And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
a Levite or descendant of Levi · definite article + noun, gentilic masculine plural absolute
Shemaiah
שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֡הוּshe.ma'.Ya.hu
H8098
Shemajah · proper noun, a man's name
Nethaniah
וּנְתַנְיָ֡הוּu.ne.tan.Ya.hu
H5418
Nethanjah · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
Zebadiah
וּזְבַדְיָ֡הוּu.ze.vad.Ya.hu
H2069
Zebadjah · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
Asahel
וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֡לva.'a.sa.h.'El
H6214
Asahel · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
Shemiramoth
וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹתu.she.mi.ri.mot
H8070
Shemiramoth · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
Jehonathan
וִֽיהוֹנָתָן֩vi.ho.na.Tan
H3083
Jehonathan · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
Adonijah
וַאֲדֹ֨נִיָּ֧הוּva.'a.Do.ni.Ya.hu
H138
Adonijah · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
Tobijah
וְטֽוֹבִיָּ֛הוּve.toi.Ya.hu
H2900
Tobijah · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
Tob-adonijah
וְט֥וֹבve.Tov
H2899
Tob-Adonijah · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֑םhal.vi.Yim
H3881
a Levite or descendant of Levi · definite article + noun, gentilic masculine plural absolute
Elishama
אֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע'e.li.sha.Ma'
H476
Elishama · proper noun, a man's name
Jehoram
וִֽיהוֹרָ֖םvi.ho.Ram
H3088
Jehoram · conjunction + proper noun, a man's name
priests
הַכֹּהֲנִֽיםha.ko.ha.Nim
H3548
literally one officiating · definite article + noun, common masculine plural absolute
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
Cross-references
2 Chronicles 19:8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of…
Ezra 7:1-6 Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
Malachi 2:7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).
Commentary
Matthew Henry on 2 Chronicles 17:1-9
Here we find concerning Jehoshaphat,
I. What a wise man he was. As soon as he came to the crown he strengthened himself against Israel, Ch2 17:1. Ahab, an active warlike prince, had now been three years upon the throne of Israel, the vigour of his beginning falling in with the decay of Asa's conclusion. It is probable that the kingdom of Israel had, of late, got ground of the kingdom of Judah and began to grow formidable to it; so that the first thing Jehoshaphat had to do was to make his part good on that side, and to check the growing greatness of the king of Israel, which he did so effectually, and without bloodshed, that Ahab soon courted his alliance, so far was he from giving him any d…
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 i…
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 king, and to each other…
Dictionary and topics
Adonijah — My Lord is Jehovah. (1.) The fourth son of David (2 Sam. 3:4). After the death of his elder brothers, Amnon and Absalom, he became heir-apparent to the throne. But Solomon, a younger brother, was…
Asahel — Made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot. When fighting against Ish-bosheth at Gibeon, in the army of his brother Joab, he was put to…
Elishama — Whom God hears. (1.) A prince of Benjamin, grandfather of Joshua (Num. 1:10; 1 Chr. 7:26). (2.) One of David’s sons (2 Sam. 5:16). (3.) Another of David’s sons (1 Chr. 3:6). (4.) A priest sent by…
Jehonathan — Whom Jehovah gave. (1.) One of the stewards of David’s store-houses (1 Chr. 27:25). (2.) A Levite who taught the law to the people of Judah (2 Chr. 17:8). (3.) Neh. 12:18.
Jehoram — Jehovah-exalted. (1.) Son of Toi, king of Hamath, sent by his father to congratulate David on the occasion of his victory over Hadadezer (2 Sam. 8:10). (2.) A Levite of the family of Gershom (1 Chr.…
Jehoshaphat — Jehovah-judged. (1.) One of David’s body-guard (1 Chr. 11:43). (2.) One of the priests who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem (1 Chr. 15:24). (3.) Son of Ahilud, “recorder” or annalist…
Joram — =Jeho’ram. (1.) One of the kings of Israel (2 Kings 8:16, 25, 28). He was the son of Ahab. (2.) Jehoram, the son and successor of Jehoshaphat on the throne of Judah (2 Kings 8:24).
