What is "Chalne"?
Rashi: It is Bavel.
Radak: It is a great city in Bavel ? "va'Tehi Reishis Mamlachto Bavel v'Erech v'Akad v'Chalne" (Bereishis 10:10).
What is the significance of "Ivru Chalne u'R'u"?
Rashi: Why did you despise My Torah, to cling to rites of Nochrim? Pass and see if the esteemed Nochrim are better than these kingdoms in Shomron and Yerushalayim!
Radak: These serene ones (Shomron and Yerushalayim) indulge in the good that Hashem gave to them, they deny Him and His Torah. They do not fear evil that will come upon them. When the Nevi'im rebuke them, and tell them 'such and such evil will come upon you', they do not fear. They trust in their wealth and strong fortresses, and say 'evil will not come upon us.'
Malbim: Hashem answers, it was Hashgachah that you go to Chalne, and see that some of the exiles passed in their Galus to Chalne.
Why does it say "u'Lechu mi'Sham"?
Radak: Leave there after you see that even though it is renowned, it is not better than your land.
Malbim: Afterwards, when Melech Ashur conquered Chalne and exiled them, they went to Chamas, which was still serene (Yeshayah 10:9); he conquered it after Chalne.
Where is "Chamas Rabah"?
Rashi: It is Antuchiya. Radak ? it says Rabah, for there is another Chamas.
Why does it specify "Gas Pelishtim"?
Rashi: Gas was the most esteemed of the five princes of Pelishtim. It is called "Meseg ha'Amah" (Shmuel II, 8:1) because it rules over all of them; it is the mother of kingship. Radak ? David took it from the Pelishtim. Perhaps there is another Gas (therefore, it needed to add "Pelishtim").
Malbim: After Melech Ashur conquered Chamas, they descended to Gas, which was still serene. Refer to 6:2:6:1.
What do we learn from "ha'Tovim Min ha'Mamlachos ha'Eleh"?
Malbim: Hashem's Hashgachah caused them to be exiled first to these kingdoms. They are weaker than Yisrael, but they are still in their land. Your intellect will see the reason. You cannot say that it is because their kingdoms conduct better than Yisrael ? "ha'Tovim Min ha'Mamlachos ha'Eleh"? Are they better than Tziyon and Shomron, and therefore Melech Ashur did not dare to fight them first?!
Why does it say "Im Rav Gevulam mi'Gevulchem"?
Rashi: [Their territory is not greater than yours.] What injustice did you see in Me?!
Malbim: Was their territory greater than Yisrael and Yehudah, and therefore Melech Ashur feared to fight them first?! Rather, it was Hashgachah that you be exiled first, due to your evil ways.
