Tanach
Divrei HaYamim II 17 דברי הימים ב י״ז
Part of: Petuchah, II Chronicles 17:1Petuchah, II Chronicles 17:7Petuchah, II Chronicles 17:12Setumah, II Chronicles 17:14Setumah, II Chronicles 17:15Setumah, II Chronicles 17:16Setumah, II Chronicles 17:17Setumah, II Chronicles 17:18Setumah, II Chronicles 17:19
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi
וַיִּמְלֹךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָט בְּנוֹ תַּחְתָּיו וַיִּתְחַזֵּק עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
And Yehoshafat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Yisra᾽el.
And Yehoshafat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Yisra᾽el.
וַיִּתֶּן־חַיִל בְּכׇל־עָרֵי יְהוּדָה הַבְּצֻרוֹת וַיִּתֵּן נְצִיבִים בְּאֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה וּבְעָרֵי אֶפְרַיִם אֲשֶׁר לָכַד אָסָא אָבִֽיו׃
And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Yehuda, and set garrisons in the land of Yehuda, and in the cities of Efrayim, which Asa his father had taken.
And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Yehuda, and set garrisons in the land of Yehuda, and in the cities of Efrayim, which Asa his father had taken.
וַיְהִי יְהֹוָה עִם־יְהוֹשָׁפָט כִּי הָלַךְ בְּדַרְכֵי דָּוִיד אָבִיו הָרִאשֹׁנִים וְלֹא דָרַשׁ לַבְּעָלִֽים׃
And the Lord was with Yehoshafat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and did not seek the Be῾alim;
And the Lord was with Yehoshafat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and did not seek the Be῾alim;
Rashi
ולא דרש לבעלים. כמעשה ישראל שבימיו כי אחאב היה בימיו שעבד את הבעלים הוא וישראל שבימיו:
and did not inquire of the baalim like the practice of Israel in his time, for Ahab, who was in his time, worshipped the baalim, as did Israel in his time.
כִּי לֵאלֹהֵי אָבִיו דָּרָשׁ וּבְמִצְוֺתָיו הָלָךְ וְלֹא כְּמַעֲשֵׂה יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
but he sought the God of his father, and followed his commandments, and not like the doings of Yisra᾽el.
but he sought the God of his father, and followed his commandments, and not like the doings of Yisra᾽el.
וַיָּכֶן יְהֹוָה אֶת־הַמַּמְלָכָה בְּיָדוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ כׇל־יְהוּדָה מִנְחָה לִיהֽוֹשָׁפָט וַיְהִי־לוֹ עֹשֶׁר־וְכָבוֹד לָרֹֽב׃
Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Yehuda brought tribute to Yehoshafat; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Yehuda brought tribute to Yehoshafat; and he had riches and honour in abundance.
וַיִּגְבַּהּ לִבּוֹ בְּדַרְכֵי יְהֹוָה וְעוֹד הֵסִיר אֶת־הַבָּמוֹת וְאֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִים מִיהוּדָֽה׃ {פ}
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and the asherim out of Yehuda.
And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and the asherim out of Yehuda.
Rashi
ויגבה לבו בדרכי ה'. גבה לבו בדבר זה שלא הלך כי אם בדרכי ה' דוגמא (שמות ל״ה:כ״ו) אשר נשא לבן אתנה בחכמה:
And his heart was uplifted in the ways of the Lord His heart was lifted up in this matter, that he went only in the ways of the Lord. An example of this is (Exod. 35:26): “whose hearts had uplifted them in wisdom.”
וּבִשְׁנַת שָׁלוֹשׁ לְמׇלְכוֹ שָׁלַח לְשָׂרָיו לְבֶן־חַיִל וּלְעֹבַדְיָה וְלִזְכַרְיָה וְלִנְתַנְאֵל וּלְמִיכָיָהוּ לְלַמֵּד בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָֽה׃
Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, to Ben-ĥayil, and to ῾Ovadya, and to Zekharya, and to Netan᾽el, and to Mikhayahu, to teach in the cities of Yehuda.
Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, to Ben-ĥayil, and to ῾Ovadya, and to Zekharya, and to Netan᾽el, and to Mikhayahu, to teach in the cities of Yehuda.
Rashi
שלח לשריו לבן חיל. כך היה שמו ויש מפרשים שלח לשריו כל שר בן חיל וקשיא לי א"כ לא היה לומר אלא לעובדיה אלא ממה שאמר ולעובדיה מכלל לבן חיל שם אדם הוא:
Ben Hail That was his name. Others explain: he sent to his officers, every officer a valiant man. But I have difficulty with this interpretation because, if so, it should have only said, “Obadiah.” The fact that it says, “to Obadiah” proves that Ben Hail was a person’s name.
ללמד בערי יהודה. תורה ולהורות בני ישראל:
to teach in the cities of Judah [i.e., to teach] the Torah and to instruct the Children of Israel.
וְעִמָּהֶם הַלְוִיִּם שְֽׁמַעְיָהוּ וּנְתַנְיָהוּ וּזְבַדְיָהוּ וַעֲשָׂהאֵל (ושמרימות) [וּשְׁמִירָמוֹת] וִיהוֹנָתָן וַאֲדֹנִיָּהוּ וְטוֹבִיָּהוּ וְטוֹב אֲדוֹנִיָּה הַלְוִיִּם וְעִמָּהֶם אֱלִישָׁמָע וִיהוֹרָם הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃
And with them he sent Levites, Shema῾yahu, and Netanyahu, and Zevadyahu, and Asa᾽el, and Shemiramot, and Yehonatan, and Adoniyyahu, and Toviyyahu, and Tov-adoniyya, Levites; and with them Elishama and Yehoram, priests.
And with them he sent Levites, Shema῾yahu, and Netanyahu, and Zevadyahu, and Asa᾽el, and Shemiramot, and Yehonatan, and Adoniyyahu, and Toviyyahu, and Tov-adoniyya, Levites; and with them Elishama and Yehoram, priests.
Rashi
ועמהם. מן הלוים שמעיהו ונתניהו וגומר:
And with them of the Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, etc.
ועמהם אלישמע ויהורם הכהנים. כי על הכהנים והלוים ללמד ולהורות כדכתיב (דברים כ״ד:ח׳) ככל אשר יורו אתכם הכהנים והלוים והשרים הלכו עמהם לפי שלא ימרו את פיהם ולהכריחם לשמוע להם ולשמור לעשות כמצות השופטים דוגמת (שם ט"ז) שופטים ושוטרים תתן לך שופטים לשפוט את העם ושוטרים להכריחם ולעשות צווי השופטים:
and with them were Elishama and Jehoram, the priests because it is incumbent upon the priests and the Levites to teach and to instruct, as it is written (Deut. 24:8): “in accordance with everything the priests, the Levites teach you.” The officers went with them because they [the people] would not disobey their orders, and [the officers went] to coerce them [the people] to heed them [the priests] and to observe [and] to do in accordance with the order of the judges. An example (ibid. 15:18): “Judges and law-enforcing officials shall you appoint for yourself”: Judges to judge the people, and law-enforcing officials to coerce them to comply with the orders of the judges.
וַֽיְלַמְּדוּ בִּיהוּדָה וְעִמָּהֶם סֵפֶר תּוֹרַת יְהֹוָה וַיָּסֹבּוּ בְּכׇל־עָרֵי יְהוּדָה וַֽיְלַמְּדוּ בָּעָֽם׃
And they taught in Yehuda, and had the book of the Tora of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Yehuda, and taught the people.
And they taught in Yehuda, and had the book of the Tora of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Yehuda, and taught the people.
וַיְהִי ׀ פַּחַד יְהֹוָה עַל כׇּל־מַמְלְכוֹת הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבוֹת יְהוּדָה וְלֹא נִלְחֲמוּ עִם־יְהוֹשָׁפָֽט׃
And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Yehuda, so that they made no war against Yehoshafat.
And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Yehuda, so that they made no war against Yehoshafat.
