| 1Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Zibiah from Beersheba. |
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אבֶּן־שֶׁ֚בַע שָׁנִים֙ יֹאָ֣שׁ בְּמָלְכ֔וֹ וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּֽירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ צִבְיָ֖ה מִבְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע: |
| 2And Joash did what was proper in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. |
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בוַיַּ֧עַשׂ יוֹאָ֛שׁ הַיָּשָׁ֖ר בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כָּל־יְמֵ֖י יְהֽוֹיָדָ֥ע הַכֹּהֵֽן: |
| all the days of Jehoiada. And in II Kings (12:3) it is written: “all his days, [he did] that which Jehoiada the priest instructed him,” but after he died, the officers of the king came to prostrate themselves to him and to deify him (below verse 17). In the midrash (Exod. Rabbah 8:2, Tan. Buber, Va’era) it is explained that, because he hid in the Holy of Holies and was not harmed, they said, “You are fit to be a god.” |
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כל ימי יהוידע.
ובמלכים (ב' י"ב) כתיב כל ימיו אשר הורהו הכהן אבל לאחר שמת אז באו שרי המלך להשתחוות לו לעשותו קדש ובמדרש מפורש לפי שנטמן בבית קדש הקדשים ולא הוזק אמרו כדי אתה להיות אלוה:
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| 3And Jehoiada took himself two wives, and he begot sons and daughters. |
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גוַיִּשָּׂא־ל֥וֹ יְהֽוֹיָדָ֖ע נָשִׁ֣ים שְׁתָּ֑יִם וַיּ֖וֹלֶד בָּנִ֥ים וּבָנֽוֹת: |
| and he begot sons and daughters. Because it says below (verse 25) that Joash slew the sons of Jehoiada, it was necessary to note that he had sons. |
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ויולד בנים ובנות.
לפי שנאמר למטה (כ"ד) שהרג יואש את בני יהוידע הוצרך לומר שהיו לו בני':
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| 4And it came to pass afterwards that it was in Joash's heart to renew the House of the Lord. |
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דוַיְהִ֖י אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֑ן הָיָה֙ עִם־לֵ֣ב יוֹאָ֔שׁ לְחַדֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה: |
| 5And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah and gather money from all Israel to strengthen the House of your God from year to year, and you hasten to the matter," but the Levites did not hasten. |
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הוַיִּקְבֹּץ֘ אֶת־הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֣ים וְהַֽלְוִיִּם֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֡ם צְא֣וּ לְעָרֵ֪י יְהוּדָ֠ה֩ וְקִבְצוּ֩ מִכָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל כֶּ֜סֶף לְחַזֵּ֣ק| אֶת־בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם מִדֵּ֚י שָׁנָה֙ בְּשָׁנָ֔ה וְאַתֶּ֖ם תְּמַֽהֲר֣וּ לַדָּבָ֑ר וְלֹ֥א מִֽהֲר֖וּ הַֽלְוִיִּֽם: |
| and gather money from all Israel. i.e., Gather the money that the Israelites were accustomed to giving yearly, as it is written (Exod. 30:14): “Each one included in the census,” and in II Kings (12:5): “All money of the hallowed things that is brought to the House of the Lord, in current money, etc.” There were three types of money: (1) the money of all those counted in the census, viz. the shekels for every year, as it is said (Exod. 30:14): “Each one included in the census,” lit., “[the money of anyone] who passes,” reminiscent of “each one who passes.” (2) Personal donations - money donated by individuals to reflect the value of their souls, like one who says, “My value shall be incumbent upon me to donate.” (3) All donations inspired by a person’s heart for the repairs of the Temple. |
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וקבצו מכל ישראל.
