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2 Chronicles 19
Jehoshaphat comes home safe from Ahab's disastrous war, and the seer Jehu meets him with a stinging question: should he have helped the wicked and loved those who hate the LORD? Wrath is on him, yet Jehu grants that good is still found in him. The rebuke prompts action. Jehoshaphat tours the land from Beersheba to Ephraim and reorganizes justice, appointing judges in the fortified cities and a court in Jerusalem.
- 1
Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
- 2
Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath is on you from before the LORD.
- 3
Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”
- 4
Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
- 5
He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,
- 6
and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, for you don’t judge for man, but for the LORD; and he is with you in the judgment.
- 7
Now therefore let the fear of the LORD be on you. Take heed and do it; for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.”
- 8
Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites, priests, and heads of the fathers’ households of Israel to give judgment for the LORD and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.
- 9
He commanded them, saying, “You shall do this in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
- 10
Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty toward the LORD, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.
- 11
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, in all the king’s matters. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good.”
Judging for the LORD, not for man
His charge to the judges is the chapter's heart (vv.6-7): they do not judge for man but for the LORD, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. Fear of the LORD is set as the standard for the bench.
In Jerusalem he splits jurisdiction, Amariah over the LORD's matters and Zebadiah over the king's (v.11), an early separation of sacred and civil cases rooted in reform after his misalliance.
Context layers
Keep these closed by default and open them only when you want more context.
- Fear of the LordWhat the fear of the Lord means in the Bible, how it relates to wisdom, reverence, obedience, and trust.
- FaithWhat faith means in the Bible, how it differs from vague belief, and how to read it without turning it into self-confidence.
- JudgmentWhat judgment means in the Bible, how it relates to justice, mercy, and final accountability, and where to read it without flattening it into threat or embarrassment.
- PeaceWhat peace means in the Bible, how it relates to reconciliation with God, and why it is more than calm feelings or conflict avoidance.
- Proverbs 1:7Key passage connected to Fear of the Lord.
- Psalms 111:10Key passage connected to Fear of the Lord.
- Luke 12:4-7Key passage connected to Fear of the Lord.
- Hebrews 11:1-6Key passage connected to Faith.
- Romans 1:16-17Key passage connected to Faith.
- Galatians 2:20Key passage connected to Faith.
- Isaiah 33:22Key passage connected to Judgment.
- Romans 2:5-8Key passage connected to Judgment.
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