7 Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah who was next to the king.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Maaseiah was either an officer called "the king's son" (compare 1-Kings 22:26), or perhaps a son of Jotham, since Ahaz could hardly have had a son old enough to take part in the battle (compare 2-Chronicles 28:1).
Elkanah, as "second to the king," was probably the chief of the royal counselors.
And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son,.... Who therefore must have escaped being burnt in the valley of Hinnom, or only was caused to pass through the fire there, 2-Chronicles 28:3,
and Azrikam the governor of the house; steward or treasurer in the king's house, in the same office as Sheban was, Isaiah 22:15.
and Elkanah that was next to the king: prime minister of state.
Maaseiah the king's son--the sons of Ahaz being too young to take part in a battle, this individual must have been a younger son of the late King Jotham;
Azrikam the governor of the house--that is, "the palace"; and
Elkanah that was next to the king--that is, the vizier or prime minister (Genesis 41:40; Esther 10:3). These were all cut down on the field by Zichri, an Israelitish warrior, or as some think, ordered to be put to death after the battle. A vast number of captives also fell into the power of the conquerors; and an equal division of war prisoners being made between the allies, they were sent off under a military escort to the respective capitals of Syria and Israel [2-Chronicles 28:8].
In this battle, Zichri, an Ephraimite hero, slew three men who were closely connected with the king: Maaseiah, the king's son, i.e., not a son of Ahaz, for in the first years of his reign, in which this war arose, he cannot have had an adult son capable of bearing arms, but a royal prince, a cousin or uncle of Ahaz, as in 2-Chronicles 18:25; 2-Chronicles 22:11, etc. (cf. Caspari, loc. cit. S. 45ff.); Azrikam, a prince of the house, probably not of the house of God (2-Chronicles 31:13; 2-Chronicles 9:11), but a high official in the royal palace; and Elkanah, the second from the king, i.e., his first minister; cf. Esther 10:3; 1-Samuel 23:17.
*More commentary available at chapter level.