מלכים ב י״א:א׳-ג׳

בחדר המטות. בעליית בית קדשי הקדשים, כמה שהוא אומר (לקמן פסוק ג): ויהי אתה בית ה' מתחבא וגו'. עליו אמר דוד (תהלים כז ה): כי יצפנני בסכה יסתירני בסתר אהלו. וקורא אותה חדר המטות, על שם (שיר השירים א יג): בין שדי ילין, וזהו שיסד רבי אליעזר: נפץ חדר המטות, חורבן ביתך יכפר עליהם:

Into the bed-chamber‘room. In the attic of the Holy of Holies,¹In II Divrei Hayomim 22:11 it indicates that Yehosheva was the wife of Yehoyada the chief kohein, and she therefore had access to the chambers in the Beis Hamikdosh. as it states, “And he remained with her in the Beis [Hamikdosh] of Adonoy, hiding, etc.”²Below v. 3. Concerning him Dovid said, “For He will hide me in His Tabernacle … He will conceal me in the shelter of His Tent.”³Tehillim 27:5. He calls it the “bed-chamber” in accordance with, “Between my breasts He lodges.”⁴Shir Hashirim 1:13.⁵The Holy Presence rested between the two staves of the Ark within the Holy of Holies. The staves protruded into the curtain like a woman’s breasts. See Rashi I Melochim 8:8 and Maseches Yoma 54a. This is what Rabbi Eliezer⁶Rashi is referring to Rabbi Elazar Hakalir, the author of this poetic liturgy. instituted, [May He remember for atonement] “the destruction of the bed-chamber,” [i.e.,] “May the destruction of Your Beis [Hamikdosh] atone for them.”