2 Chronicles 17:7

_ALSO IN THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS REIGN HE SENT TO HIS PRINCES, EVEN TO BENHAIL, AND TO OBADIAH, AND TO ZECHARIAH, AND TO NETHANEEL, AND TO MICHAIAH, TO TEACH IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH._ Also in the third year of his reign he sent ... to teach in the cities of Judah. It does not appear that the ordinary work of teaching devolved on the priests. Their proper duty was to attend to the performance of the holy rites; besides which, from their sacred character recommending them as suitable arbiters and peacemakers, they were entrusted with the decision of controversies (Deuteronomy 17:8; Deuteronomy 21:5; Ezekiel 44:24), and the legal treatment of leprosy and divorce cases, ...

Verse 2 Chronicles 17:7. _TO TEACH IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH._] "To teach the _fear of the Lord_ in the cities of Judah."-_Targum_. In these verses we find a remarkable account of an _itinerant_ _ministry_ established by Jehoshaphat; and in this work he employed _three_ classes of men: 1. The _princes_. 2. The _Levites_. 3. The _priests_. We may presume that the _princes_ instructed the people in the nature of the _civil law_ and _constitution_ of the _kingdom_; the _Levites_ instructed them in every thing that appertained to the _temple service_, and _ritual law_; and the _priests_ instructed them in the _nature_ and _design_ of the _religion_ they professed. Thus the nation became thoroughly instructed in their duty to _God_, to

The princes were not sent as teachers themselves, but had the duty committed to them of seeing that the people were taught. The actual teachers were the priests and Levites of 2 Chronicles 17:8....

EXPOSITION To the contents of this chapter, and to the reign of Jehoshaphat, which occupies this and the following three chapters, the Book of Kings furnishes as yet no parallel. All that it has to say of Jehoshaphat now is summed up in one sentence (1 Kings 15:24), "And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead," till we arrive at the ten verses of 1 Kings 22:41-11, with their very slender sketch (see also 2 Kings 3:1). 2 CHRONICLES 17:1 JEHOSHAPHAT. In 2 Chronicles 2

ALSO IN THE THIRD YEAR OF HIS REIGN HE SENT TO HIS PRINCES,.... That dwelt in the several parts of the kingdom; or he sent them, being with him, some of the principal men of his court; for ל may be a sign of the accusative case, as it sometimes is: EVEN TO BENHAIL, AND TO OBADIAH, AND TO ZECHARIAH, AND TO NETHANEEL, AND TO MICHAIAH, TO TEACH IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH; to see that they were taught, and oblige them to attend to the instructions that should be given them, and not mutiny and rebel against their teachers; and to let them know what was the king's pleasure on this head, and to back with their authority the priests and Levites, whose proper work it was to instruct, and who therefore were sent with them, as follows....

2. REFORMATION UNDER JEHOSHAPHAT CHAPTER 17 Jehoshaphat's Reformation and Increase _ 1. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:1)_ 2. The revival under his reign (2 Chronicles 17:6) 3. His increase (2 Chronicles 17:10) Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa, began his reign by strengthening himself against Israel. The Lord was with him, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, which means David's faithful walk before his great sin. The Lord greatly blessed him by establishing his kingdom and in giving him riches and honor in abundance. The Lord kept all His promises. When Jehoshaphat saw the evidences of divine blessing, his heart was li

2 Chronicles 17:1 to 2 Chronicles 20:37. THE REIGN OF JEHOSHAPHAT. This section is, in the main, from the hand of the Chronicler, whose spirit and aim are visible throughout; he has utilised all the information concerning Jehoshaphat to be got from 1 K. viz. in 1 Kings 15:24; 1 Kings 22:1; 1 Kings 22:41 (see notes). 2 CHRONICLES 17:1 deals with Jehoshaphat's defensive measures; he is prosperous because he obeys the

PRINCES. These organized the Levites and priests (2 Chronicles 17:8) into. teaching mission. The first so recorded. TO TEACH. This was the special function of the priests. See notes on Deuteronomy 17:9; Deuteronomy 33:10....

7 9 (no parallel in 1 Kin.). Jehoshaphat's Provision for Teaching the Law 7. _he sent to his princes … to teach_ R.V. HE SENT HIS PRINCES, EVEN BEN-HAIL, AND OBADIAH, AND ZECHARIAH, AND NETHANEL, AND MICAIAH, TO TEACH....

HE SENT TO HIS PRINCES, EVEN TO BEN-HAIL, &C.— _He sent of his princes Ben-hail, Obadiah,_ &c. The proper business of these princes in their circuit round the kingdom, says Bishop Patrick, was to admonish and require the people to observe the laws of God, and to leave the particular explication and enforcement of them to those of the sacred order who went with them, supporting them in the execution of their office, and obliging the people to receive them with respect, to hear them with attention, and to practise what they taught....