## Rashi on II Chronicles Chapter 17

###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:3:1
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:3:1)

**בְּדַרְכֵי דָוִיד אָבִיו הָרִאשֹׁנִים.** וְלֹא הָאַחֲרוֹנִים שֶׁפָּשַׁע בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בַת שֶׁבַע, וְגַם הֵסִית אוֹתוֹ שָׂטָן לִמְנוֹת אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל (דברי הימים א כא:א). וְעִיקָּר וְיֵשׁ מְפָרְשִׁים: **רִאשֹׁנִים** רֹאשׁ לִשְׁלֹמֹה וְרַחְבְעָם; שְׁלֹמֹה – נָשָׁיו הִטּוּ לְבָבוֹ בְּאַחֲרִית יָמָיו וּבָנָה בָּמָה לִכְמוֹשׁ תּוֹעֲבַת מוֹאָב וּלְמוֹלֶךְ שִׁקּוּץ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן (מלכים א יא:ז), וְרַחְבְעָם – כְּתִיב ״וַיְהִי כְּהָכִין מַלְכוּת רְחַבְעָם וּכְחֶזְקָתוֹ עָזַב אֶת תּוֹרַת ה׳״ (דברי הימים ב יב:א). וְלֹא כְּאָבִיו שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ בִּמְלָכִים ״וְלֹא הָיָה לְבָבוֹ שָׁלֵם עִם ה׳ אֱלֹהָיו״ (מלכים א טו:ג), וְלֹא כְּאָסָא שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁעַן בַּה׳, אֶלָּא כְּדָוִד אָבִיו, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לוֹ אֶלָּא לֵב אֶחָד לְאָבִיו שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**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.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:3:2
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:3:2)

**וְלֹא דָרַשׁ לַבְּעָלִים.** כְּמַעֲשֵׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבְּיָמָיו, כִּי אַחְאָב הָיָה בְּיָמָיו, שֶׁעָבַד אֶת הַבְּעָלִים הוּא וְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבְּיָמָיו:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**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.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:6:1
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:6:1)

**וַיִּגְבַּהּ לִבּוֹ בְּדַרְכֵי ה׳.** גָּבַהּ לִבּוֹ בְּדָבָר זֶה שֶׁלֹּא הָלַךְ כִּי אִם בְּדַרְכֵי ה׳; דּוּגְמָא: ״אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂא לִבָּן אֹתָנָה בְּחָכְמָה״ (שמות לה:כו):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**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.”


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:7:1
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:7:1)

**שָׁלַח לְשָׂרָיו לְבֶן חַיִל.** כָּךְ הָיָה שְׁמוֹ. וְיֵשׁ מְפָרְשִׁים: **שָׁלַח לְשָׂרָיו**, כָּל שַׂר **בֶּן חַיִל**; וְקַשְׁיָא לִי: אִם כֵּן לֹא הָיָה לוֹמַר אֶלָּא לְעֹבַדְיָה, אֶלָּא מִמַּה שֶׁאָמַר **וּלְעֹבַדְיָה**, מִכְּלָל **לְבֶן חַיִל** שֵׁם אָדָם הוּא:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**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.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:7:2
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:7:2)

**לְלַמֵּד בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה.** תּוֹרָה וּלְהוֹרוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**to teach in the cities of Judah** [i.e., to teach] the Torah and to instruct the Children of Israel.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:8:1
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:8:1)

**וְעִמָּהֶם.** מִן הַלְוִיִּם **שְׁמַעְיָהוּ וּנְתַנְיָהוּ וְגוֹמֵר**:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**And with them** of the Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, etc.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:8:2
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:8:2)