כלומר קבצו אותו כסף שהיו ישראל נותנים מדי שנה בשנה כדכתיב (שמות ל׳:י״ג) כל העובר על הפקודים ובמלכים (ב' י"ב) כל כסף הקדשים אשר יובא בית ה' כסף עובר וגו' ששלש כספי' היו כסף עובר שקלים בכל שנה שנאמר (שמות ל׳:י״ג) כל העובר על הפקודים עובר על שם העובר, כסף נפשות ערכו, על איש שהתנדב ערך נפשו כמו האומר ערכי עלי, וכל כסף אשר יעלה על לב איש נדבה לבדק הבית:
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| and hasten to the matter," but the Levites did not hasten. It is explained in II Kings (12:6f.) that the king said, ” “Let the priests take [the money] for themselves, each one from his acquaintance,” but they neglected to impose upon their acquaintances, and when the king saw this, he said to them, (ibid. verse 8): “Do not take money from your acquaintances [any longer], but deliver it for the repairs of the House.” This is what is written here: "'and hasten to the matter,' but the Levites did not hasten." |
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ואתם תמהרו לדבר ולא מהרו הלוים.
מפורש בטוב (במלכים ב י״ב:ו׳) שאמר המלך יקחו להם הכהנים איש מאת מכרו ויתעצלו בדבר להטריח מכריהם וכשראה המלך כן אמר להם (שם) ועתה אל תקחו כסף מאת מכריכם כי לבדק הבית תתנוהו, זהו שאמר כאן ואתם תמהרו לדבר ולא מהרו הלוים:
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| 6So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, "Why did you not demand of the Levites to bring from Judah and from Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of the Lord, and the congregation of Israel, for the Tent of the Testimony?" |
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ווַיִּקְרָ֣א הַמֶּלֶךְ֘ לִיהֽוֹיָדָ֣ע הָרֹאשׁ֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ לֹֽא־דָרַ֣שְׁתָּ עַל־הַֽלְוִיִּ֔ם לְהָבִ֞יא מִֽיהוּדָ֣ה וּמִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם אֶת־מַשְׂאַת֙ מֹשֶׁ֣ה עֶֽבֶד־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהַקָּהָ֖ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְאֹ֖הֶל הָֽעֵדֽוּת: |
| the tax of Moses the servant of the Lord. i.e., the shekels which he mandated upon them in the desert. |
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משאת משה עבד ה'.
כלומר שקלים שצוה עליהם במדבר:
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| the tax of. Heb. מַשְׂאַת, reminiscent of (Exod. 30: 12): “When you take (כִּי תִשָּׂא) [the sum].” |
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משאת.
על שם כי תשא:
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| 7For the wicked Athaliah-her sons had breached the House of God, and also, all the hallowed things of the House of the Lord they had made for the baalim. |
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זכִּ֚י עֲתַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ הַמִּרְשַׁ֔עַת בָּנֶ֥יהָ פָֽרְצ֖וּ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְגַם֙ כָּל־קָדְשֵׁ֣י בֵֽית־יְהֹוָ֔ה עָשׂ֖וּ לַבְּעָלִֽים: |
| For the wicked Athaliah-her sons had breached. He had to say this because Solomon had built it as a new sturdy edifice. Only 125 years elapsed from the time that Solomon built it until the days of Joash and it was already breached. Had Athaliah and her sons not breached it, it would have continued to endure, for more than 200 years elapsed from Joash to Josiah and they did not have to repair it until Josiah, although Joash did not make it new as it was originally. One hundred and twenty-five years elapsed from the completion of the Temple until Joash. How so? Solomon reigned 40 years, and in the fourth year of his reign he commenced to build it. It took 7 years to build, totaling 10 years, leaving him 30. Rehoboam reigned 17, totaling 47; Abijah 3, totaling 50; Asa 41, totaling 91; Jehoshaphat 25, totaling 116; Jehoram 8, totaling 124, and Ahaziah one, totaling 125. And from Joash until Josiah were 200 years. How so? Amaziah reigned 29 years, Uzziah 52, Jotham 16, Ahaz 16, Hezekiah 29, Manasseh 55, Amon 2, totaling 200 less 1, in addition to those years that Joash lived after he had repaired the Temple. We find that they would not have had to repair the damage of the Temple had not the wicked Athaliah and her sons breached it. |
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כי עתליהו המרשעת בניה פרצו.
הוצרך לומר כי מחדש בנאו שלמה בנין חזק כי משבנאו שלמה עד יואש לא היו רק קכ"ה שנה וכבר הי' נפרץ שאם לא שפרצו עתליהו ובניה עדיין היה קיים שהרי מיואש עד יאשיהו יותר ממאתים שנה ולא הוצרכו לחזקו עד יאשיהו ואעפ"כ לא עשאו יואש חדש כבתחילה ומגמר הבית עד יואש קכ"ה כיצד שלמה מלך מ' שנה וד' שנה למלכותו התחיל לבנותו וז' שנה עיכב בבנינו הרי י' שנה ונשאר ל' ורחבעם מלך י"ז הרי מ"ז ואביה ג' הרי נ' ואסא מ"א הרי צ"א ויהושפט כ"ה הרי קי"ו יהורם ח' הרי קכ"ד ואחזיה א' הרי קכ"ה ומיואש עד יאשיהו כיצד אמצי' מלך כ"ט שנים עזיהו נ"ב יותם ט"ז אחז ט"ז חזקיה כ"ט מנשה נ"ה ואמון ב' הרי מאתים חסר אחת ואותן שנים יותר שחיה יואש לאחר חזקת הבית נמצא שלא הוצרכו לחזק את בדק הבית אם לא עתליהו המרשעת ובניה פרצוהו:
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| For Athaliah, etc.. It is therefore no wonder that it needed repairs so soon, and also no wonder that there was no hallowed silver and gold in the treasuries of the House of the Lord, so that they had to make an announcement in Judah and Jerusalem to bring the tax, for they had also used all the hallowed things of the House of the Lord for the baalim. |
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כי עתליהו וגו'.
לכן אין תימה אם צריך מהרה כל כך חיזוק וגם אל תתמה שלא היה כסף וזהב של הקדשות באוצרות בית ה' עד שהוצרכו ליתן קול ביהודה ובירושלים להביא משאת כי גם כל קדשי בית ה' עשו לבעלים:
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| 8And the king ordered, and they made one chest, and they placed it in the gate of the House of the Lord, to the outside. |
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חוַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּ אֲר֣וֹן אֶחָ֑ד וַיִּתְּנֻ֛הוּ בְּשַׁ֥עַר בֵּֽית־יְהֹוָ֖ה חֽוּצָה: |
| and they made one chest. and in II Kings (12:10), it is written: “and he bored a hole in its door,” and through that hole they would cast the hallowed things, but they did not open the door lest a thief come and steal from it. |
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ויעשו ארון אחד.
ובמלכים (ב' יב) כתיב ויקוב חור בדלתו ע"י אותו חור היו זורקין בארון ההקדשות ולא לפתוח הדלת פן יבא רמאי ויגנוב ממנו:
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| and they placed it in the gate of the House of the Lord, to the outside. so that all the generous people would be able to come and deposit the donation to the Lord therein. |
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ויתנהו בשער בית ה' חוצה.
כדי שיוכלו לבא אליו כל נדיב לב לתת בו את תרומת ה':
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| 9And they announced in Judah and in Jerusalem to bring to the Lord the tax of Moses the servant of God upon Israel in the desert. |
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טוַיִּתְּנוּ־ק֞וֹל בִּֽיהוּדָ֣ה וּבִירֽוּשָׁלִַ֗ם לְהָבִ֚יא לַֽיהֹוָה֙ מַשְׂאַ֞ת מֹשֶׁ֧ה עֶֽבֶד־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֛ים עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּדְבָּֽר: |
| 10And all the officers and all the people rejoiced, and they brought and cast into the chest until they were finished. |
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יוַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כָל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים וְכָל־הָעָ֑ם וַיָּבִ֛יאוּ וַיַּשְׁלִ֥יכוּ לָֽאָר֖וֹן עַד־לְכַלֵּֽה: |
| 11Now it came to pass at the time that the chest was brought to the appointment of the king by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the appointee of the head priest would come, empty the chest, carry it and return it to its place. So they did day by day, and they gathered money in abundance. |
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יאוַיְהִ֡י בְּעֵת֩ יָבִ֨יא אֶת־הָֽאָר֜וֹן אֶל־פְּקֻדַּ֣ת הַמֶּלֶךְ֘ בְּיַ֣ד הַֽלְוִיִּם֒ וְכִרְאוֹתָ֞ם כִּי־רַ֣ב הַכֶּ֗סֶף וּבָ֨א סוֹפֵ֚ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וּפְקִיד֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן הָרֹ֔אשׁ וִיעָ֙רוּ֙ אֶת־הָ֣אָר֔וֹן וְיִשָּׂאֻ֖הוּ וִֽישִׁיבֻ֣הוּ אֶל־מְקֹמ֑וֹ כֹּ֚ה עָשׂוּ֙ לְי֣וֹם בְּי֔וֹם וַיַּֽאַסְפוּ־כֶ֖סֶף לָרֹֽב: |
| and when they saw that there was much money. then the king’s scribe came. |
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וכראותם כי רב הכסף.
