Is there any significant to the number of generations of kings?
'Rashi': There are eight generations from Shlomo until Yo'ash. David saw [via Ru'ach ha'Kodesh] that Asalyah will kill [almost all] his seed. "Va'Takam va'Tedaber" (Divrei ha'Yamim II, 22:10) is an expression of Dever (plague) - she poisoned them. He said about this "la'Menatze'ach Al ha'Sheminis" (Tehilim 12:1) - for the eighth generation. "Hoshi'ah Hashem Ki Gamar Chasid" - Yo'ash was saved. From Yo'ash until Yoshiyah are eight generations. David saw that Yoshiyah and his sons will perish - this one was killed. This one's eyes were gouged out. He prayed further "Al ha'Sheminis" (ibid. 6:1), for the eighth generation "Al b'Apecha Tochicheni." Due to this, Bnei Yehoyakim remained. Al ha'Sheminis 1 does not appear in any other Tehilim. From Yechanyah (some texts - Yehoyakim) until Ananei are seven generations. Ananei is Mashi'ach - "va'Aru Im Ananei Shemaya" (Tanchuma Toldos 14). Including sons and generations, there are 38, for he said 38 praises (words) to Hashem in Sefer Ezra 2 , i.e. below, 29:10-13.
