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. 2 Kings 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 1 Kings 4:8-10. (The LXX. renders “the sons of the mighty.” Syriac, “the chiefs of the forces;” apparently reading bnê chail.)
Nethaneel. — Syriac, Mattanael; Arabic, Mattaniah, Michaiah. Syriac and Arabic, Malachiah.