אז בא סופר המלך:
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| and the appointee of the head priest. The servant appointed under the head priest, who was the assistant to the high priest, together with the king’s scribe. In II Kings (12:11), it is written: “the king’s scribe and the high priest went up.” The meaning is that the king’s scribe went up, and the high priest also sent his appointee, who was the scribe who wrote what the high priest commanded him, because it was unfitting and degrading for the high priest to go with the king’s servants. |
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ופקיד כהן ראש.
משרת הממונה תחת כהן הראש והוא סגן כהונה עם סופר המלך ובמלכים (שם) כתיב ויעל סופר המלך וכהן גדול פתרון ויעל סופר המלך ואף כהן גדול שלח פקידו הוא הסופר הכותב מה שכ"ג מצוה לו כי אין הגון וכבוד לכ"ג לילך עם עבדי המלך:
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| empty the chest. Heb. וִיעָרוּ. A similar instance is (Gen. 24:20): “and emptied (וַתְּעַר) her pitcher.” |
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ויערו את הארון.
דוגמא ותער כדה (בראשית כ"ד):
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| carry it. Every day, when they saw that there was much money in it, they would bring it to the king’s appointee within the forecourt, empty it, carry it, and return it to its place outside the gate of the Lord. |
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| 12And the king and Jehoiada gave it to the foremen of the work of the service of the House of the Lord, and hired [stone]cutters and craftsmen to renew the House of the Lord, and also for craftsmen of iron and copper to strengthen the House of the Lord. |
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יבוַיִּתְּנֵ֨הוּ הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וִיהֽוֹיָדָ֗ע אֶל־עוֹשֵׂה֙ מְלֶ֙אכֶת֙ עֲבוֹדַ֣ת בֵּֽית־יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיִּֽהְי֚וּ שֹֽׂכְרִים֙ חֹֽצְבִ֣ים וְחָֽרָשִׁ֔ים לְחַדֵּ֖שׁ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וְ֠גַם לְחָֽרָשֵׁ֚י בַרְזֶל֙ וּנְחֹ֔שֶׁת לְחַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה: |
| 13The workmen did their work, and the work was improved by them, and they set up the House of God on its base, and they strengthened it. |
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יגוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ֙ עֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה וַתַּ֧עַל אֲרוּכָ֛ה לַמְּלָאכָ֖ה בְּיָדָ֑ם וַיַּֽעֲמִ֜ידוּ אֶת־בֵּ֧ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֛ים עַל־מַתְכֻּנְתּ֖וֹ וַיְאַמְּצֻֽהוּ: |
| and the work was improved. A similar instance is (Neh. 3:34): “Will they revive the stones” of Ezra. Also, above (I Chron. 11:8): "and Joab sustained.’ |
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ותעל ארוכה למלאכה.
דוגמא היחיו האבנים דעזרא וגם לעיל (ד"ה א') יואב יחיה את שאר העיר:
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| on its base. Heb. עַל מַתְכֻּנְתּוֹ, on its base. |
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על מתכונתו.
על מכונו:
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| 14And when they finished, they brought before the king and Jehoiada the rest of the money, and he made it into vessels for the House of the Lord, service vessels, and pestles and spoons and gold and silver vessels, and they would constantly offer up burnt offerings in the House of the Lord, all the days of Jehoiada. |
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ידוּכְכַלּוֹתָ֡ם הֵבִ֣יאוּ לִפְנֵי֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ וִיהֽוֹיָדָ֜ע אֶת־שְׁאָ֣ר הַכֶּ֗סֶף וַיַּֽעֲשֵׂ֨הוּ כֵלִ֚ים לְבֵֽית־יְהֹוָה֙ כְּלֵ֣י שָׁרֵ֔ת וְהַֽעֲל֣וֹת וְכַפּ֔וֹת וּכְלֵ֥י זָהָ֖ב וָכָ֑סֶף וַ֠יִּֽהְיוּ מַֽעֲלִ֨ים עֹל֚וֹת בְּבֵֽית־יְהֹוָה֙ תָּמִ֔יד כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֥י יְהֽוֹיָדָֽע: |
| service vessels and pestles. (Stessel in German.) This is [the implement] with which they crush spices in the mortar. A similar instance is (Prov. 27:22): “If you crush a fool in a mortar [among grain with a pestle (בַּעֱלִי)”]. Rabbi Isaac the son of Samuel of Narbonne told me this. Others say that וְהַעֲלוֹת refers to boards upon which meat is cut, and an example of this appears in Bezah (1:5): We may not move a board (עלי) to cut meat upon it. |
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כלי שרת והעלות.
