Which "Rosh Yenikosav" did he detach?
Rashi: He lowered the grandeur and kingship [of Yehudah].
Radak: These are soft branches at the top, just like a baby who is Yonek (nurses) is soft. Tzimras is the royal house; it had many branches (children). The oldest, the king (Yehoyachin), is "Rosh Yenikosav." He was a tender youth of 18 when he became king, and Nebuchadnetzar detached him from his kingship.
Malbim: Yonekos are branches that arise next to a cedar; they nurture from it.
Malbim (according to the Nimshal): This refers to the officers, ha'Charash veha'Masger.
Did he bring him to Eretz Kena'an?
Rashi: He brought him to a land of merchants, i.e. Bavel. Radak ? also "Kena'an b'Yado Moznei Mirmah" (Hoshe'a 12:8) is a merchant. Bavel was the great city in which were merchants from all lands. It is called "Tzvi Mamlachos Tif'eres Ge'on Kasdim" (Yeshayah 13:19). Nebuchadnetzar brought Yehoyachin to Bavel, with his nation 1 , wives and officers.
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: He took the head branch and took it to a land that ceased working [the land,] in Eretz Kena'an, until Yisrael came to there, and mad it like a city of merchants. Radak ? before Yisrael came to Eretz Kena'an, it did not serve and pay tax to any other king, but other kings served and paid tax to it. Therefore, Bavel is compared to Eretz Kena'an. After Yisrael came to Eretz Kena'an, they served and paid taxes to other kings when they veered from Hashem.
Are his wives and officers not included in 'his nation'? Also, "ha'Charash veha'Masger Elef" (Melachim II, 24:16) were exiled with him! Perhaps "Amo" is a printing mistake. (PF)
Why does it say "b'Ir Rochelim Samo"?
Radak: This is the Prat; the Klal was Eretz Kena'an (Bavel ? refer to 17:4:2:1).
Malbim: In Bavel, it is as if [the exiles] were handed over to peddlers who carry them from house to house. [Bnei Bavel] used them for their needs, each man in his house.
