Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 17:9
They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the LORD. They went throughout the towns of Judah and taught the people.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jehoshaphat’s officials, Levites, and priests traveled through Judah’s towns to instruct the population. This action occurred during Jehoshaphat’s reign as part of his religious reforms to restore Torah observance.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַֽיְלַמְּדוּ (va/y.la.me.Du) denotes their active instruction, while סֵפֶר תּוֹרַת יְהוָה (Se.fer to.Rat Yah.weh) identifies the specific text they carried. The verb וַיָּסֻבוּ (va/i.ya.So.bu) emphasizes their circuitous movement through every town.
The thread — The emphasis on entrusted divine instruction connects to Romans 3:2, while the reference to the Book of the Law echoes the covenantal themes in Deuteronomy 6:4. The New Testament later applies this pattern of scriptural authority to Christ’s teaching in John 5:46.
Why it lands — The text states that teaching required both a mobile presence and a fixed written standard. It asks a reader to recognize that accurate instruction depends on carrying the authoritative text directly to every community.
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
King James Version
And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
Cross-references
- John 5:46 If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.
- Romans 3:2 Much in every way. First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.
- Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.
- Deuteronomy 31:11 when all Israel comes before the LORD your God at the place He will choose, you are to read this law in the hearing of all Israel.
- Joshua 1:7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
- 2 Chronicles 35:3 To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.
- Nehemiah 8:7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law as they stood in their places.
- Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
- Matthew 10:23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. Truly I tell you, you will not reach all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
- Matthew 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.