Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to (A)the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. He appointed (B)judges in the land in all (C)the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, (D)for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for (E)there is no injustice with the Lord our God, (F)or partiality or taking bribes.”

Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat (G)appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, (H)to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. And he charged them: (I)“Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, (J)and with your whole heart: 10 (K)whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and (L)wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you (M)in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. (N)Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 19:11 Hebrew the good

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(A) in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, “Consider carefully what you do,(B) because you are not judging for mere mortals(C) 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(D) or partiality(E) or bribery.”

In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites,(F) priests(G) and heads of Israelite families to administer(H) 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;(I) 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,(J) and may the Lord be with those who do well.”

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