Rashi
ויהי פחד ה' על כל ממלכות הארצות. בזכות שלמדו תורה:
And the fear of the Lord was upon all the kingdoms of the lands in the merit of having studied Torah.
וּמִן־פְּלִשְׁתִּים מְבִיאִים לִיהוֹשָׁפָט מִנְחָה וְכֶסֶף מַשָּׂא גַּם הָעַרְבִיאִים מְבִיאִים לוֹ צֹאן אֵילִים שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁבַע מֵאוֹת וּתְיָשִׁים שִׁבְעַת אֲלָפִים וּשְׁבַע מֵאֽוֹת׃ {פ}
Also some of the Pelishtim brought Yehoshafat presents, and tribute of silver; and the ῾Arvi᾽im brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he goats.
Also some of the Pelishtim brought Yehoshafat presents, and tribute of silver; and the ῾Arvi᾽im brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams, and seven thousand seven hundred he goats.
Rashi
וכסף משא. משאות של כסף דוגמא (ישעיה מ"ז) היו נשואותיכם עמוסות משא:
and loads of silver - Heb. וְכֶסֶף מַשָּׂא, loads of silver. An example (Isa. 46:1): “נְשֻׂאתֵיכֶם עֲמוּסוֹת מַשָּׂא: the things that you carried are made a load.”
וַיְהִי יְהוֹשָׁפָט הֹלֵךְ וְגָדֵל עַד־לְמָעְלָה וַיִּבֶן בִּיהוּדָה בִּירָנִיּוֹת וְעָרֵי מִסְכְּנֽוֹת׃
And Yehoshafat grew exceedingly great; and he built castles and store cities in Yehuda.
And Yehoshafat grew exceedingly great; and he built castles and store cities in Yehuda.
Rashi
ויהי יהושפט הולך וגדל. שלשה שנא' כלשון זה יצחק שמואל יהושפט אבל משה דוד מרדכי נאמר בהם וגדול אבל יצחק שמואל יהושפט כתוב בהם וגדל שאין נכון לומר וגדול, בשמואל כתיב ויגדל הנער שמואל עם ה' וח"ו לומר גדול עם ה' וכאן כמו כן גדל עד למעלה לכן לא הגון לומר גדול וכן ביצחק:
was becoming greater - Heb. וְגָדֵל. Scripture uses] a similar expression in reference to three people: Isaac, Samuel, and Jehoshaphat, but concerning Moses, David, and Mordecai, it says וְגָדוֹל. Concerning Isaac, Samuel, and Jehoshaphat, it says, וְגָדֵל because it is not proper to say וְגָדוֹל, great [in the context in which the word appears in the verse]. In regards to Samuel, it says, (I Sam. 2: 21): “And the lad Samuel grew up with the Lord.” God forbid that it should say, גָדוֹל עִם ה', he was great with the Lord. Here too, he [Jehoshaphat] became great to an unusual degree, גָדֵל עַד לְמָעְלָה. It is therefore improper to say וְגָדוֹל, great. The same applies to Isaac.
בירניות. מגזרות בירה מגדלים גדולים לחוזק:
towers בִּירָנִיוֹת, derived from בִּירָה, huge towers for strength.
וערי מסכנות. ערי אוצרות לתת בהם תבואה ויין ודגן:
and store cities storage cities, to put in them wheat, wine and grain.
וּמְלָאכָה רַבָּה הָיָה לוֹ בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה וְאַנְשֵׁי מִלְחָמָה גִּבּוֹרֵי חַיִל בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃
And he had much business in the cities of Yehuda: and men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Yerushalayim.
And he had much business in the cities of Yehuda: and men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Yerushalayim.
