Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God. — Rather, And his sons, and the multitude of oracles upon him, and the founding of the house of God. The word “burden” (massa’)is common in the sense of a threatening prophecy (2 Kings 9:25; Isaiah 13:1; Habakkuk 1:1). In 2 Chronicles 24:19 it is expressly said that prophets were sent to warn the princes of Judah. If this be the meaning here, the word massa’ is used collectively. Another possible rendering is, “and the greatness of the tribute laid upon him” by Hazael. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 17:11 for this sense of massa’) The Heb. margin suggests, and as to his sons, may the burden concerning him multiply;” i.e., may the dying words of Zechariah be fulfilled in them even more disastrously! This is wholly improbable.
In the story of the book of the kings. — See margin, and Introduction.