What is surprising about the fall of Tzor?
Malbim: (a) It was strong due to the sea around it (refer to 26:17:2:2). (b) It was ha'Chazakah va'Yam ? it had many fortresses and towers. (c) It was strong, and its residents were strong. (d) The seas around it helped to put their fear on everyone.
Why is it called "Nosheves mi'Yamim"?
Rashi #1: The middle Mem in mi'Yamim has no Dagesh 1 ; it is settled from early days.
Rashi #2, Targum Yonasan: The middle Mem in mi'Yamim has a Dagesh; it is settled firmly due to the water around it.
Radak: It was settled via the merchandise that came to it from many seas ? the Atlantic ocean, the Yam Suf, the Mediterranean Sea and others. People came via all of them for business.
Yamim with a Dagesh means seas; without a Dagesh, it means days. (PF)
Why is it called "ha'Ir ha'Hulalah"?
Radak: The city that was praised. The prefix Hei in ha'Hulalah is in place of Asher; Hei ha'Yedi'ah (to identify) is not brought with verbs in past tense. Also "ha'Hikdish Shmuel" (Divrei ha'Yamim I, 26:28) is like Asher Hikdish.
How was it "ha'Chazakah va'Yam"?
Radak, Malbim: It was the strongest island in the sea. It was built strong, and its residents were strong.
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: It sat in the strength of the sea.
What is "Chitisam", and who are "Yosheveha" on whom they put it?
Rashi: It is destruction; they put it on all who dwell around them.
Radak, Malbim citing Mahari: Amidst their strength, they imposed their fear on all residents of [islands of] the sea. The pronoun at the end of Yosheveha is feminine; it refers to Yam, like we find "v'Es ha'Yam Horid me'Al ha'Bakar ha'Nechoshes Asher Tachteha" (Melachim II, 16:17).
Radak citing Targum Yonasan: All its (Tzor's) residents were given to be broken.
