And with them he sent Levites. — Rather, And with them were the Levites. The construction being changed. So LXX. and the Syriac. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 16:41-42; 1 Chronicles 15:18, for the same mode of enumeration, which is characteristic of the style of the chronicler.
Zebadiah. — Some MSS. and Syriac and Arabic read Zechariah.
Shemiramoth. — So LXX. and Vulg. (see 1 Chronicles 16:5; 1 Chronicles 15:18). The Heb. text is probably incorrect. Syriac and Arabic read instead Natûra.
Tob-adonijah. — This curious name occurs only here, and is perhaps a mere mistake arising out of the preceding Adonijah and Tobijah. The Syriac and Arabic omit it.
Priests. — The priests.
The commission was a mixed one of civil and ecclesiastical persons (comp. 1 Chronicles 13:1-2; 1 Chronicles 23:2; 1 Chronicles 24:6.)
And had the book of the law of the Lord. — And with them was the book of the law (teaching) of Jehovah. For the construction, compare 1 Chronicles 16:42. The writer evidently means the Pentateuch; and if this notice was derived by him from a contemporary source, e.g., the “words of Jehu the son of Hanani,” to which he refers as an authority for the reign (2 Chronicles 20:34), it would constitute an important testimony to the existence, if not of the five books, at least of an ancient collection of laws at this early date (circ. 850 B.C.).
And taught the people. — Taught among the people.