שטושיל בל' אשכנז הוא שכותשין את הבשמים במכתשת דוגמא (משלי כז) אם תכתוש אויל במכתש כן אמר לי ר' יצחק בר שמואל מנרבונ"א, ויש אומרים והעלות אלו הנסרים שחותכין עליהם בשר ודוגמא בביצה אין מטלטלין את העלי לקצב עליו בשר:
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| and spoons and gold and silver vessels. But in II Kings (12:14) it is written: “But there would not be made for the House of the Lord silver pitchers.” How is this possible? It is explained in Kethuboth, chapter 13 (106): Rav Huna inquired of Rav: May vessels of ministry be made of material hallowed for the repair of the Temple, etc. |
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| 15Now Jehoiada grew old and was sated with days, and he died; he was a hundred and thirty years old upon his death. |
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טווַיִּזְקַ֧ן יְהֽוֹיָדָ֛ע וַיִּשְׂבַּ֥ע יָמִ֖ים וַיָּמֹ֑ת בֶּן־מֵאָ֧ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה בְּמוֹתֽוֹ: |
| 16And they buried him in the City of David with the kings, for he had done good in Israel and with God and His house. |
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טזוַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ בְעִֽיר־דָּוִ֖יד עִם־הַמְּלָכִ֑ים כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֚ה טוֹבָה֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְעִ֥ם הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים וּבֵיתֽוֹ: |
| 17And after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and prostrated themselves to the king; then the king hearkened to them. |
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יזוְאַֽחֲרֵ֥י מוֹת֙ יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע בָּאוּ שָׂרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּֽשְׁתַּֽחֲו֖וּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אָ֛ז שָׁמַ֥ע הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲלֵיהֶֽם: |
| 18And they forsook the House of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and they worshiped the asherim and the idols, and there was wrath upon Judah and Jerusalem because of this, their guilt. |
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יחוַיַּֽעַזְב֗וּ אֶת־בֵּ֚ית יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּֽעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־הָֽאֲשֵׁרִ֖ים וְאֶת־הָֽעֲצַבִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִי קֶ֗צֶף עַל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם בְּאַשְׁמָתָ֖ם זֹֽאת: |
| 19And He sent prophets among them, to return them to the Lord, and they warned them, but they did not incline their ears. |
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יטוַיִּשְׁלַ֚ח בָּהֶם֙ נְבִאִ֔ים לַֽהֲשִׁיבָ֖ם אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיָּעִ֥ידוּ בָ֖ם וְלֹ֥א הֶֽאֱזִֽינוּ: |
| 20And the spirit of God enveloped Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people and said to them, "So said God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord? You will not succeed because you have forsaken the Lord, and He has forsaken you." |
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כוְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֗ים לָֽבְשָׁה֙ אֶת־זְכַרְיָה֙ בֶּן־יְהֽוֹיָדָ֣ע הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֖ד מֵעַ֣ל לָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם כֹּ֣ה| אָמַ֣ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים לָמָה֩ אַתֶּ֨ם עֹֽבְרִ֜ים אֶת־מִצְוֹ֚ת יְהֹוָה֙ וְלֹ֣א תַצְלִ֔יחוּ כִּֽי־עֲזַבְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיַּֽעֲזֹ֥ב אֶתְכֶֽם: |
| above the people. Higher than the people, in order to make his voice heard. In Lamentations Rabbah (Proem 23), it is interpreted as meaning that he relied on himself; he was a prince higher than all the people, a prophet and a priest, and it was Yom Kippur, and he was the king’s son-in-law, and he was not afraid to say the prophecy. Concerning this incident, it was stated (Lam. 2:20): “shall priest and prophet be slain in the Sanctuary of the Lord?” |
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מעל לעם.
