What is the meaning of "va'Asher ha'Melech"?
Radak: It is whom the king commanded to go with Chilkiyah 1 to seek Hashem.
Melachim II, 22:12 says that he sent also Achikam, Achbor, Shafan and Asayah. (PF)
Who was Chuldah?
Radak (Melachim II, 22:13, from Megilah 14b): She was a descendant of Rachav 1 .
The Gemara says also that she was a relative of Yirmeyah. (PF)
Why did the king send them to Chuldah, and not to Yirmeyah [who was the primary Navi at the time]?
'Rashi', Rashi (Melachim II, 22:14), from Megilah 14b #1: A woman has more mercy than a man.
Rashi (Melachim II, 22:13, from Megilah 14b) #2: Yirmeyah was not there. He went to return the 10 tribes.
Radak (Melachim II, 22:14): Even though Yirmeyah's Nevu'ah started in Yoshiyah's 13th year, and this was his 18th year, Yirmeyah was not in Yerushalayim at the time, or he was fasting when they found the Torah. Chuldah sat in Yerushalayim. Three prophesized in Yoshiyah's days ? Yirmeyah in the markets, Tzefanyah in the Batei Kenesiyos, and Chuldah to the women (Pesikta Rabasi 26).
Which garments did he guard?
'Rashi' #1: He guarded Bigdei Kehunah.
'Rashi' #2: He guarded royal garments.
What is the meaning of "b'Mishneh"?
'Rashi' #1, Rashi (Melachim II, 22:14) #2: There were two walls of Yerushalayim; she sat between them.
'Rashi' #2, Rashi (Melachim II, 22:14) #1, Targum Yonasan: It was a Beis Ulfana (place for learning Torah 1 , i.e. a Beis Midrash 2 . There is a gate in the Azarah called Sha'ar Chuldah (Midos 34a). Hagahas R. Ovadyah ha'Navi - she would teach oral Torah, i.e. Mishnah, to Chachamim of the generation 3 . Hagahas Sod Meisharim - she taught [Mishneh Torah, i.e. all of Sefer Devarim] from "Elu ha'Devarim" until "l'Einei Kol Yisrael." She taught the punishments for those who transgress the explicit [laws], and those who transgress the secrets and hints in the Torah.
Radak: Also "v'Es Mishneh ha'Torah" refers to learning Torah.
'Rashi': She had a chamber open to the outside, and closed towards Lishkas ha'Gazis, for modesty, like it says in Midos 'Lishkas Chuldah. (This is not in our text of Midos. "Ha'Kol bi'Chsav mi'Yad Hashem" (Divrei ha'Yamim I, 28:19; Hashem dictated all dimensions of the Mikdash) ? how could they make a chamber especially for her?! - PF)
Alei Tamar (Kidushin 4:11): Surely the Beis Midrash was only for women, like Pesikta Rabasi 26 says that she prophesized for women. From the days of Devorah, there was a Beis Midrash for women (Targum Yonasan, Shoftim 5:24). (The Targum did not say that the Beis Midrash was for women! Devorah taught Torah to Rabim (Tana d'Vei Eliyahu 10), and sat under a palm tree to avoid seclusion (Megilah 14a). If she taught only women, she could sit in a house! Tosfos (Nidah 50a) says that she did not judge; she taught the laws [i.e. to men, and they gave the verdict]! ? PF)
