מלכים ב י״ד:ח׳-ט״ז

אז שלח אמציה מלאכים וגו' נתראה פנים. במלחמה:

Amatzyoh then sent messengers, etc., “let us battle each other.” [By going] to war.³Previously, Yehoash’s men had invaded Yehudah in a surprise attack, because Amatzyohu had abruptly dismissed Yehoash’s men from going to war with him. See II Divrei Hayomim 25:10, 13. Amatzyohu now challenged Amatzyohu to confront him in battle.—Metzudas Dovid

החוח אשר בלבנון. שכם בן חמור:

“The thistle that was in Levanon. Shechem son of Chamor.

שלח אל הארז. יעקב:

Sent [a message] to the cedar tree. Yaakov.

ותעבור חית השדה. בני יעקב באו על החללים, אף כאן אתה בא להתמשל אלי ומשל בזיון הוא, שדימהו לחוח, ואת עצמו לארז:

And it passed by the wild beast [that was in Levanon]. “Yaakov’s sons came upon the slain.”⁴Bereishis 34:27. Here too, you come to compare yourself to me. This comparison was to humiliate him, for he likened him [Amatzyohu] to a thistle, and himself to a cedar [tree].⁵Yehoash, whose grandfather Yeihu, completely destroyed Achov and his family, was mocking Amatzyohu, who was Achov’s descendant.

ותעבור חית השדה אשר בלבנון ותרמוס וגו'. לפי שנתגאית, אף אתה ירמסוך גדודי חיילותי:

And the wild beast that was in Levanon passed by and trampled, etc. Because you are arrogant, the troops of my armies will trample you too.

ואת בני התערובות. בני השרים, שהיו נתונים בבית המלך לערבון, שלא ימרדו אבותם בו וכן תרגם יונתן: בני רברביא:

And the children [held] hostage. The children of the princes, who were placed in the king’s palace as security that their fathers would not rebel against him. And so did [Targum] Yonoson render, “ the children of the princes.”