Why does it say "va'Yikchu Am ha'Aretz Es Yeho'achaz"?
Radak (Melachim II, 23:30): This implies that they made him king by force. 'Rashi' - Yehoyakim was 21 months 1 older. Malbim (Melachim II, 23:30, citing Mahari) ? and it was against the Halachah to make the younger brother king.
Yeho'achaz was 23 when he became king, and Yehoyakim was 25, three months later (verses 2, 5). 'Rashi' assumes that they were exactly 23 and 25, with no additional months. What is his source? Does any verse detail a person's age in years and months?! (PF)
Why did they make Yeho'achaz king? His brother Yehoyakim was older!
Radak (Melachim II, 23:30, citing Horiyos 11b: Yeho'achaz filled the place of his father; Yehoyakim did not.
In Divrei ha'Yamim I, 3:15, it says that Yoshiyah's sons were, in order, Yochanan the Bechor, Yehoyakim, Tzidkiyah and Shalum. It does not mention Yeho'achaz!
Radak (Melachim II, 23:30) and Malbim (Melachim II, 23:35), from Horiyos 11b: Yochanan is Yeho'achaz. He is called Bechor, for he was Bechor for kingship (the first of them to become king). Shalum is Tzidkiyah. He is called third, because he was the third son born to Yoshiyah. It says that he was fourth, for he was fourth for kingship. He is called Shalum, because Malchus Beis David Shalmah (finished) in his days.
Radak (Melachim II, 23:30): I explained in Divrei ha'Yamim I, 3:15 that Shalum is Yehoyachin (ben Yehoyakim). Yoshiyah's grandson was listed among his sons. There are many cases like this.
Ibn Ezra (Daniel 1:1): Yochanan was the Bechor; he did not reign. Shalum is Yeho'achaz. Yeho'achaz was 23 when his father died. Tzidkiyah was older than him ? he was 24, and Yehoyakim was 25 1 .
Radak (Melachim II, 23:30): According to this, Tzidkiyah was 35 when he became king. The verse says that he was 21! Rather, his father Yoshiyah made him king in his lifetime, three years before he died. When Yoshiyah died, the nation did not desire his kingship, and made Yeho'achaz king. "va'Yikach Am ha'Aretz Es Yeho'achaz ben Yoshiyah va'Yimshechu Oso?" ? by force. Ibn Ezra brought a proof from "b'Reishis Mamleches Yehoyakim; ? Aseh Lecha Moseros u'Motos; b'Yad Mal'achim ha'Ba'im Yerushalayim El Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah" (Yirmeyah 27:1-3). How was Tzidkiyah king at the beginning of Yehoyakim's kingship?! Rather, other nations knew that Yoshiyah made Tzidkiyah king in his lifetime, and the nation did not desire his kingship after Yoshiyah died. Malbim (Melachim II, 23:30) ? Ibn Ezra's proof is from "Shalum? ha'Molech Tachas Yoshiyah" (Yirmeyah 22:11). (What is the proof? Melachim II, 23:34 says that Yehoyakim ruled "Tachas Yoshiyah", even though there was another king in between! ? PF)
