2 Chronicles 19
19
1Jehoshaphat returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem. 2But the prophet Jehu son of Hanani met him and said:
By helping that wicked Ahab, you have made friends with someone who hates the Lord. Now the Lord God is angry with you! 3But not everything about you is bad. You destroyed the sacred poles#19.3 sacred poles: See the note at 14.3. used in worshiping the goddess Asherah—that shows you have tried to obey the Lord.
Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges To Settle Cases
4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he often traveled through his kingdom, from Beersheba in the south to the edge of the hill country of Ephraim in the north. He talked with the people and convinced them to turn back to the Lord God and worship him, just as their ancestors had done.
5He assigned judges to each of the fortified cities in Judah 6and told them:
Be careful when you make your decisions in court, because you are judging by the Lord's standards and not by human standards, and he will know what you decide. 7So do your work in honor of him and know that he won't allow you to be unfair to anyone or to take bribes.
8Jehoshaphat also chose some Levites, some priests, and some of the family leaders, and he appointed them to serve as judges in Jerusalem. 9He told them:
Faithfully serve the Lord! 10The people of Judah will bring you legal cases that involve every type of crime, including murder. You must settle these cases and warn the people to stop sinning against the Lord, so that he won't get angry and punish Judah. Remember, if you follow these instructions, you won't be held responsible for anything that happens.
11Amariah the high priest will have the final say in any religious case. And Zebadiah, the leader#19.11 Zebadiah, the leader: Hebrew “Zebadiah son of Ishmael, who is the leader.” of the Judah tribe, will have the final say in all other cases. The rest of the Levites will serve as your assistants. Be brave, and I pray that the Lord will help you do right.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
2 Chronicles 19
19
2 Chronicles 19
1¶ And Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
2And Jehu, the son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet him and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should thou help the ungodly and love those that hate the Lord? Therefore, the wrath of the presence of the Lord shall be upon thee.
3Nevertheless, good things have been found in thee, in that thou hast burned down the groves of the land and hast prepared thy heart to seek God.
4And 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.
5¶ And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
6and said to the judges, Take heed what ye do, for ye do not judge for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the word of judgment.
7Therefore, 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 bribes.
8Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat placed some of the Levites and of the priests and of the heads of the fathers of Israel for the judgment of the Lord and for controversies. And they returned to Jerusalem.
9And he charged them, saying, Ye shall proceed thus in the fear of the Lord, in truth and with a perfect heart.
10In whatever case that shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes or rights, ye shall warn them lest they become guilty against the Lord so that wrath will not come upon you and upon your brethren. Doing thus, ye shall not be guilty.
11Behold, Amariah, the high priest, who shall be over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael, prince of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters; and the Levites who shall be teachers before you. Take courage and do, for the Lord shall be with the good.
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The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International