Nethaniah — Given of Jehovah. (1.) One of Asaph’s sons, appointed by David to minister in the temple (1 Chr. 25:2, 12). (2.) A Levite sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the law (2 Chr. 17:8). (3.) Jer. 36:14. (4.) 2…
Shemaiah — Whom Jehovah heard. (1.) A prophet in the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:22-24). (2.) Neh. 3:29. (3.) A Simeonite (1 Chr. 4:37). (4.) A priest (Neh. 12:42). (5.) A Levite (1 Chr. 9:16). (6.) 1 Chr.…
Shemiramoth — Most high name. (1.) A Levite in the reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 17:8). (2.) A Levite in David’s time (1 Chr. 15:18, 20).
2 Chronicles 17:8 — meaning, Hebrew and Greek word study, commentary
And with them he sent Levites,.... With the five princes he sent nine Levites:
even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; of whom we nowhere else read; no doubt they were principal persons, and fit for the work they were sent about:
and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests; whose lips were to keep knowledge, and at whose mouth the law was to be sought, Malachi 2:7.
Tyndale Open Study Notes on 2 Chronicles 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.
Rashi on 2 Chronicles 17:8
And with them of the Levites were Shemaiah, Nethaniah, etc.
and with them were Elishama and Jehoram, the priests because it is incumbent upon the priests and the Levites to teach and to instruct, as it is written (Deut. 24:8): “in accordance with everything the priests, the Levites teach you.” The officers went with them because they [the people] would not disobey their orders, and [the officers went] to coerce them [the people] to heed them [the priests] and to observe [and] to do in accordance with the order of the judges. An example (ibid. 15:18): “Judges and law-enforcing officials shall you appoint for yourself”: Judges to judge the people, and law-enforcing officials to coerce them to…
Tob-adonijah — Good is Jehovah, my Lord, a Levite sent out by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people of Judah in the law (2 Chr. 17:8).
Tobadonijah — (Adonijah the good), one of the Levites sent by Jehoshaphat through the cities of Judah to teach the law to the people. (2 Chronicles 17:8) (B.C. 910.)
Tobijah — Id., a Levite sent out through Judah by Jehoshaphat to teach the people (2 Chr. 17:8).
Zebadiah — Gift of Jehovah. (1.) A son of Asahel, Joab’s brother (1 Chr. 27:7). (2.) A Levite who took part as one of the teachers in the system of national education instituted by Jehoshaphat (2 Chr. 17:7, 8).…
Adonijah · 2. A Levite — 2. A Levite
Asahel · General references — General references
Commandments · General scriptures concerning — General scriptures concerning
Elishama · 7. A priest sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the law — 7. A priest sent by Jehoshaphat to teach the law
Government · Maintains of public instruction — Maintains of public instruction
Jehonathan · 2. A Levite sent to instruct the people in the law — 2. A Levite sent to instruct the people in the law
Jehoram · people in the law — people in the law
Jehoshaphat · .Inaugurates system of public instruction in the law — .Inaugurates system of public instruction in the law
Levites, The · Services of: Teaching the people — Services of: Teaching the people
Missionary Work By Ministers · Exemplified: Levites — Exemplified: Levites
Nethaniah · who were to teach the law in — who were to teach the law in
Obadiah · 8. A prince of — 8. A prince of
School · State — State
Scriptures, The · Should be: Taught to ALL — Should be: Taught to ALL
Shemaiah · law — law
Shemiramoth · law — law
Tob-Adonijah · A Levite sent by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people in the law — A Levite sent by Jehoshaphat to instruct the people in the law
Tobijah · law — law
Word Of God · To be read publicly — To be read publicly
Zebadiah · 5. An itinerant Levite teacher — 5. An itinerant Levite teacher
Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).
