2 Chronicles 19
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jehu’s Rebuke of Jehoshaphat
19 Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his home in Jerusalem in peace. 2 Then Jehu(A) son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him[a] and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Do you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?(B) Because of this, the Lord’s wrath is on you.(C) 3 However, some good is found in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles from the land and have decided to seek God.”(D)
Jehoshaphat’s Reforms
4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.(E) 5 He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city.(F) 6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.(G) 7 And now, may the terror of the Lord be on you. Watch what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with the Lord our God.”(H)
8 Jehoshaphat also appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites and priests and some of the heads of the Israelite families for deciding the Lord’s will and for settling disputes of the residents of[b] Jerusalem. 9 He commanded them, saying, “In the fear of the Lord, with integrity, and with a whole heart, you are to do the following: 10 for every dispute that comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities—whether it regards differences of bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, or judgments(I)—you are to warn them, so they will not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath will not come on you and your brothers.(J) Do this, and you will not incur guilt.
11 “Note that Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all matters related to the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all matters related to the king, and the Levites are officers in your presence. Be strong; may the Lord be with those who do what is good.”(K)
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 19:2 Lit to his face
- 2 Chronicles 19:8 LXX, Vg; MT reads disputes and they returned to
2 Chronicles 19
Common English Bible
19 Upon the safe arrival of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat to his palace in Jerusalem, 2 Jehu son of Hanani the seer came out to meet him and said, “Why did you help the wicked? Why have you loved those who hate the Lord? This is why the Lord is angry with you. 3 Nevertheless, there is some good to be found in you, in that you have removed the sacred poles[a] from the land and set your mind to seek God.”
Jehoshaphat’s reforms
4 Though Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, he regularly went out among the people between Beer-sheba and Ephraim’s highlands, and encouraged them to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges throughout the land in each of the fortified cities of Judah, 6 instructing them, “Be careful when you pass judgment. You aren’t dispensing justice by merely human standards but for the Lord, who is with you. 7 Therefore, respect the Lord and act accordingly, because there can be no injustice, playing favorites, or taking bribes when it comes to the Lord our God.”
8 Jehoshaphat also appointed judges in Jerusalem from among the Levites, the priests, and the family heads of Israel to administer the Lord’s Instruction and to settle disputes among those living[b] in Jerusalem. 9 He instructed them, “You must respect the Lord at all times, in truth, and with complete integrity. 10 In any case that comes before you from a fellow citizen in an outlying town, whether it involves bloodshed or is an issue of instruction, commandment, regulations, or case laws, you must warn them not to sin against the Lord, consequently making him angry with both you and your fellow citizen. Do this, and you won’t sin. 11 Amariah the chief priest will be in charge of all religious matters, and Zebadiah, Ishmael’s son, the leader of Judah’s house, will be in charge of all civil matters. The Levites will serve as your officers of the court. Carry out your duties with confidence, and may the Lord be with those who do good.”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 19:3 Heb asherot, perhaps objects devoted to the goddess Asherah
- 2 Chronicles 19:8 LXX, Vulg; MT they returned to Jerusalem
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