Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

2 Chronicles 17:7

In the third year of his reign he sent his officials—excellent men, every one of them—Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah on a teaching mission to the cities of Judah. They were accompanied by Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah; the priests Elishama and Jehoram were also in the company. They made a circuit of the towns of Judah, teaching the people and using the Book of The Revelation of God as their text.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ben-Hail;   Commandments;   Government;   Instruction;   Jehoshaphat;   Law;   Michaiah;   Minister, Christian;   Nethaneel;   Obadiah;   Religion;   Rulers;   School;   Word of God;   Zechariah (Zecharias);   Thompson Chain Reference - Instruction;   Jehoshaphat;   Spiritual;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;   Scriptures, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jehoshaphat;   Jerusalem;   Obadiah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jehoshaphat;   Levite;   Priest;   Teacher;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Levite;   Teach, Teacher;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Preaching;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jehoshaphat;   Michaiah;   Nethaneel;   Obadiah;   Zebadiah;   Zechariah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Benhail;   Education;   Jehoshaphat;   Michaiah;   Nethaneel;   Obadiah;   Priest;   Synagogue;   Zechariah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ben-Hail;   Chronicles, Books of;   Education in Bible Times;   Elishama;   High Place;   Levites;   Michaiah;   Nethaneel;   Nethaniah;   Obadiah;   Preaching in the Bible;   Zechariah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adonijah;   Ben-Hail;   Chronicles, I;   Micah, Micaiah;   Nethanel;   Obadiah;   Zechariah;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Benhail ;   Jehoshaphat ;   Michaiah ;   Nethaneel ;   Obadiah ;   Zechariah ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Nathanael;   Obadiah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Priest;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ben-Ha'il;   Micha'iah;   Nethan'e-El;   Obadi'ah;   Zechari'ah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Asahel;   Ben-Hail;   Jehoshaphat (2);   Micah (2);   Micaiah;   Nethanel;   Obadiah;   Teach;   Zechariah (1);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Education;   Jehoshaphat;   Obadiah;   Scroll of the Law;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials—Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah—to teach in the cities of Judah.
Hebrew Names Version
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-Hayil, and `Ovadyah, and Zekharyah, and Netan'el, and Mikhayahu, to teach in the cities of Yehudah;
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
New Century Version
During the third year of his rule, Jehoshaphat sent his officers to teach in the towns of Judah. These officers were Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
New English Translation
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah.
Amplified Bible
Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
New American Standard Bible
Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
World English Bible
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
Geneva Bible (1587)
And in the thirde yere of his reigne he sent his princes, Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethaneel, and Michaiah, that they should teach in the cities of Iudah,
Legacy Standard Bible
Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
Berean Standard Bible
In the third year of his reign, Jehoshaphat sent his officials Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah,
Contemporary English Version
In the third year of Jehoshaphat's rule, he chose five officials and gave them orders to teach the Lord 's Law in every city and town in Judah. They were Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
Complete Jewish Bible
In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men Ben-Chayil, ‘Ovadyah, Z'kharyah, N'tan'el and Mikhayahu to teach in the cities of Y'hudah;
Darby Translation
And in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethaneel, and Micah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
Easy-to-Read Version
During the third year of Jehoshaphat's rule, he sent his leaders to teach in the towns of Judah. These leaders were Ben Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
George Lamsa Translation
Also in the third year of his reign he sent and called his princes and the commanders of the armies, even to Obadiah, Zechariah, Nathanael, Melachiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
Good News Translation
In the third year of his reign he sent out the following officials to teach in the cities of Judah: Benhail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
Lexham English Bible
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
Literal Translation
And in the third year of his reign, he sent for his leaders, for Ben-hail, and for Obadiah, and for Zechariah, and for Nethaneel, and for Michaiah, in order to teach in the cities of Judah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
In the thirde yeare of his reigne sent he his prynces, Benhail, Obadia, Zacharias, Nethaneel & Michaia, to teach in the cities of Iuda:
American Standard Version
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
Bible in Basic English
In the third year of his rule he sent Benhail and Obadiah and Zechariah and Nethanel and Micaiah, his captains, as teachers into the towns of Judah;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In the third yere of his raigne he sent to his lordes, euen to Benhail, Obadia, Zacharia, Nethanel, and to Michaiahu, that they shoulde teache in the cities of Iuda:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
King James Version (1611)
Also in the third yeere of his reigne, hee sent to his princes, euen to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Iudah:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And in the third year of his reign, he sent his chief men, and his mighty men, Abdias and Zacharias, and Nathanael, and Michaias, to teach in the cities of Juda.
English Revised Version
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben–hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe in the thridde yeer of his rewme he sente of hise princes Benail, and Abdie, and Zacarie, and Nathanael, and Mychee, that thei schulden teche in the citees of Juda;
Update Bible Version
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
Webster's Bible Translation
Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, [even] to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
New King James Version
Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
New Living Translation
In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent his officials to teach in all the towns of Judah. These officials included Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
New Life Bible
In the third year of his rule, Jehoshaphat sent his leaders to teach in the cities of Judah. He sent Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah.
New Revised Standard
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, in the third year of his reign, he sent to his rulers, even to Ben-hail and to Obadiah and to Zechariah, and to Nethanel, and to Micaiah, - that they were to teach throughout the cities of Judah;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And in the third year of his reign, he sent of his princes Benhail, and Abdias, and Zacharias, and Nathanael, and Micheas, to teach in the cites of Juda:
Revised Standard Version
In the third year of his reign he sent his princes, Ben-hail, Obadi'ah, Zechari'ah, Nethan'el, and Micai'ah, to teach in the cities of Judah;
Young's Literal Translation
And in the third year of his reign he hath sent for his heads, for Ben-Hail, and for Obadiah, and for Zechariah, and for Nethaneel, and for Michaiah, to teach in cities of Judah,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;

