What is "Ol Subalo"?
Rashi: The yoke that was a burden for Chizkiyah.
Malbim: The servitude to Melech Ashur is depicted as an ox. Its owner bends its shoulder to work the land. There is (a) a yoke on its neck, (b) the owner goes by it and cruelly bends its shoulder via the yoke, and (c) the staff used to hit it constantly. Melech Ashur (a) imposed a heavy tax ("Ol Subalo"), (b) was a cruel tyrant, who bent [Yisrael's] shoulder to bear his tax, (c) his army and camp were a staff that struck whenever they did not obey his command.
What is the meaning of "Mateh Shichmo"?
Rashi: [Melech Ashur] bent Chizkiyah's shoulder to pay a heavy tax.
Malbim: Refer to 9:3:1:2.
What is "Shevet ha'Nogesh Bo"?
Rashi: [Melech Ashur] used to press Shevet Yehudah b'Chizkiyah 1 .
Radak: [Melech Ashur] was a Shevet (staff) that pressed on Yisrael.
Malbim: Refer to 9:3:1:2
Perhaps the text should say 'b'Chazakah'. I did not find this in texts of Rashi, but Cheshek Shlomo's text supports this. (PF)
What is the meaning of "Hachitosa"?
Rashi: You broke [them] together, in one night.
Radak: You broke the staff [against Yisrael].
Malbim: Sometimes [a subjugated nation] casts off the yoke and tax, but the evil tyrant persists. Sometimes also the tyrant dies, but his army and camp (the staff) are intact (refer to 9:3:1:2). When Sancheriv fell, they were saved from all of them at once. The tax ceased; Sancheriv's sons killed him 1 , and his camp was killed out.
Even had he lived, he was powerless. Sanhedrin 95b says that Sancheriv disguised himself to evade the shame over his awesome defeat! Perhaps had he lived, eventually he would have risen to power again. We find that Sisera's entire army was wiped out, yet the primary salvation was his death (Shoftim 4:9, 16, 22). (PF)
What is "k'Yom Midyan"?
Rashi (from Vayikra Rabah 28:6): In the days of Gid'on. Also [Midyan] fell together in one night, on the night of reaping the Omer 1 - "v'Hinei Tzelil Se'orim Mis'hapech b'Machaneh Midyan" (Shoftim 7:13). Radak - this is like it says "Aseh Lahem k'Midyan" (Tehilim 83:10). It was a great miracle - Gid'on and 300 men struck all of Machaneh Midyan, who were numerous like locusts, with camels beyond number.
Malbim: Both of these were in the merit of the Omer.