**וְעִמָּהֶם אֱלִישָׁמָע וִיהוֹרָם הַכֹּהֲנִים.** כִּי עַל הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם לְלַמֵּד וּלְהוֹרוֹת, כְּדִכְתִיב ״כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר יוֹרוּ אֶתְכֶם הַכֹּהֲנִים״ וְ״הַלְוִיִּם״ (דברים כד:ח). וְהַשָּׂרִים הָלְכוּ עִמָּהֶם, לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא יַמְרוּ אֶת פִּיהֶם וּלְהַכְרִיחָם לִשְׁמֹעַ לָהֶם, וְלִשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּמִצְוַת הַשּׁוֹפְטִים; דּוּגְמַת ״שׁוֹפְטִים וְשׁוֹטְרִים תִּתֶּן לְךָ״ (דברים טז:יח) – שׁוֹפְטִים לִשְׁפֹּט אֶת הָעָם, וְשׁוֹטְרִים לְהַכְרִיחָם וְלַעֲשׂוֹת צִוּוּי הַשּׁוֹפְטִים:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**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.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:10:1
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:10:1)

**וַיְהִי פַּחַד ה׳ עַל כָּל מַמְלְכוֹת הָאֲרָצוֹת.** בִּזְכוּת שֶׁלָּמְדוּ תּוֹרָה:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**And the fear of the Lord was upon all the kingdoms of the lands** in the merit of having studied Torah.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:11:1
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:11:1)

**וְכֶסֶף מַשָּׂא.** מַשָּׂאוֹת שֶׁל כֶּסֶף, דֻּגְמָא: ״הָיוּ נְשׂוּאֹתֵיכֶם עֲמוּסוֹת מַשָּׂא״ (ישעיה מו:א):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**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.”


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:12:1
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:12:1)

**וַיְהִי יְהוֹשָׁפָט הוֹלֵךְ וְגָדֵל.** שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כְּלָשׁוֹן זֶה: יִצְחָק (בראשית כו:יג), שְׁמוּאֵל (שמואל א ב:כו), יְהוֹשָׁפָט. אֲבָל מֹשֶׁה (שמות יא:ג), דָּוִד (דברי הימים א יא:ט), מָרְדֳּכַי (אסתר ט:ד; י:ג) נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶם ״וְגָדוֹל״. אֲבָל יִצְחָק (בראשית כו:יג), שְׁמוּאֵל (שמואל א ב:כו), יְהוֹשָׁפָט כָּתוּב בָּהֶם וְגָדֵל, שֶׁאֵין נָכוֹן לוֹמַר וְגָדוֹל; בִּשְׁמוּאֵל כְּתִיב ״וַיִּגְדַּל הַנַּעַר שְׁמוּאֵל עִם ה׳״ (שמואל א ב:כא), וְחַס וְחָלִילָה לוֹמַר גָּדוֹל עִם ה׳! וְכָאן כְּמוֹ כֵן: **גָּדֵל עַד לְמָעְלָה**, לָכֵן לֹא הָגוּן לוֹמַר גָּדוֹל, וְכֵן בְּיִצְחָק:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**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.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:12:2
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:12:2)

**בִּירָנִיּוֹת.** מִגִּזְרוֹת בִּירָה, מִגְדָּלִים גְּדוֹלִים לְחוֹזֶק:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**towers** בִּירָנִיוֹת, derived from בִּירָה, huge towers for strength.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:12:3
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:12:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:12:3)

**וְעָרֵי מִסְכְּנוֹת.** עָרֵי אוֹצָרוֹת לָתֵת בָּהֶם תְּבוּאָה וְיַיִן וְדָגָן:

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**and store cities** storage cities, to put in them wheat, wine and grain.


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:16:1
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:16:1)

**וְעַל יָדוֹ.** אֶצְלוֹ; דֻּגְמָא: ״חֶלְקַת יוֹאָב עַל יָדִי״ (שמואל ב יד:ל):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**And beside him** Heb. וְעַל יָדוֹ beside him; an example is (II Sam. 14:30): “Joab’s field is adjoining mine (אֶל יָדִי).”


###### Rashi on II Chronicles 17:16:2
[Rashi on II Chronicles 17:16:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20II%20Chronicles/r/17:16:2)

**הַמִּתְנַדֵּב לַה׳.** דֻּגְמָא: ״הַמִּתְנַדְּבִים בָּעָם בָּרְכוּ ה׳״ (שופטים ה:ט):

**The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg:**
**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”