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2 Chronicles 17 · a question people ask

What was "the book of the LORD’s law"?

In the text

The chapter gives only its name: "They taught in Judah, having the book of the LORD’s law with them" (17:9) (tap book and law). The WEB uses those words once more, in Josiah's day: "Hilkiah the priest found the book of the LORD’s law given by Moses" (34:14). The law for Israel's kings had said that the king "shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the Levitical priests" (Deuteronomy 17:18). 2 Chronicles 17 doesn't say whether the teachers carried the king's copy, or how much of the law their book held, and these notes don't guess.

The verses

“They taught in Judah, having the book of the LORD’s law with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.”
2 Chronicles 17:9 · World English Bible
“When they brought out the money that was brought into the LORD’s house, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the LORD’s law given by Moses.”
2 Chronicles 34:14 · World English Bible
“It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write himself a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the Levitical priests.”
Deuteronomy 17:18 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 17

2 Chronicles 17: Teachers in every city

In the third year of his reign Jehoshaphat sent princes, with Levites and priests, through all the cities of Judah, "having the book of the LORD’s law with them" (17:9). 1 Kings' account of his reign doesn't tell it, and the Hebrew verb for teach there, lamad, comes in 2 Chronicles only in this chapter.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions