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19 Forsooth Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, turned again peaceably into his house into Jerusalem. (And Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, returned safely to his house, that is, his palace, in Jerusalem.)

Whom the prophet Jehu, the son of Hanani met, and said to him, Thou givest help to a wicked man, and thou art joined by friendship to them that hate the Lord; and therefore soothly thou deservedest the wrath of the Lord;

but good works be found in thee, for thou hast done away [the] maumet woods from the land of Judah, and thou hast made ready thine heart, for to seek the Lord God of thy fathers. (but good works be found done by thee, for thou hast done away the idol groves, or the sacred poles, from the land of Judah, and thou hast directed thy heart to seek the Lord God of thy fathers.)

Therefore Jehoshaphat dwelled in Jerusalem; and again he went out to the people from Beersheba to the hill of Ephraim, and he called them again to the Lord God of their fathers. (And so Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem; but he went out among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and he brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers.)

And he ordained judges of the land in all the strengthened cities of Judah, by each place. (And he ordained judges of the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, at each place.)

And he commanded to the judges, and said to them, See ye, that is, be ye ware, what ye do; for ye use not the doom of man, but doom of the Lord; and whatever thing ye deem unjustly, it shall turn against you; (And he commanded to the judges, and said to them, Be ye ware what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord; and whatever thing ye judge unjustly, it shall return to you;)

the dread of the Lord be with you (let the fear of the Lord/let reverence for the Lord be with you), and do ye all things with diligence, that is, with discretion; forsooth with the Lord your God (there) is no wickedness, neither taking, or accepting, of persons, neither covetousness of gifts.

And also in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat ordained deacons, and priests, and the princes of the families of Israel, that they should deem the doom and the cause of the Lord, to the dwellers of Jerusalem. (And in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat ordained the Levites, and the priests, and the leaders of the families of Israel, to declare the judgement of the Lord, and to administer the civil laws, for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.)

And he commanded to them, and said, Thus ye shall do in the dread of the Lord, faithfully, and in perfect heart. (And he commanded to them, and said, Thus ye shall do in the fear of the Lord/in reverence for the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.)

10 Each cause that cometh to you of your brethren, that dwell in their cities, betwixt kindred and kindred, wherever is question of the law, (or) of the commandment, or of ceremonies, either sacrifices, or of justifyings, show ye to them, that they do not sin against the Lord, and that wrath of the Lord come not upon you, and upon your brethren. Therefore ye doing thus shall not do sin. (Each cause, or case, that cometh to you of your kinsmen, who live in their cities, between kindred and kindred, wherever there is a question of the law, or of the commandment, or of ceremonies, or sacrifices, or of statutes, show ye to them, so that they do not sin against the Lord, and that the Lord’s anger come not upon you, and upon your kinsmen. And by doing so, ye shall do no sin.)

11 And Amariah, your priest and bishop, shall be sovereign in these things, that pertain to God. And Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael, that is duke in the house of Judah, shall be sovereign upon the works that pertain to the office of the king, and ye (shall also) have master deacons before you; be ye comforted, and do ye diligently, that is, studiously, or busily, and the Lord shall be with you in goods. (And your High Priest Amariah, shall be the ruler in these things that pertain to God. And Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael, who is the leader in the house of Judah, shall be the ruler, or the overseer, of the works that pertain to the office of the king, and ye shall also have the Levites before you; so be ye strengthened, and do ye diligently, that is, studiously, or busily, and the Lord shall be on the side of the good.)

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

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(H) in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 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. 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.”

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. 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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jehoshaphat’s Additional Reforms

19 Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani (A)the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and (B)love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the (C)wrath of the Lord is upon you. Nevertheless (D)good things are found in you, in that you have removed the [a]wooden images from the land, and have (E)prepared your heart to seek God.”

The Reforms of Jehoshaphat

So Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the mountains of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord God of their (F)fathers. Then he set (G)judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, and said to the judges, “Take heed to what you are doing, for (H)you do not judge for man but for the Lord, (I)who is with you [b]in the judgment. Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for (J)there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no (K)partiality, nor taking of bribes.”

Moreover in Jerusalem, for the judgment of the Lord and for controversies, Jehoshaphat (L)appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the chief fathers of Israel, [c]when they returned to Jerusalem. And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall act (M)in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and with a loyal heart: 10 (N)Whatever case comes to you from your brethren who dwell in their cities, whether of bloodshed or offenses against law or commandment, against statutes or ordinances, you shall warn them, lest they trespass against the Lord and (O)wrath come upon (P)you and your brethren. Do this, and you will not be guilty. 11 And take notice: (Q)Amariah the chief priest is over you (R)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 will be officials before you. Behave courageously, and the Lord will be (S)with the good.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 19:3 Or Asherim, Heb. Asheroth
  2. 2 Chronicles 19:6 Lit. in the matter of the judgment
  3. 2 Chronicles 19:8 LXX, Vg. for the inhabitants of Jerusalem