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耶戶責備約沙法

19 猶大王約沙法平平安安回到耶路撒冷自己的王宮裡去。 先見哈拿尼的兒子耶戶出來迎見約沙法王,對他說:“你怎能幫助惡人,喜愛那恨惡耶和華的人呢?因此耶和華的忿怒必臨到你身上。 可是你還有善行,因為你從國中除掉亞舍拉,並且決心尋求 神。”

約沙法設立審判官

約沙法住在耶路撒冷,後來又出巡民間,從別是巴到以法蓮山地,領人民歸向耶和華他們列祖的 神。 他又在猶大境內的一切設防城中,都設立審判官; 他對他們說:“你們行事,必須謹慎;因為你們審判,不是為人,而是為耶和華;你們審判的時候,耶和華必和你們同在。 現在你們要敬畏耶和華;你們要謹慎行事,因為耶和華我們的 神沒有不義,不偏待人,也不受賄賂。”

約沙法又在耶路撒冷,從利未人、祭司和以色列各家族的首領中設立了一些人,替耶和華施行審判,為耶路撒冷的居民處理訴訟。 約沙法吩咐他們說:“你們要以敬畏耶和華的心,忠心和盡心辦事。 10 你們住在各城裡的同胞帶到你們面前的一切訴訟,無論是流血的事件,或是有關律法、誡命、律例和典章的訴訟,你們總要警告他們,免得他們得罪耶和華,以致耶和華的烈怒臨到你們和你們的同胞身上;你們必須這樣行,就沒有罪了。 11 所有屬於耶和華的事,有大祭司亞瑪利雅管理你們;所有屬於王的事,有猶大家的領袖以實瑪利的兒子西巴第雅管理你們;在你們面前也有利未人作官長。你們要勇敢行事;願耶和華和良善的人同在。”

先知責備約沙法

19 猶大王約沙法平安地回到耶路撒冷的宮中。 哈拿尼先見的兒子耶戶出來迎接約沙法王,對他說:「你怎能幫助惡人,愛那憎恨耶和華的人呢?你這樣做已經惹怒耶和華了。 然而你還有善行,因為你剷除境內的亞舍拉神像,立志尋求上帝。」

約沙法的改革

約沙法在耶路撒冷住了一段時間後,就出巡民間,從別示巴一直走到以法蓮山區,引導民眾歸向他們祖先的上帝耶和華。 他又在猶大各堅城委任審判官, 對他們說:「你們辦事必須謹慎,因為你們不是為人而是為耶和華斷案,你們斷案的時候,耶和華必與你們同在。 現在你們應當敬畏耶和華,謹慎辦事,因為我們的上帝耶和華毫無不義,不偏待人,不受賄賂。」

約沙法還在耶路撒冷委任一些利未人、祭司和以色列族長替耶和華斷案,審理訴訟。他們就住在耶路撒冷。 約沙法訓導他們說:「你們要懷著敬畏耶和華的心,全心全意地辦事。 10 各城中的同胞若把案件帶到你們面前,無論是殺人流血,還是有關律法、誡命、律例和典章的案件,你們都要警告他們不要得罪耶和華,免得耶和華的烈怒臨到你們和你們的同胞。你們這樣行,就沒有罪了。 11 凡有關耶和華的事,由亞瑪利雅大祭司監督你們;凡有關君王的事,由猶大支派的族長以實瑪利的兒子西巴第雅監督你們。利未人做官長協助你們。你們要行事勇敢,願耶和華與正直的人同在!」

先知责备约沙法

19 犹大王约沙法平安地回到耶路撒冷的宫中。 哈拿尼先见的儿子耶户出来迎接约沙法王,对他说:“你怎能帮助恶人,爱那憎恨耶和华的人呢?你这样做已经惹怒耶和华了。 然而你还有善行,因为你铲除境内的亚舍拉神像,立志寻求上帝。”

约沙法的改革

约沙法在耶路撒冷住了一段时间后,就出巡民间,从别示巴一直走到以法莲山区,引导民众归向他们祖先的上帝耶和华。 他又在犹大各坚城委任审判官, 对他们说:“你们办事必须谨慎,因为你们不是为人而是为耶和华断案,你们断案的时候,耶和华必与你们同在。 现在你们应当敬畏耶和华,谨慎办事,因为我们的上帝耶和华毫无不义,不偏待人,不受贿赂。”

约沙法还在耶路撒冷委任一些利未人、祭司和以色列族长替耶和华断案,审理诉讼。他们就住在耶路撒冷。 约沙法训导他们说:“你们要怀着敬畏耶和华的心,全心全意地办事。 10 各城中的同胞若把案件带到你们面前,无论是杀人流血,还是有关律法、诫命、律例和典章的案件,你们都要警告他们不要得罪耶和华,免得耶和华的烈怒临到你们和你们的同胞。你们这样行,就没有罪了。 11 凡有关耶和华的事,由亚玛利雅大祭司监督你们;凡有关君王的事,由犹大支派的族长以实玛利的儿子西巴第雅监督你们。利未人做官长协助你们。你们要行事勇敢,愿耶和华与正直的人同在!”