Contextual Overview

1Asa's son Jehoshaphat was the next king; he started out by working on his defense system against Israel. He put troops in all the fortress cities of Judah and deployed garrisons throughout Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured. God was on Jehoshaphat's side because he stuck to the ways of his father Asa's early years. He didn't fool around with the popular Baal religion—he was a seeker and follower of the God of his father and was obedient to him; he wasn't like Israel. And God secured the kingdom under his rule, gave him a firm grip on it. And everyone in Judah showed their appreciation by bringing gifts. Jehoshaphat ended up very rich and much honored. He was single-minded in following God ; and he got rid of the local sex-and-religion shrines. 7In the third year of his reign he sent his officials—excellent men, every one of them—Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah on a teaching mission to the cities of Judah. They were accompanied by Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah; the priests Elishama and Jehoram were also in the company. They made a circuit of the towns of Judah, teaching the people and using the Book of The Revelation of God as their text.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

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 principles, no enemy could be successful. Deuteronomy 4:5, Psalms 34:11, Psalms 51:13, Ecclesiastes 1:12, Ecclesiastes 12:9, Ecclesiastes 12:10, Isaiah 49:23

to teach: 2 Chronicles 15:3, 2 Chronicles 30:22, 2 Chronicles 35:3, Deuteronomy 33:10, Nehemiah 8:7, Nehemiah 8:8, Nehemiah 8:13, Nehemiah 8:14, Nehemiah 9:3, Matthew 4:23, Mark 4:2, Luke 4:43, Luke 4:44, Acts 1:1

Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:42 - General Numbers 21:18 - princes 2 Chronicles 34:30 - he read Ezra 7:25 - teach ye Nehemiah 8:2 - congregation

Cross-References

Genesis 17:9
God continued to Abraham, "And you: You will honor my covenant, you and your descendants, generation after generation. This is the covenant that you are to honor, the covenant that pulls in all your descendants: Circumcise every male. Circumcise by cutting off the foreskin of the penis; it will be the sign of the covenant between us. Every male baby will be circumcised when he is eight days old, generation after generation—this includes house-born slaves and slaves bought from outsiders who are not blood kin. Make sure you circumcise both your own children and anyone brought in from the outside. That way my covenant will be cut into your body, a permanent mark of my permanent covenant. An uncircumcised male, one who has not had the foreskin of his penis cut off, will be cut off from his people—he has broken my covenant."
Genesis 17:17
Abraham fell flat on his face. And then he laughed, thinking, "Can a hundred-year-old man father a son? And can Sarah, at ninety years, have a baby?"
Genesis 28:13
Then God was right before him, saying, "I am God , the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. I'm giving the ground on which you are sleeping to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will be as the dust of the Earth; they'll stretch from west to east and from north to south. All the families of the Earth will bless themselves in you and your descendants. Yes. I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you."
Exodus 3:6
Then he said, "I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:15
God continued with Moses: "This is what you're to say to the Israelites: ‘ God , the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.' This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Chronicles 17:7-9. 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. They became, therefore, as one man; and against a people thus united, on such principles, no enemy could be successful.


 
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