גבוה מכל העם כדי להשמיע קולו, ובאיכה רבתי דורש סמך על עצמו שהיה שר גבוה מכל העם נביא וכהן וביום הכפורים וחתן המלך ולא נתיירא מלומר נבואה ועל זה נאמר (איכה ב׳:כ׳) אם יהרג במקדש ה' כהן ונביא:
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| 21And they conspired against him and stoned him by the king's command, in the forecourt of the House of the Lord. |
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כאוַיִּקְשְׁר֣וּ עָלָ֔יו וַיִּרְגְּמֻ֥הוּ אֶ֖בֶן בְּמִצְוַ֣ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ בַּֽחֲצַ֖ר בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה: |
| 22And King Joash did not remember the loving-kindness that Jehoiada his father had done with him, but he killed his son, and upon his death he said, "May the Lord see and requite." |
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כבוְלֹֽא־זָכַ֞ר יוֹאָ֣שׁ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ הַחֶ֙סֶד֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֜ה יְהֽוֹיָדָ֚ע אָבִיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַיַּֽהֲרֹ֖ג אֶת־בְּנ֑וֹ וּכְמוֹת֣וֹ אָמַ֔ר יֵ֥רֶא יְהֹוָ֖ה וְיִדְרֹֽשׁ: |
| and upon his death, he said, “May the Lord see and requite.”. For they have slain me only because I spoke as the Omnipresent’s medium, and since I have been slain for His sake, it is proper and fitting that He requite my blood. And so it was: his blood was immediately requited, for “it came to pass at the turn of the year, etc.” |
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ובמותו אמר ירא ה' וידרוש.
כי לא הרגוני אלא שאמרתי שליחותו של מקום ומאחר שנהרגתי עליו מן הדין והגון וכדי הוא שידרוש דמי וכן היה כי מיד נדרש דמו כי לתקופת השנה וגו':
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| 23And it came to pass at the turn of the year that the army of Aram marched upon him, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and they destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and all their plunder they sent to the king of Damascus. |
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כגוַיְהִ֣י| לִתְקוּפַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֗ה עָלָ֣ה עָלָיו֘ חֵ֣יל אֲרָם֒ וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ אֶל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וַיַּשְׁחִ֛יתוּ אֶת־כָּל־שָׂרֵ֥י הָעָ֖ם מֵעָ֑ם וְכָל־שְׁלָלָ֥ם שִׁלְּח֖וּ לְמֶ֥לֶךְ דַּרְמָֽשֶׂק: |
| And it came to pass at the turn of the year. Because the sons of Judah sinned more than the other tribes, as it is written above (verse 18): “ And they forsook the House of the Lord, the God of their fathers.” |
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ויהי לתקופת השנה.
לפי שבני יהוד' חטאו יותר משאר שבטים כמו שאמר לעיל ויעזבו את בית ה' אלהי אבותיהם:
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| and they destroyed all the princes of the people. This refers back to the above (verse 17): “And after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and prostrated themselves to the king,” and caused Joash to sin after them. Because of that, they were paid in kind: the army of Aram came and destroyed all the princes of the people. |
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וישחיתו את כל שרי העם.
מוסב למעלה ואחרי מות יהוידע באו שרי יהודה וישתחוו למלך והחטיאו את יואש אחריהם על זה נפרע להם גמולם שבאו חיל ארם והשחיתו את כל שרי העם:
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| from among the people. from being a people. |
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מעם.
