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)