Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by sideRashi

23:1

וּבַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִעִית הִתְחַזַּק יְהוֹיָדָע וַיִּקַּח אֶת־שָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת לַעֲזַרְיָהוּ בֶן־יְרֹחָם וּלְיִשְׁמָעֵאל בֶּן־יְהוֹחָנָן וְלַעֲזַרְיָהוּ בֶן־עוֹבֵד וְאֶת־מַעֲשֵׂיָהוּ בֶן־עֲדָיָהוּ וְאֶת־אֱלִישָׁפָט בֶּן־זִכְרִי עִמּוֹ בַבְּרִֽית׃

And in the seventh year Yehoyada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, ῾Azarya the son of Yeroĥam, and Yishma᾽el the son of Yehoĥanan, and ῾Azaryahu the son of ῾Oved, and Ma῾aseyahu the son of ῾Adayahu, and Elishafat the son of Zikhri, into league with him.

And in the seventh year Yehoyada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, ῾Azarya the son of Yeroĥam, and Yishma᾽el the son of Yehoĥanan, and ῾Azaryahu the son of ῾Oved, and Ma῾aseyahu the son of ῾Adayahu, and Elishafat the son of Zikhri, into league with him.

23:2

וַיָּסֹבּוּ בִּֽיהוּדָה וַיִּקְבְּצוּ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם מִכׇּל־עָרֵי יְהוּדָה וְרָאשֵׁי הָאָבוֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

And they went about in Yehuda, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Yehuda, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of Yisra᾽el, and they came to Yerushalayim.

And they went about in Yehuda, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Yehuda, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of Yisra᾽el, and they came to Yerushalayim.

23:3

וַיִּכְרֹת כׇּל־הַקָּהָל בְּרִית בְּבֵית הָאֱלֹהִים עִם־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם הִנֵּה בֶן־הַמֶּלֶךְ יִמְלֹךְ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהֹוָה עַל־בְּנֵי דָוִֽיד׃

And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David.

And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David.

Rashi

ויכרות כל הקהל ברית בבית האלהים עם המלך. שיהיו לעזרתו:

And the entire congregation enacted a covenant in the House of God with the king that they would support him.

23:4

זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשׂוּ הַשְּׁלִשִׁית מִכֶּם בָּאֵי הַשַּׁבָּת לַכֹּֽהֲנִים וְלַלְוִיִּם לְשֹׁעֲרֵי הַסִּפִּֽים׃

This is the thing that you shall do; A third part of you who come in on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be on duty at the gates;

This is the thing that you shall do; A third part of you who come in on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be on duty at the gates;

Rashi

באי השבת. וגם יוצאי השבת כדכתיב בסמוך ויקחו איש את אנשיו באי השבת עם יוצאי השבת המשמרות היו מתחדשות בשבת כהונה ולויה אחת יוצאה ואחת נכנסה ואז עכב יהוידע שם משמר היוצא עם משמר הנכנס וחלקן לשלשה חלקי':

of those coming in on the Sabbath And also those leaving on the Sabbath, as is written below (verse 8): “and each one took his men, those coming in on the Sabbath with those leaving on the Sabbath.” The watches were renewed on the Sabbath (See Taanith 2:6,7), viz. the priests and the Levites; one [watch] would leave and one would come in. Jehoiada detained the watch that was leaving with the watch that was coming in, and divided them into three divisions.

23:5

וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית בְּבֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית בְּשַׁעַר הַיְסוֹד וְכׇל־הָעָם בְּחַצְרוֹת בֵּית יְהֹוָֽה׃

and a third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the bottom gate: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.

and a third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the bottom gate: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.

Rashi

והשלשית בבית המלך. לשמור שלא יקבצו עליו להרוג אותו:

And a third shall be in the king’s palace to guard that they would not gather about him to assassinate him.

והשלישית. היא השנית:

and a third This is the second one.

בשער היסוד. ובמלכים (ב יא) כתיב ובשער סור וביומא ירושלמי מפורש ז' שמות היו לו לשער היסוד סור על שם שהיו מטהרים שם את המצורעים על בהן ידם ועל שם סורו טמא קראו למו (איכה ד׳:ט״ו):

in the Yesod Gate But in II Kings (ad loc.) it is written “the Sur Gate.” In Yoma Yerushalmi (in extant editions it is found in Erubin Yerushalmi 5:1) it is explained that the Yesod Gate had seven names: 1) the Sur Gate, because they would purify those smitten with zaraath there [by placing the blood of the guilt offering and the oil] on their thumbs, reminiscent of [the verse] (Lam. 4:15): “They called out to them: ‘Depart (סוּרוּ), unclean [ones]!’”

