Because [Jehoshaphat] followed in the ways of his father David—the earlier ones, in which he did not sin. But later David sinned in the matter of Bathsheba (2 Sam 11) and in counting Israel (2 Sam 24). Alternatively, the text says “the earlier ones” in reference to other Judahite kings, each of whom sinned toward the end, and this is what it means: because he followed in the ways of his father David, which were the earlier ways of each of the Davidic kings. In the end they sinned, however. For Solomon’s wives led his heart astray in his old age (1 Kgs 11:3–4). Rehoboam [sinned] as well, [as the text says]: “when he grew strong, he abandoned the Teaching of the Lord” (2 Chr 12:1). So did Abijah according to the midrash that we cited (2 13:20). And Asa sinned at the end when he relied on the king of Aram (2 Chr 16:2–3) and also when he did not turn to the Lord when he was ill (ibid. v. 12).

**To Ben-ḥayil (=Man-of-strength).**That was his name.

And silver—in loads. [This means]: loads carried by animals, of silver and other gifts. Because the text says “they would bring” and not “they brought,” it seems that [foreign emissaries] would bring these to [Jehoshaphat] every year. The same is true for “would bring him rams …”: they would bring them to him every year.

Biraniyyot (=palaces). This is similar to birah (=palace): the nun and the yod are like those in raḥamaniyyot (=merciful; Lam 4:10) and qadmoniyyot (=happenings of yore; Isa 43:18).

Who made a donation to the Lord. Perhaps [Amasiah son of Zichri] had made a donation of silver and gold to the treasuries of the House of the Lord, and there was someone else whose name was the same as his; so the text says “who made a donation to the Lord.”