2 Chronicles 17:8

accompanied by certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah—along with the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — During the third year of his reign, King Jehoshaphat commissions a teaching delegation to travel through Judah’s cities, and this verse records the specific Levites and priests who join the royal officials he sent.

The words — הַלְוִיִּם (ha.Leviyyim) translates literally as "the Levites," identifying the religious class assigned to accompany the officials. וְעִמָּהֶם (ve-'immahem) means "and with them," marking the physical and administrative partnership described in the text.

The thread — This delegation model echoes in 2 Chronicles 19:8, where Jehoshaphat again appoints Levites and priests to administer justice, and aligns with the priestly teaching mandate in Malachi 2:7. The structural pattern of organized religious instruction recurs in Ezra 7:1 through the return of priestly and Levitical leadership.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that religious instruction in Judah required an official coalition of royal, Levitical, and priestly personnel. Readers must note the explicit listing of names to understand the deliberate, accountable structure Jehoshaphat established for teaching the Law.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְעִמָּהֶ֣םve./'i.ma./Hemand/ [were] with/ them הַלְוִיִּ֗םha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levites שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֡הוּshe.ma'.Ya.huShemaiah וּנְתַנְיָ֡הוּu./ne.tan.Ya.huand/ Nethaniah וּזְבַדְיָ֡הוּu./ze.vad.Ya.huand/ Zebadiah וַעֲשָׂהאֵ֡לva./'a.sa.h.'Eland/ Asahel וּשְׁמִֽירָמ֡וֹתu./she.mi.ri.motand/ Shemiramoth וִֽיהוֹנָתָן֩vi./ho.na.Tanand/ Jonathan וַאֲדֹ֨נִיָּ֧הוּva./'a.Do.ni.Ya.huand/ Adonijah וְטֽוֹבִיָּ֛הוּve./toi.Ya.huand/ Tobijah וְט֥וֹבve./Tovand/ Tob-אֲדוֹנִיָּ֖ה'a.do.ni.YahAdonijah הַלְוִיִּ֑םha/l.vi.Yimthe/ Levites וְעִמָּהֶ֛םve./'i.ma./Hemand/ [were] with/ them אֱלִישָׁמָ֥ע'e.li.sha.Ma'Elishama וִֽיהוֹרָ֖םvi./ho.Ramand/ Jehoram הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ha./ko.ha.Nimthe/ priests

King James Version

And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob–adonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 19:8 Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.
Ezra 7:1 Many years later, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

People named

AdonijahAsahelElishamaJehonathanJehoramNethaniahShemaiahShemiramothTobadonijahTobijahZebadiah