Indeed, it was by the order of Adonoy. All the calamity that befell Yehudah through these bands.¹

footnotes: ¹ I.e., all the calamity had been preordained from the time of Menashe's reign.—Radak

Yehoyakim lay with his forefathers. [He did] not die in his bed, for Nevuchadnetzar bound him with chains to take him to Bavel, and when they were dragging him he died in their hands,² as it is stated, ”With the burial of a donkey will he be buried, dragged and thrown,”³ and in Divrei Hayomim it is written⁴ that Nevuchadnetzar bound him to take him to Bavel.

footnotes: ² Scripture therefore, does not mention his burial. There are several different opinions surrounding the circumstances of Yehoyakim's death and burial. See Vayikra Rabboh 19:6. ³ Yirmiyahu 22:19. ⁴ II Divrei Hayomim 36:6. The verse there states, “Nevuchadnetzar king of Bavel attacked him [Yehoyakim] and bound him in chains to take him to Bavel.”

Left his land. To aid Yehoyakim.

For the king of Bavel had taken, etc. For he defeated him in battle in the fourth year of Yehoyakim in Charchemish on the Euphrates River, as it is written in the Book of Yirmiyohu.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ 46:2.

Yehoyachin king of Yehudah, came out to the king of Bavel. That he do to him as he wishes, and not for war.⁶

footnotes: ⁶ Nevuchadnetzar, at this time, did not come to destroy Yerusholayim. He only demanded that Yehoyachin be handed over to him. See Vayikra Rabboh 19:6.

Craftsmen and gatekeepers. [Targum] Yonoson rendered the craftsmen and the sentries of the gates. But, our Rabbis said that these were great Torah scholars,⁷ that when one would begin [to speak], all remained silent [=חרש], as it is written, “Be silent before Me, O islands.”⁸ ”מסגר” [is one who] all sit before him and learn from him, as it is stated, ”And he will open, and no one will close, and he will close, and no one will open.”⁹ ¹⁰

footnotes: ⁷ I.e., “craftsmen and gatekeepers” is a metaphoric allusion to Torah scholars. See Maseches Sanhedrin 38a. ⁸ Yeshayohu 41:1. ⁹ Ibid 22:22. ¹⁰ See Maseches Gittin 88a.

And the dignitaries of the land. These are the dignitaries of Yehudah and Binyomin, who were righteous men. Concerning them Scripture states, ”Like these good figs, so will I recognize the exiles of Yehudah.”¹¹

footnotes: ¹¹ Yirmiyahu 24:5.

Seven thousand. But above he states, “ten thousand.”¹² The third verse comes to reconcile [the difference], in the Book of Yirmiyohu, ”This is the people whom Nevuchadnetzar exiled in the seventh year, three thousand Jews.”¹³ Jews.” We deduce from here that three thousand were of the tribe of Yehudah and seven thousand were of Binyomin and the other tribes. Also in Seder Olam we learned this.

footnotes: ¹² Above, v. 14. ¹³ Yirmiyahu 52:28. The verse there states, “three thousand and twenty-three

And changed his name to Tzidkiyohu. May God justify the judgment upon you if you rebel against me.¹⁴

footnotes: ¹⁴ See Maseches Horiyos 11b.

Indeed the wrath of Adonoy was, etc. Therefore, Tzidkiyohu rebelled against the king of Bavel. The Holy One, Blessed Is He, gave him the desire to rebel against him in order that he would be exiled.¹⁵

footnotes: ¹⁵ God incited Tzidkiyohu to rebel in order to exile the Bnei Yisroel from Eretz Yisroel.