THE COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION IN THE LAW.

(7) He sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail . . . to Michaiah.--Rather, He sent his princes, Ben- hail and Obadiah . . . and Michaiah. (The le "to," in the chronicler's idiom, marking the object of the verb.) If, however, Authorised Version were correct, the construction would not be unique, as the Speaker's Com mentary asserts. (Comp. 2Kings 5:7, "this man sendeth to me to recover a man," &c.)

Princes.--None of the personages mentioned in this and the following verse are otherwise known. The "five princes" were laymen of rank, and were accompanied by nine (eight) Levites and two priests.

Ben-hail.--Son of valour. A compound proper name, only occurring here, but analogous to Ben-hur. Ben-deker, and Ben-hesed in 1Kings 4:8-10. (The LXX. renders "the sons of the mighty." Syriac, "the chiefs of the forces;" apparently reading bne chail.)

Nethaneel.--Syriac, Mattanael; Arabic, Mattaniah, Michaiah. Syriac and Arabic, Malachiah.

Verses 7-9. - He sent; Hebrew, שָׁלַח. The Hebrew text distinctly says, he sent to his princes, not, "he sent his princes." The meaning is - he sent orders to his princes to see to it that Judah was taught (ver. 9) the book of the Law of the Lord (Leviticus 10:11; Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 17:18), not, indeed, without their own personal aid in whatever way able to be given, but systematically and with authority by the Levites and priests (Deuteronomy 33:10). This deeper fathoming of the needs of the time, and of what constituted its real safety, was greatly to the spiritual credit of Jehoshaphat. The references (2 Chronicles 15:3; 2 Chronicles 35:2-4, 10-12) are full of point. None of these princes, or Levites and priests, are elsewhere mentioned by name.

17:1-19 Jehoshaphat promotes religion in Judah, His prosperity. - Jehoshaphat found his people generally very ignorant, and therefore endeavoured to have them well taught. The public teaching of the word of God forms, in all ages, the great method of promoting the power of godliness. Thereby the understanding is informed, the conscience is awakened and directed. We have a particular account of Jehoshaphat's prosperity. But it was not his formidable army that restrained the neighbouring nations from attempting any thing against Israel, but the fear of God which fell upon them, when Jehoshaphat reformed his country, and set up a preaching ministry in it. The ordinances of God are more the strength and safety of a kingdom, than soldiers and weapons of war. The Bible requires use to notice the hand of God in every event, yet this is little regarded. But let all employ the talents they have: be faithful, even in that which is little. Set up the worship of God in your houses. The charge of a family is important. Why should you not instruct them as Jehoshaphat did his subjects, in the book of the law of the Lord. But be consistent. Do not recommend one thing, and practise another. Begin with yourselves. Seek to the Lord God of Israel, then call upon children and servants to follow your example.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 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.