23:6

וְאַל־יָבוֹא בֵית־יְהֹוָה כִּי אִם־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים וְהַמְשָׁרְתִים לַלְוִיִּם הֵמָּה יָבֹאוּ כִּי־קֹדֶשׁ הֵמָּה וְכׇל־הָעָם יִשְׁמְרוּ מִשְׁמֶרֶת יְהֹוָֽה׃

But let none come into the house of the Lord, except the priests, and those of the Levites who minister; they may go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the Lord’s charge.

But let none come into the house of the Lord, except the priests, and those of the Levites who minister; they may go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the Lord’s charge.

Rashi

וכל העם ישמרו. שלא יבואו בית ה':

and all the people shall keep lest they enter the House of the Lord.

23:7

וְהִקִּיפוּ הַלְוִיִּם אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ סָבִיב אִישׁ וְכֵלָיו בְּיָדוֹ וְהַבָּא אֶל־הַבַּיִת יוּמָת וִֽהְיוּ אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֹאוֹ וּבְצֵאתֽוֹ׃

And the Levites shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever else comes into the house, he shall be put to death: but be with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out.

And the Levites shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever else comes into the house, he shall be put to death: but be with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out.

Rashi

וכליו בידו. כלי מלחמתו בידו:

with his weapons in his hand His weapons in his hand.

23:8

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הַלְוִיִּם וְכׇל־יְהוּדָה כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן וַיִּקְחוּ אִישׁ אֶת־אֲנָשָׁיו בָּאֵי הַשַּׁבָּת עִם יוֹצְאֵי הַשַּׁבָּת כִּי לֹא פָטַר יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־הַֽמַּחְלְקֽוֹת׃

So the Levites and all Yehuda did according to all the things that Yehoyada the priest had commanded, and every man took his men who were due to come in on the sabbath, with those who were due to go out on the sabbath: for Yehoyada the priest did not dismiss the duty watches.

So the Levites and all Yehuda did according to all the things that Yehoyada the priest had commanded, and every man took his men who were due to come in on the sabbath, with those who were due to go out on the sabbath: for Yehoyada the priest did not dismiss the duty watches.

Rashi

באי השבת עם יוצאי השבת כי לא פטר. אותן מחלקות היוצאי' ללכת לבית' אלא עכבם שם עם הבאים דוגמא בלשכות פטורים כלומר פטורים היו מכל מלאכה שבעזרה כי אם לשמור הלשכות כי יומם ולילה חובה עליה' במלאכ' לשמור העזרות והלשכות לפיכך היו פטורים מכל שאר מלאכת העזרה:

of those coming in on the Sabbath with those leaving on the Sabbath, for he did not dismiss those divisions who were leaving to go home, but he detained them with those who were arriving. A similarity to [the word פָּטַר] is found in (I Chron. 9:33): “in the chambers, who are exempt (פְּטוּרִים)”; i.e., they were exempt from all work in the forecourt, for day and night it was incumbent upon them to perform the work to guard the forecourts and the chambers; they were therefore exempt from all other work in the forecourt.

23:9

וַיִּתֵּן יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן לְשָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת אֶת־הַֽחֲנִיתִים וְאֶת־הַמָּֽגִנּוֹת וְאֶת־הַשְּׁלָטִים אֲשֶׁר לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד אֲשֶׁר בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

And Yehoyada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and large and small shields, that had been king David’s, which were in the house of God.

And Yehoyada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and large and small shields, that had been king David’s, which were in the house of God.

23:10

וַיַּעֲמֵד אֶת־כׇּל־הָעָם וְאִישׁ ׀ שִׁלְחוֹ בְיָדוֹ מִכֶּתֶף הַבַּיִת הַיְמָנִית עַד־כֶּתֶף הַבַּיִת הַשְּׂמָאלִית לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלַבָּיִת עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ סָבִֽיב׃

And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.

And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.

Rashi

ואיש שלחו בידו. כלי זיינו כמו ובעד השלח דיואל:

and each one with his sword in his hand - Heb. שִׁלְחוֹ his weapon, like (Joel 2:8): “and upon the sword (הַשֶּׁלַח).”

23:11

וַיּוֹצִיאוּ אֶת־בֶּן־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיִּתְּנוּ עָלָיו אֶת־הַנֵּזֶר וְאֶת־הָעֵדוּת וַיַּמְלִיכוּ אֹתוֹ וַיִּמְשָׁחֻהוּ יְהוֹיָדָע וּבָנָיו וַיֹּאמְרוּ יְחִי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ {ס}        

Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the Testimony, and made him king. And Yehoyada and his sons anointed him, and said, Long live the king.

Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the Testimony, and made him king. And Yehoyada and his sons anointed him, and said, Long live the king.

Rashi

את הנזר. היא העטרה שלקח דוד מרבת בני עמון כדכתיב (לעיל א' ך') ויקח דוד עטרת מלכם ותהי על ראש דוד ומשם והלאה היו מלכי יהודה מניחים אותה הנזר על ראשם:

the crown This is the crown that David took from Rabbah of the children of Ammon, as it is written (I Chron 20:2): “And David took the crown of Malkam off his head, etc., and it was on David’s head.” From then on, the kings of Judah would wear that crown on their heads.

ואת העדות. זה ספר תורה וכן הוא אומר (דברים י״ז:י״ט) וקרא בו כל ימי חייו ורבותינו אמרו הנזר זה העדות שכל הראוי למלכות הולמתו ושאינו ראוי למלכות אינה הולמתו:

and the testimony This is a Sepher Torah, and so Scripture states (Deut. 17:19): “and he shall read from it as long as he lives.” Our Sages stated (Abodah Zarah 4a), however, that the crown itself was the testimony, for it would not fit anyone unfit for the throne.

23:12

וַתִּשְׁמַע עֲתַלְיָהוּ אֶת־קוֹל הָעָם הָרָצִים וְהַֽמְהַלְלִים אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ וַתָּבוֹא אֶל־הָעָם בֵּית יְהֹוָֽה׃

Now when ῾Atalyahu heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord:

Now when ῾Atalyahu heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord:

23:13

וַתֵּרֶא וְהִנֵּה הַמֶּלֶךְ עוֹמֵד עַֽל־עַמּוּדוֹ בַּמָּבוֹא וְהַשָּׂרִים וְהַחֲצֹצְרוֹת עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכׇל־עַם הָאָרֶץ שָׂמֵחַ וְתוֹקֵעַ בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת וְהַמְשֽׁוֹרְרִים בִּכְלֵי הַשִּׁיר וּמוֹדִיעִים לְהַלֵּל וַתִּקְרַע עֲתַלְיָהוּ אֶת־בְּגָדֶיהָ וַתֹּאמֶר קֶשֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ {ס}        

and she looked, and behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entrance, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music leading the celebration. Then ῾Atalyahu rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

and she looked, and behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entrance, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music leading the celebration. Then ῾Atalyahu rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

Rashi

עומד על עמודו. כדאמר (לעיל ב') ויעמוד המלך על העמוד כי עשה שלמה כיור נחשת וגו' ויעמד עליו ויברך על ברכיו (שם) ועד היום מנהג כשמוועדים יחד עומד המלך או הדוכוס במקום גבוה כדי שיוכלו לראותו לשמוע את דברו:

standing on his stand as it says (above 6:12f.): “And he stood before the altar of the Lord, etc. for Solomon had made a copper laver, etc., and he stood on it and kneeled on his knees.” It is still customary today that when they assemble together, the king or the duke stands on a high place, so that they should be able to see him and hear his words.

קשר קשר. מרד מרד:

“Treason! Treason!” Rebellion! Rebellion!

23:14

וַיּוֹצֵא יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן אֶת־שָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת ׀ פְּקוּדֵי הַחַיִל וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם הוֹצִיאוּהָ אֶל־מִבֵּית הַשְּׂדֵרוֹת וְהַבָּא אַחֲרֶיהָ יוּמַת בֶּחָרֶב כִּי אָמַר הַכֹּהֵן לֹא תְמִיתוּהָ בֵּית יְהֹוָֽה׃

Then Yehoyada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said to them, Bring her out between the ranks: and whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Do not slay her in the house of the Lord.

Then Yehoyada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said to them, Bring her out between the ranks: and whoever follows her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Do not slay her in the house of the Lord.

Rashi

השדרות. פירוש מקום מבוא המלך מביתו לבית ה' לא ידעתי מה ל' שדרות ויונתן תרגם סידריא:

the ranks - Heb. הַשְּׂדֵרוֹת. Rashi (II Kings 11:8) explains: the place of the king’s entry from his palace to the House of the Lord. I do not know the origin of the word, and Jonathan rendered it as “rows” [like סְדָרִים].

והבא אחריה יומת. אל תניחוה לצאת דרך מוצא העזרה אל העיר פן תמצא עוזרים מתחברים אליה:

and whoever follows her is to be put to death Do not allow her to go out by way of the exit of the forecourt to the city, lest she find helpers who will join her.

והבא אחריה. לעזרה:

and whoever follows her to her aid.

