Könige II 8:20 Kommentar: Rashi

And appointed a king over themselves. From the time of Dovid they did not have a king, as it is stated, “There was no king in Edom,.”¹⁸I Melochim 22:48. [and] “And he appointed governors in Edom.”¹⁹II Shmuel 8:14. Eight kings reigned in Edom before a king reigned in Yisroel, they are listed in the Book of Bereishis.²⁰See Bereishis 36:31-43, and Rashi there. The eight kings are listed in Bereishis Rabboh 83:2. However, Bereishis Rabboh lists Shaul as one of the eight and omits Yehorom because during Yehorom’s reign, Edom was ruled by a king. Corresponding to them, eight kings reigned in Yisroel: Ish-Boshes, Dovid, Shlomo, Rechovom, Aviyom, Asa, Yehoshophot, and Yehorom, while Edom had no king.²¹See above 3:9. What is written above that the king of Edom²²I Melochim 22:48. went with Yehorom son of Achov, and with Yehoshophot, to war against the king of Mo’av [can be explained that] he was not a real king, but a governor, who is also referred to as a king, as it is stated, “There was no king in Edom, the governor was king.”²³I.e., Yorom attacked and struck the Edomites who were near the border. The governor served instead of a king.