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2 Chronicles 19
New English Translation

19 When King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned home safely to Jerusalem, 2 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] 3 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

4 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] 5 He appointed judges throughout the land and in each of the fortified cities of Judah.[j] 6 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. 7 Respect the Lord and make careful decisions, for the Lord our God disapproves of injustice, partiality, and bribery.”[l]

8 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] 9 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!”
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2 Chronicles 19
New International Version

19 When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, 2 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. 3 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

4 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. 5 He appointed judges(H) in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6 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. 7 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.”

8 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. 9 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
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2 Chronicles 19
King James Version

19 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.

3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.

4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers.

5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment.

7 Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.

9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

10 And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in your cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the Lord, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.

11 And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good.

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