2 Chronicles 17:7

“Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, etc.] 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 l 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…”

“HE SENDS LEVITES TO TEACH IN JUDAH. (Ch2 17:7-11) Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, . . . to teach in the cities of Judah--The ordinary work of teaching devolved on the priests. But extraordinary commissioners were appointed, probably to ascertain whether the work had been done or neglected. This deputation of five princes, assisted by two priests and nine Levites, was to make a circuit of the towns in Judah. It is the first practical measure we read of as being adopted by any of the kings for the religious instruction of the people. Time and unbroken opportunities were afforded for carrying out fully this excellent plan of home education, for the kingdom enjoyed…”

“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. return to 'Top of Page'”

“To teach - To inform the people of their duty, and of the king's pleasure, as judges teach or instruct the people in the laws of the land, when they deliver their charges upon the bench; so did these princes in the king's name admonish and require the people to observe and obey the laws of God, which were the municipal laws of that land: the particular explication and enforcement whereof, they left to the Levites and priests here following, who were sent for this end, and accordingly taught the people, Ch2 17:9. 2 Chronicles 17:9”

“17:7-9 Jehoshaphat carried out the Lord’s requirement to know the law (Deut 5:1; 17:18-20), commissioning five royal officers, nine Levites, and two priests to instruct the people in the book of the covenant. Levites frequently functioned as teachers during the Second Temple period as well (Neh 8:7). • Some versions omit Tob-adonijah; it appears to be a scribal error of repetition.”

“am 3092, bc 912 he sent: In these verse we have an account of a remarkable itinerant ministry established by Jehoshaphat, in which three classes of men were employed: 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; that the Levites instructed them in every thing that appertained to the temple service, and ritual law; and that the Priests instructed them in the nature and design of their religion. Thus the nation became thoroughly instructed in their duty to God, to the king, and to each other; they therefore became as one man; and against a people thus united, on such…”