19
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.”