Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat
19
Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. AJehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “BShould you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and 1Cso bring wrath on yourself from the Lord? But 1Athere is some good in you, for Byou have removed the 2Asheroth from the land and you Chave set your heart to seek God.”
So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and Abrought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.
Reforms Instituted
He appointed Ajudges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for Ayou do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you 1when you render judgment. Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; 1be very careful what you do, for 2the Lord our God will Ahave no part in unrighteousness Bor partiality or the taking of a bribe.”
In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some Aof the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord and to judge 1disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 10  AWhenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the Lord, and Bwrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty. 11  Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in 1Aall that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in 1all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. 2BAct resolutely, and the Lord be with the upright.”
A 19:2 1 Kin 16:1; 2 Chr 20:34 B 19:2 2 Chr 18:1, 3 1 19:2 Lit by this C 19:2 2 Chr 24:18 1 19:3 Lit good things are found A 19:3 2 Chr 12:12 B 19:3 2 Chr 17:6 2 19:3 I.e. wooden pillars C 19:3 2 Chr 12:14 A 19:4 2 Chr 15:8-13 A 19:5 Deut 16:18-20 A 19:6 Lev 19:15; Deut 1:17 1 19:6 Lit in the word of judgment 1 19:7 Lit be careful and do 2 19:7 Lit there is not with the Lord our God A 19:7 Gen 18:25; Deut 32:4 B 19:7 Deut 10:17, 18 A 19:8 2 Chr 17:8, 9 1 19:8 So the versions; Heb reads disputes. And they returned to Jerusalem, or And they lived in Jerusalem A 19:10 Deut 17:8 B 19:10 2 Chr 19:2 1 19:11 Lit every matter of A 19:11 2 Chr 19:8 1 19:11 Lit every matter of 2 19:11 Lit Be strong and do B 19:11 1 Chr 28:20