מהיות עם:
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| 24For, with few men the army of Aram came, and the Lord delivered into their hands an exceedingly large army, for they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers; and they dealt out punishment to Joash. |
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כדכִּי֩ בְמִצְעַ֨ר אֲנָשִׁ֜ים בָּ֣אוּ| חֵ֣יל אֲרָ֗ם וַֽיהֹוָה֙ נָתַ֨ן בְּיָדָ֥ם חַ֙יִל֙ לָרֹ֣ב מְאֹ֔ד כִּ֣י עָֽזְב֔וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וְאֶת־יוֹאָ֖שׁ עָשׂ֥וּ שְׁפָטִֽים: |
| And it came to pass at the turn of the year. Because the sons of Judah sinned more than the other tribes, as it is written above (verse 18): “ And they forsook the House of the Lord, the God of their fathers.” |
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| and they destroyed all the princes of the people. This refers back to the above (verse 17): “And after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and prostrated themselves to the king,” and caused Joash to sin after them. Because of that, they were paid in kind: the army of Aram came and destroyed all the princes of the people. |
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| from among the people. from being a people. |
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| 25And when they went away from him, for they left him with many ailments, his servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and they slew him on his bed, and he died, and they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the graves of the kings. |
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כהוּבְלֶכְתָּ֣ם מִמֶּ֗נּוּ כִּי־עָֽזְב֣וּ אֹתוֹ֘ בְּמַֽחֲלֻיִ֣ים רַבִּים֒ הִֽתְקַשְּׁר֨וּ עָלָ֜יו עֲבָדָ֗יו בִּדְמֵי֙ בְּנֵי֙ יְהֽוֹיָדָ֣ע הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וַיַּֽהַרְגֻ֥הוּ עַל־מִטָּת֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֙הוּ֙ בְּעִ֣יר דָּוִ֔יד וְלֹ֥א קְבָרֻ֖הוּ בְּקִבְר֥וֹת הַמְּלָכִֽים: |
| for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest. Because of the blood of Zechariah, who was the son of Jehoiada, for he should have remembered the favors and the loving-kindness that Jehoiada had bestowed upon him, and because of that iniquity, his servants conspired against him and slew him in his bed. They meted out to him a measure corresponding to a measure. Because Zechariah was slain, tranquil and secure, with nothing to worry about, for he was the son of Jehoiada, and out of respect for him [Jehoiada], they respected him [Zechariah], and spilled his blood onto the ground, therefore, he [Jehoash] too was slain in tranquility and security in his bed. |
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בדמי בני יהוידע.
בשביל דמי זכריה שהיה בן יהוידע כי היה לו לזכור טובה וחסד שגמל עמו יהוידע ובשביל אותו עון נתקשרו עליו עבדיו והרגוהו על מטתו מדדו לו מדה כנגד מדה על שנהרג זכריה שקט ושליו ובוטח שאין לו לדאג כי בן יהוידע הוא ולכבודו ינהגו בו כבוד ושפכו דמיו לארץ וע"כ נהרג גם הוא בשלום והשקט על מטתו:
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| 26And these were the ones who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. |
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כווְאֵ֖לֶּה הַמִּֽתְקַשְּׁרִ֣ים עָלָ֑יו זָבָ֗ד בֶּן־שִׁמְעָת֙ הָֽעַמּוֹנִ֔ית וִיהֽוֹזָבָ֥ד בֶּן־שִׁמְרִ֖ית הַמּֽוֹאָבִֽית: |
| the Moabitess. What difference does it make who they were and from whom they were descended? However, [Scripture means that] those ingrates who did not show their gratitude for the favor of Abraham our father to Lot their father, who fought with the kings when he heard that Lot was captured, and they hired Balaam to curse his sons; [they were chosen] to punish Joash, who [similarly] did not show gratitude to Jehoiada and slew his son Zechariah. It is explained this way in Mechilta (Exod. 17:8). |
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המואבית.
מה לי מי היו וממי יצאו אם מבני ישראל או ממואבים אלא יבאו כפויי טובה שכפו טובתו של אברהם אבינו ללוט אביהם שנלחם עם המלכים כששמע שנשבה לוט והם שכרו את בלעם לקלל בניו ויפרעו מיואש שכפה טובתו של יהוידע והרג את זכריה בנו כן מפורש במכילת':
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| 27And concerning his sons, and the many prophecies about him, and the foundation of the House of God-behold they are inscribed in the midrash of the book of the kings; and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead. |
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כזוּבָנָ֞יו יִ֧רֶב (כתיב וִ֧רֶב) הַמַּשָּׂ֣א עָלָ֗יו וִיסוֹד֙ בֵּ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֔ים עַל־מִדְרַ֖שׁ סֵ֣פֶר הַמְּלָכִ֑ים וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ אֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו: |