וְאֵלֶּה פְקֻדָּתָם לְבֵית אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם לִֽיהוּדָה שָׂרֵי אֲלָפִים {ס} עַדְנָה הַשָּׂר וְעִמּוֹ גִּבּוֹרֵי חַיִל שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת אָֽלֶף׃ {ס}
And these are the numbers of them according to the houses of their fathers: Of Yehuda, the captains of thousands; ῾Adna the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
And these are the numbers of them according to the houses of their fathers: Of Yehuda, the captains of thousands; ῾Adna the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
וְעַל־יָדוֹ יְהוֹחָנָן הַשָּׂר וְעִמּוֹ מָאתַיִם וּשְׁמוֹנִים אָֽלֶף׃ {ס}
And next to him was Yehoĥanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand.
And next to him was Yehoĥanan the captain, and with him two hundred and eighty thousand.
וְעַל־יָדוֹ עֲמַסְיָה בֶן־זִכְרִי הַמִּתְנַדֵּב לַיהֹוָה וְעִמּוֹ מָאתַיִם אֶלֶף גִּבּוֹר חָֽיִל׃ {ס}
And next to him was ῾Amasya the son of Zikhri, who volunteered for the service of the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of arms.
And next to him was ῾Amasya the son of Zikhri, who volunteered for the service of the Lord; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of arms.
Rashi
ועל ידו. אצלו דוגמא חלקת יואב על ידי (שמואל ב' י"ד):
And beside him Heb. וְעַל יָדוֹ beside him; an example is (II Sam. 14:30): “Joab’s field is adjoining mine (אֶל יָדִי).”
המתנדב לה'. דוגמא (שופטים ה') המתנדבים בעם ברכו ה':
who gave generously to the Lord - Heb. הַמִּתְנַדֵּב. An example is (Jud. 5:2) “when the people offer themselves willingly (בְּהִתְנַדֵּב עַם), bless the Lord”
וּמִן־בִּנְיָמִן גִּבּוֹר חַיִל אֶלְיָדָע וְעִמּוֹ נֹשְׁקֵי־קֶשֶׁת וּמָגֵן מָאתַיִם אָֽלֶף׃ {ס}
And of Binyamin; Elyada a mighty man at arms, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
And of Binyamin; Elyada a mighty man at arms, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
וְעַל־יָדוֹ יְהוֹזָבָד וְעִמּוֹ מֵאָה־וּשְׁמוֹנִים אֶלֶף חֲלוּצֵי צָבָֽא׃ {ס}
And next to him was Yehozavad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready prepared for the war.
And next to him was Yehozavad, and with him a hundred and eighty thousand ready prepared for the war.
אֵלֶּה הַמְשָׁרְתִים אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ מִלְּבַד אֲשֶׁר־נָתַן הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּעָרֵי הַמִּבְצָר בְּכׇל־יְהוּדָֽה׃ {פ}
These waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Yehuda.
These waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Yehuda.
בדרכי דוד אביו הראשנים. ולא האחרונים שפשע במעשה בת שבע וגם הסית אותו שטן למנות את ישראל ועיקר ויש מפרשים ראשונים ראש לשלמה ורחבעם שלמה נשיו הטו לבבו באחרית ימיו ובנה במה לכמוש תועבת מואב ולמולך שקוץ בני עמון ורחבעם כתיב (לעיל ב יב) ויהי כהכין מלכות רחבעם וכחזקתו עזב את תורת ה' ולא כאביו שכתוב בו במלכים (א' ט') ולא היה לבו שלם עם ה' אלהיו ולא כאסא שלא נשען בה' אלא כדוד אביו שלא היה לו אלא לב אחד לאביו שבשמים:
in the first ways of David, his father But not the last ways, when he sinned in the incident of Bathsheba, and when the Adversary enticed him to count Israel. This is the most accurate interpretation, but others explain “first” as meaning superior to Solomon and Rehoboam. Regarding Solomon, it is written (I Kings 11:4): “his wives turned away his heart” at the end of his days, and he built a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.” Regarding Rehoboam, it is written (above 12:1): “And when he became strong, he abandoned the Law of the Lord.” [Jehoshaphat was also not] like Abijam, about whom it is written (I Kings 15:2): “and his heart was not complete with the Lord, his God,” or like Asa, who did not rely on the Lord; [Jehoshaphat] resembled his father, David, who had only one heart for his Father in heaven.