2 Chronicles 19

Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat

1Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 21Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “2Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and 34so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord? 3But 56there is some good in you, for 7you have removed the 8Asheroth from the land and you 9have set your heart to seek God.”

4So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and 10brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers.

Reforms Instituted

5He appointed 11judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for 12you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you 13when you render judgment. 7Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; 14be very careful what you do, for 15the Lord our God will 16have no part in unrighteousness 17or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”

8In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some 18of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord and to judge 19disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 9Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 1020Whenever 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 21wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty. 11Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in 2223all that pertains to the Lord, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in 24all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. 2526Act resolutely, and the Lord be with the upright.”