יומת. המיתוהו:

is to be put to death Put him to death.

23:15

וַיָּשִׂימוּ לָהּ יָדַיִם וַתָּבוֹא אֶל־מְבוֹא שַֽׁעַר־הַסּוּסִים בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיְמִיתוּהָ שָֽׁם׃ {פ}

So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entrance of the horse gate by the king’s house, they slew her there.

So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entrance of the horse gate by the king’s house, they slew her there.

Rashi

וישימו לה ידים. מקום לנוס:

And they made a place for her a place to escape.

23:16

וַיִּכְרֹת יְהֽוֹיָדָע בְּרִית בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין כׇּל־הָעָם וּבֵין הַמֶּלֶךְ לִהְיוֹת לְעָם לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃

And Yehoyada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the Lord’s people.

And Yehoyada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the Lord’s people.

Rashi

ברית בינו ובין כל העם ובין המלך. שיהו כולם המלך והעם אחרי ה':

between himself and all the people and the king that all of them, the king and the people, should follow the Lord.

23:17

וַיָּבֹאוּ כׇל־הָעָם בֵּית־הַבַּעַל וַֽיִּתְּצֻהוּ וְאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָיו וְאֶת־צְלָמָיו שִׁבֵּרוּ וְאֵת מַתָּן כֹּהֵן הַבַּעַל הָרְגוּ לִפְנֵי הַֽמִּזְבְּחֽוֹת׃

Then all the people went to the house of the Ba῾al, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of the Ba῾al in front of the altars.

Then all the people went to the house of the Ba῾al, and broke it down, and broke his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of the Ba῾al in front of the altars.

23:18

וַיָּשֶׂם יְהוֹיָדָע פְּקֻדּוֹת בֵּית יְהֹוָה בְּיַד הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם אֲשֶׁר חָלַק דָּוִיד עַל־בֵּית יְהֹוָה לְֽהַעֲלוֹת עֹלוֹת יְהֹוָה כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְשִׁיר עַל יְדֵי דָוִֽיד׃

And Yehoyada appointed the offices of the house of the Lord under the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had given charge over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Tora of Moshe, with rejoicing and with singing, as ordained by David.

And Yehoyada appointed the offices of the house of the Lord under the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had given charge over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Tora of Moshe, with rejoicing and with singing, as ordained by David.

Rashi

פקדות. ממונים על זה להעלו' עולות וכל האמור בפרשה דוגמ' (ירמיהו כ׳:א׳) וישמע פשחור וגו' והוא פקיד נגיד בית ה':

appointees - Heb. פְּקֻדּוֹת, people appointed to offer burnt offerings and all that is mentioned in this chapter. An example is (Jer. 20:1): “And Pashhur heard, etc. and he was the chief officer (פָּקִיד) in the House of the Lord.”

23:19

וַֽיַּעֲמֵד הַשּׁוֹעֲרִים עַֽל־שַׁעֲרֵי בֵּית יְהֹוָה וְלֹא־יָבוֹא טָמֵא לְכׇל־דָּבָֽר׃

And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in.

And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was unclean in anything should enter in.

Rashi

ולא יבא טמא לכל דבר. אף היו פקידים שלא יניחו ליכנס בעזרה שום טמא משום צורך כל דבר:

so that no one who was unclean should enter for any matter There were also appointees [whose job it was] not to allow any unclean person to enter the forecourt for any reason.

23:20

וַיִּקַּח אֶת־שָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת וְאֶת־הָאַדִּירִים וְאֶת־הַמּוֹשְׁלִים בָּעָם וְאֵת ׀ כׇּל־עַם הָאָרֶץ וַיּוֹרֶד אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ מִבֵּית יְהֹוָה וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּתֽוֹךְ־שַׁעַר הָעֶלְיוֹן בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ וַיּוֹשִׁיבוּ אֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל כִּסֵּא הַמַּמְלָכָֽה׃

And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the Lord: and they came through the upper gate into the king’s house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.

And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the Lord: and they came through the upper gate into the king’s house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.

23:21

וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ כׇל־עַם־הָאָרֶץ וְהָעִיר שָׁקָטָה וְאֶת־עֲתַלְיָהוּ הֵמִיתוּ בֶחָֽרֶב׃

And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after they had slain ῾Atalyahu with the sword.

And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after they had slain ῾Atalyahu with the sword.

Texts

  • Hebrew: Miqra according to the Masorah · License: CC-BY-SA
  • English: The Koren Jerusalem Bible · License: CC-BY-NC
  • Hebrew: On Your Way · License: PD
  • English: The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg · License: CC-BY

Where next

Keep reading