Why does it say "Ko Amar Hashem"?
Malbim: This begins a new Nevu'ah about Shevna, who rebelled against Malchus Chizkiyah, and conspired to go out to Sancheriv when he besieged Yerushalayim 1 .
Sancheriv arrived near Yerushalayim, and that night the angel wiped out his camp (Sanhedrin 95a). The siege was only for part of a day. (PF)
What is "ha'Sochen"?
Rashi: He indulged in pleasures. Also "u'Sehi Lo Sochenes" (Melachim I, 1:2 refers to pleasure).
Rashi (from Vayikra Rabah 5:5): He was from Sichni, and came to Yerushalayim.
Radak, Targum Yonasan: It is one who stores. This is like "Arei Miskenos l'Pharaoh" (Shemos 1:11). He was appointed over Chizkiyah's storehouse. He wanted to hand the city over to Melech Ashur, and he conspired with some 1 people of the city. It says about him "Lo Somrun Kesher l'Chol Asher Yomeru ha'Am ha'Zeh Kesher" (above, 8:12), like I explained (refer to 8:12:1:1).
Sanhedrin 26a: Shevna and his cohorts were the majority, but since they were Resha'im, we do not follow them.
Why does it say "Al Shevna"?
Radak: Al is like El, e.g. "va'Tispalel Al Hashem" (Shmuel I, 1:10) is like El Hashem.
What is the meaning of "Asher Al ha'Bayis"?
Rashi: He was appointed over the Beis ha'Mikdash. Some say that he was Kohen Gadol 1 , and some say that he was Amarkal (over the Gizbarim).
Radak: He was appointed over Beis ha'Melech.
He is not listed in Divrei ha'Yamim I, 5:30-41 among the Kohanim who served in Bayis Rishon [and the Mishkan]! Perhaps this is because he became a Rasha. Tosfos (Yuma 9a DH v'Lo Shimshu) says that the Gemara counts only 18, but omits Serayah, for he was exiled and did not serve all his days. (PF)
