Rashi on Tanakh2 Chronicles 26
Rashi
Read 2 Chronicles 26 in the Bible2 Chronicles 26:5
in the days of Zechariah This refers to Uzziah, and he was called by three names: Uzziah, Zechariah, and Azariah, similar to (II Kings 14): Yehoahaz/Ahaziah.
who understood the visions of God who understood that the fear of God is good, and feared the Lord.
2 Chronicles 26:9
And Uzziah built towers, etc. He had to strengthen the parts of the wall they breached in his father’s days.
2 Chronicles 26:10
plowmen - Heb. אִכָּרִים, aratkori in Italian, plowmen.
for he loved the soil It is explained in Genesis Rabbah (See 22:3): Two had a passion for agriculture, and no good was found in them: he and Cain.
2 Chronicles 26:15
engines, invented by skillful men - Heb. חִשְּׁבֹנוֹת מַחֲשֶׁבֶת חוֹשֵׁב, similar to (Exod. 28:6): “expert work (מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב.)” He made war engines with craftsmanship, such as siege mounds and battering rams, as it is written (Prov. 24:6): “For you shall wage war with strategies.”
2 Chronicles 26:16
and he trespassed against the Lord, his God - Heb. וַיִּמְעַל. Here it is appropriate to say מְעִילָה (trespass), for he sinned inadvertently, similar to (Lev. 5:15): “If a person commits a trespass (תִמְעל מַעַל) and sins inadvertently.”
and he came into the Temple of the Lord for he said, “It is proper for a king to serve the King of glory.”
2 Chronicles 26:19
and in his hand was a censer to burn and he wished to strike the priest who prevented him from burning incense.
2 Chronicles 26:21
in a house of retirement Heb. בֵּית הַחָפְשִׁית. And in Yerushalmi (unknown) it is explained that he made himself a house in the cemetery, reminiscent of (Ps. 88:6): “Among the dead, a free man (חָפְשִׁי) .”
for it had been decreed upon him to come no longer among people, similar to (Esther 2:1): “and that which was decreed upon her.”
2 Chronicles 26:23
in the cemetery but not in the cave with the kings.
Rashi on Tanakh — Rashi. Metsudah Publications / Judaica Press · CC BY
2 Chronicles 26:4