2 Chronicles 19
New American Standard Bible
Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat
19 Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 (A)And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “(B)Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord, and [a](C)by doing so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord? 3 But [b](D)there is some good in you, for (E)you have removed the [c]Asheroth from the land and you (F)have set your heart to seek God.”
4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and (G)brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.
Reforms Instituted
5 He appointed (H)judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6 He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for (I)you do not judge for mankind but for the Lord who is with you [d]when you render judgment. 7 Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be careful [e]about what you do, for [f]the Lord our God will (J)have no part in injustice (K)or partiality, or in the taking of a bribe.”
8 In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat also appointed some (L)of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and [g]to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 9 Then he commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 10 (M)Whenever any dispute comes to you from your countrymen who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they will not be guilty before the Lord, and (N)wrath will not come on you and your countrymen. This you shall do and you will not be guilty. 11 Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in (O)every matter [h]that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. [i](P)Act resolutely, and may the Lord be with the upright.”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 19:2 Lit by this
- 2 Chronicles 19:3 Lit good things are found
- 2 Chronicles 19:3 I.e., wooden symbols of a female deity
- 2 Chronicles 19:6 Lit in the word of judgment
- 2 Chronicles 19:7 Lit and do
- 2 Chronicles 19:7 Lit it is not with the Lord our God
- 2 Chronicles 19:8 As in ancient versions; MT for the dispute. And they returned to Jerusalem; or And they lived in Jerusalem
- 2 Chronicles 19:11 Lit of
- 2 Chronicles 19:11 Lit Be strong and do
2 Chronicles 19
Lexham English Bible
Jehoshaphat’s Reforms
19 Then Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. 2 And Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. And he said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you be a help to the wicked and love those who hate Yahweh? On account of this, wrath has come against you from Yahweh. 3 Nevertheless some good things have been found in regard to you, for you burned the Asherahs out of the land and set your heart to seek God.”
4 And Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and returned and went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.[a] 5 And he appointed judges in the land and in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6 And he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you are not judging for a man but for Yahweh. Now he is with you in speaking justice. 7 So now, let the fear of Yahweh be upon you all. Be careful what you do,[b] for there is neither wickedness nor showing partiality[c] and taking bribes with Yahweh our God.”
8 Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites and the priests and heads of the families[d] of Israel as judges and to decide legal disputes for Yahweh. And they sat[e] in Jerusalem. 9 And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you must do in the fear of Yahweh in faithfulness and with a whole heart. 10 Any legal dispute that comes before you from your brothers who live in their cities concerning bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, and justice, you must warn them, so that they do not incur guilt before Yahweh, and that wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you must do that you do not incur guilt. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the word of Yahweh, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all matters of the king, and the Levites shall be before you as officials. Be strong and do well! May Yahweh be with the upright.”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 19:4 Or “fathers”
- 2 Chronicles 19:7 Literally “Keep and do”
- 2 Chronicles 19:7 Literally “lifting faces”
- 2 Chronicles 19:8 Literally “fathers”
- 2 Chronicles 19:8 Or “lived”
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