateway.

׀סוק ל׮ו · Verse 36

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֛תֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י יוֹת֖֞ם אֲשֶׁ֣ך ע֞שׂ֑֞ה הֲלֹא֟הֵ֣ם כ֌ְתו֌ב֎֗ים עַל֟סֵ֛׀ֶך ד֌֎בְךֵ֥י הַי֌֞מ֎֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהו֌ד֞֜ה׃

English:

The other events of Jotham’s reign, and all his actions, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Judah.

׀סוק ל׮ז · Verse 37

Hebrew:

ב֌ַי֌֞מ֎֣ים ה֞הֵ֔ם הֵחֵ֣ל יְהֹו֞֗ה לְהַשְׁל֎֙יחַ֙ ב֌֎֜יהו֌ד֞֔ה ׹ְש֖֮ין מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲך֑֞ם וְאֵ֖ת ׀֌ֶ֥קַח ב֌ֶן֟ךְמַלְי֞֜הו֌׃

English:

In those days, GOD began to incite King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.

In those days God began to incite Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain that this began at the very end of Jotham's life (or just after his death) -- the opening of the Syro-Ephraimite threat that would dominate the reign of his son Ahaz.
▶Commentaries (1)
ךש׎יRashi
ב֌ַי֌֞מ֎ים ה֞הֵם. ב֌ְסוֹף י־מ־יו שֶל יוֹת֞ם. לְהַשְׁל֎יחַ. לְג֞ךוֹת.
In those days. At the end of Yosam's life.14Alternatively, after Yosam's death.—Radak To incite. To incite.15Alternatively, "to send," as a punishment for the sins of Achaz.—Ralbag

׀סוק ל׮ח · Verse 38

Hebrew:

וַי֌֎שְׁכ֌ַրב יוֹת֞ם֙ ע֎ם֟אֲבֹת֞֔יו וַי֌֎ק֌֞בֵך֙ ע֎ם֟אֲבֹת֞֔יו ב֌ְע֎֖יך ד֌֞ו֎֣ד א־ב֑֮יו וַי֌֎מְלֹ֛ךְ א֞ח֥֞ז ב֌ְנ֖וֹ ת֌ַחְת֌֞֜יו׃ {×€}

English:

Jotham rested with his ancestors, and he was buried with his ancestors in the city of his forefather David; his son Ahaz succeeded him as king.

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