19 When King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned home safely to Jerusalem, the prophet[a] Jehu son of Hanani confronted him;[b] he said to King Jehoshaphat, “Is it right to help the wicked and be an ally of those who oppose the Lord?[c] Because you have done this, the Lord is angry with you![d] Nevertheless you have done some good things;[e] you removed[f] the Asherah poles from the land and you were determined to follow God.”[g]

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. He went out among the people from Beer Sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and encouraged them to follow[h] the Lord God of their ancestors.[i] He appointed judges throughout the land and in each of the fortified cities of Judah.[j] He told the judges, “Be careful what you do,[k] for you are not judging for men, but for the Lord, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions. Respect the Lord and make careful decisions, for the Lord our God disapproves of injustice, partiality, and bribery.”[l]

In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some Levites, priests, and Israelite family leaders to judge on behalf of the Lord[m] and to settle disputes among the residents of Jerusalem.[n] He commanded them: “Carry out your duties with respect for the Lord, with honesty, and with pure motives.[o] 10 Whenever your countrymen who live in the cities bring a case before you[p] (whether it involves a violent crime[q] or other matters related to the law, commandments, rules, and regulations), warn them that they must not sin against the Lord. If you fail to do so, God will be angry with you and your colleagues, but if you obey, you will be free of guilt.[r] 11 Take note, Amariah the chief priest will oversee[s] you in every matter pertaining to the Lord and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the family of Judah, in every matter pertaining to the king. The Levites will serve as officials before you. Act courageously,[t] and may the Lord be with those who do well!”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 19:2 tn Or “seer.”
  2. 2 Chronicles 19:2 tn Heb “went out to his face.”
  3. 2 Chronicles 19:2 tn Heb “and love those who hate the Lord?”
  4. 2 Chronicles 19:2 tn Heb “and because of this upon you is anger from before the Lord.”
  5. 2 Chronicles 19:3 tn Heb “nevertheless good things are found with you.”
  6. 2 Chronicles 19:3 tn Here בָּעַר (baʿar) is not the well attested verb “burn,” but the less common homonym meaning “devastate, sweep away, remove.” See HALOT 146 s.v. II בער.
  7. 2 Chronicles 19:3 tn Heb “and you set your heart to seek God.”
  8. 2 Chronicles 19:4 tn Heb “and turned them back to.”
  9. 2 Chronicles 19:4 tn Heb “fathers.”
  10. 2 Chronicles 19:5 tn Heb “in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.”
  11. 2 Chronicles 19:6 tn Heb “see what you are doing.”
  12. 2 Chronicles 19:7 tn Heb “and now let the terror of the Lord be upon you, be careful and act for there is not with the Lord our God injustice, lifting up of a face, and taking a bribe.”
  13. 2 Chronicles 19:8 tn Heb “for the judgment of the Lord.”
  14. 2 Chronicles 19:8 tc Heb “and to conduct a case [or “for controversy”], and they returned [to] Jerusalem.” Some emend וַיָּשֻׁבוּ (vayyashuvu, “and they returned”) to וַיֵּשְׁבוּ (vayyeshevu, “and they lived [in]”). The present translation assumes an emendation to יֹשְׁבֵי (yoshevey, “residents of”).
  15. 2 Chronicles 19:9 tn Heb “This you must do with the fear of the Lord, with honesty, and with a complete heart.”
  16. 2 Chronicles 19:10 tn Heb “and every case which comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities.”
  17. 2 Chronicles 19:10 tn Heb “between blood pertaining to blood.”
  18. 2 Chronicles 19:10 tn Heb “and anger will be upon you and your brothers; do this and you will not be guilty.”
  19. 2 Chronicles 19:11 tn Heb “will be over you.”
  20. 2 Chronicles 19:11 tn Heb “Be strong and act!”

19 When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, Jehu(A) the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked(B) and love[a] those who hate the Lord?(C) Because of this, the wrath(D) of the Lord is on you. There is, however, some good(E) in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles(F) and have set your heart on seeking God.(G)

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges(H) in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, “Consider carefully what you do,(I) because you are not judging for mere mortals(J) but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice(K) or partiality(L) or bribery.”

In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites,(M) priests(N) and heads of Israelite families to administer(O) the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. 10 In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord;(P) otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.

11 “Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage,(Q) and may the Lord be with those who do well.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 19:2 Or and make alliances with