Why should Hashem see?
Rav Sadya Gaon: See and have mercy - to whom did You strike so, that women will eat their pampered, infant children, and Kohanim and Nevi'im will be killed in the Mikdash?!
Why does it say "l'Mi Olalta Ko Im Tochalnah
Ri Kara: To whom did You jest 1 like You jested with me?! Did one hear of a nation in which mothers ate their children?!
Palgei Mayim: On which nation did You bring such an affliction? Did this occur to them?!
Ri Kara (1:12): Olal with a Tov is an expression of jesting.
Who are "Olelei Tipuchim"?
Rashi: They are tender children that their mothers still raise them.
Rashi citing Yuma 38b: This refers to Do'eg ben Yosef. His mother used to measure him with her hands and give to the Mikdash gold equal to the amount that he grew. R. Avigdor - amidst dire hunger during the siege, she and other relatives ate him.
Ibn Ezra: Tipuchim is based on Tefach; women [pat their children - Magihah in Toras Chayim] in order that they will sleep.
Rid: Parents fix and raise children with their hands.
Why does it say "Im Yehareg b'Mikdash Hashem Kohen v'Navi"?
Rashi citing Yuma 38b: Hashem answers back - is it proper that you killed Zecharyah?! Zecharyah rebuked them when they came to bow to Yo'ash, and made him an idolatry - "v'Ru'ach Elokim Lavshah Es Zecharyah ben Yehoyada" (Divrei ha'Yamim II, 24:20; Tanchuma va'Era 9). He was a Kohen [Gadol] and Navi, and they killed him in the Azarah. R. Avigdor - they did another five Aveiros that day - they were Mechalel Shabbos and Yom Kipur via killing him, they served idolatry, were Metamei the Mikdash, and neglected offering the Tamid. The Gematriya of Im Yehareg equals that of Zecharyahu; the Gematriya of Im Yehareg b'Mikdash equals that of Zeh Neherag b'Yom ha'Kipurim.
Ri Kara: Kohanim were killed while serving.
