What is "veli'Seshuvas ha'Shanah"?
Rashi, Radak and Targum Yonasan (in Melachim I, 20:22): It is the end of the year [in which Yehoyakim was exiled].
Metzudas David, Ramban (Bereishis 18:10): It is after one solar year, when the sun [and therefore shadows] return[s] to the same place [as when troops were sent against Yehoyakim].
Did Nebuchadnetzar only send, and not come himself?
Malbim: First he sent, and afterwards he himself came.
What are "Klei Chemdas Beis Hashem"?
'Rashi': They are the treasured ones. The rest he left until the exile of Tzidkiyah, and then he took everything. In Melachim II, 24:12 it explicitly says that also Yehoyachin went to Bavel.
Here it says that that Tzidkiyah was his (Yehoyachin's) brother. In Melachim II, 24:17 it says that he was his uncle!
'Rashi': Here it means that Tzidkiyah was Yehoyakim's brother 1 . There it means that Tzidkiyah was Yehoyachin's uncle.
Radak: He was his uncle. [Sometimes, also other] relatives are called brothers, e.g. "Anashim Achim Anachnu", "Es Lot Achiv" (Bereishis 12:8, 14:16).
Malbim (Melachim II, 24:10, citing Mahari): Tzidkiyah was not Yoshiyah's son, rather, Yehoyakim's son 2 ? "u'Vnei Yehoyakim Yechanyah 3 Veno Tzidkiyah Veno" (Divrei ha'Yamim I, 3:16). Tzidkiyah was two or three years older than his brother Yehoyachin, for the latter was 18 when he became king. Divrei ha'Yamim does not list them in order of birth, rather, in order of when they reigned. Shalum is Yeho'achaz; he was the youngest of Yoshiyah's sons, and he was 23 when he reigned. If so, Tzidkiyah (if he was Yoshiyah's son), who reigned 11 years later, was at least 34 or 35 at the time. Verse 11 says that he was 21 4 ! Rather, he was Yechanyah's brother; "Dodo" means his dear friend.
Malbim (Melachim II, 24:10): The verse discusses Yehoyachin's uncle. Indeed, Yehoyachin also had a brother Tzidkiyah (Divrei ha'Yamim I, 3:16). Nebuchadnetzar saw that Am ha'Aretz wanted to make the latter king in place of his father, so he changed Matanyah's name to Tzidkiyah, i.e. he stands in place of Tzidkiyah ben Yehoyakim, who claims that he should inherit kingship. Here it calls him his brother, i.e. he is in place of Yehoyachin's brother.
This is difficult. Verses 9 and 10 discuss only Yehoyachin and Nebuchadnetzar. The last reference to Yehoyakim was verse 8! (PF)
Malbim: This cannot be. Yeho'achaz and Tzidkiyah were brothers from the same mother, i.e. Chamutal bas Yirmeyah from Livnah (Melachim II, 23:31, 24:18)! Indeed, Chazal (Vayikra Rabah 19:6) said that Yehoyakim had Bi'ah with his father's wife. Perhaps Tzidkiyah was born through this, and he is listed among Yoshiyah's sons and called Yehoyachin's uncle based on 'appearance' (Yoshiyah's wife gave birth to him), and he is listed among Yehoyakim's sons and called Yehoyachin's brother in truth! However, Tzidkiyah was a Tzadik; we should not say that he was a Mamzer. (Tanchuma (Vayetzei 4) learns verse 19 simply, that he was a Rasha. Indeed, Sanhedrin 103a says that he was a great Tzadik; the verse condemns him for not protesting. However, Rashi (Ta'anis 4a) says that a Mamzer cannot have Ru'ach ha'Kodesh, for Shechinah dwells only on those of proper lineage. This implies that he could be a Tzadik worthy of Ru'ach ha'Kodesh! - PF)
Yehoyachin is sometimes called Yechanyah. (PF)
Malbim: Do not conclude that Tzidkiyah was Yehoyachin's brother, rather, that Shalum is not Yeho'achaz, rather, another son! Chazal said that Yochanan is Yeho'achaz; he was born before Tzidkiyah.
