In the twenty-seventh year of Yorovom, etc. Is it possible to say so? Did not Uzziyoh¹ and Yorovom reign simultaneously, as was explained just before? What, then, is the meaning of the verse, ”In the twenty-seventh year of Yorovom … Azaryoh … became king”? That [from that year] he reigned a plagued kingship, [i.e.,] that he was stricken with tzora'as in the twenty-seventh year of his reign.

footnotes: ¹ Azaryoh and Uzziyohu refer to the same person. See below verses 13 and 32.

Adonoy brought a plague upon the king. It is explained in Divrei Hayomim² that he entered the Temple to burn incense on the Incense Altar.³ for attempting to assume the role of the kohein gadol and burn incense on the altar. See II Divrei Hayomim 26-16:21 and Rashi in Bamidbar 17:5.

footnotes: ² II Divrei Hayomim 26:16-21. ³ He was punished with tzora'as

In a retirement house. He made himself a house in the cemetery,⁴ is forced to live in isolation. He was therefore unable to attend to his royal duties and was thus “freed” from his responsibilities. ⁵ is accounted as dead. And like the dead who is free from the many toils of life, as it states in Tehilim 88:6, “I am [considered] among the dead who are free,” so is a metzora. as it is stated, ”I am [considered] among the dead who are free.”⁶ In [Talmud] Yerushalmi.

footnotes: ⁴ The word חפשי means freedom. The Gemara in Maseches Horiyos 10a explains that Uzziyohu became “free” of the duties of being king. Targum indicates that he lived outside the walls of Yerusholayim. The reason is because a metzora ⁵ The house was in the cemetery because our Rabbis taught in Maseches Nedarim 12b that a metzora ⁶ Tehilim 88:6.

In the thirty-eighth year of Azaryohu king of Yehudah, Zecharyoh … became king. From here too, it is possible to deduce that Azaryoh[u] reigned from the time that Yoash king of Yisroel died, fifteen years during the lifetime of Amatzyoh his father, for if he did not become [king] until his father died, it follows that he did not become [king] until the fifteenth year of Yorovom son of Yoash. Now, since Yorovom reigned forty-one years, it follows that Yorovom died in the twenty-seventh year of Uzziyoh. So, how does [Scripture] state, “In the thirty-eighth year?” Rather, we are forced [to deduce] that Uzziyoh and Yorovom reigned simultaneously, except that Yorovom reigned during the lifetime of his father Yehoash—three years. Therefore [Scripture] states, ”and Yorovom had sat on his throne,”⁷ [i.e., on the throne] that he had already sat. And Uzziyoh became [king] when Yoash died and Yorovom reigned over a complete monarchy. I saw in Seder Olam that Yorovom reigned one year during his father's lifetime, and I do not know whether it is the writers' error, for I cannot reconcile, ”In the thirty-eighth year of Azaryohu … Zecharyohu … reigned,” except in this manner.

footnotes: ⁷ Above, 13:13.

And struck him before the people. [Targum Yonoson renders,] he struck him before the people [i.e.,] before the eyes of the people.⁸

footnotes: ⁸ קבל in Aramaic means opposite, i.e., he struck him opposite the people.—Metzudas Tzion

And it was so. Not that his kingdom deserved to last that long, but to fulfill the word of the King,⁹ as it is stated, ”So shall be My word, which will go forth from My mouth etc.”¹⁰

footnotes: ⁹ I.e., the word of God stated in 10:30 above. ¹⁰ Yeshayohu 55:11.

Because it would not open. The governor of the city did not open the city for him, to accept him as king over them.

Its pregnant women. The pregnant women therein, he ripped open.

His mighty warrior. His mighty warrior.¹¹ [Near] the palace and [near] the lion. Every ארגוב is an expression of important palaces, and every טרכונין in Aramaic [means] important palaces of the kingdom.¹² In the great chamber that was next to the palace.

footnotes: ¹¹ Alternatively, “his officer.”—Metzudas Tzion ¹² See Rashi in Devarim 3:4. Alternatively, “Argov” and “Aryeh” are names of two mighty warriors who were with Pekach, in addition to the fifty men.—Metzudas Tzion

[Near] the palace and [near] the lion. Every ארגוב is an expression of important palaces, and every טרכונין in Aramaic [means] important palaces of the kingdom.¹² In the great chamber that was next to the palace.

footnotes: ¹² See Rashi in Devarim 3:4. Alternatively, “Argov” and “Aryeh” are names of two mighty warriors who were with Pekach, in addition to the fifty men.—Metzudas Tzion

And [near] the lion. It is possible to say that a golden lion was standing in that palace.

In the twentieth year of Yosam. He should have said, “in the fourth year of Achaz,” because Yosam's entire reign lasted [only] sixteen years, but since Achaz was wicked, Scripture prefers to count [the years with reference] to Yosam who was in the grave, rather than to Achaz, who was alive.¹³ Thus it is [stated] in Seder Olam.

footnotes: ¹³ Alternatively, because the Divine decree of destruction had been passed against Pekach during Yosam's reign, therefore its fulfillment is reckoned in terms of his reign even though it took place after his death.—Radak

In those days. At the end of Yosam's life.¹⁴

footnotes: ¹⁴ Alternatively, after Yosam's death.—Radak

To incite. To incite.¹⁵

footnotes: ¹⁵ Alternatively, “to send,” as a punishment for the sins of Achaz.—Ralbag