Jehu’s Rebuke of Jehoshaphat
1 King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned to his home in Jerusalem in peace. 2 Then Jehu 19:2 1Kg 16:1; 2Ch 20:34 son of the seer Hanani went out to confront him 19:2 Lit to his face and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Do you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? 19:2 2Ch 18:1,3 Because of this, the Lord’s wrath is on you. 19:2 2Ch 24:183 However, some good is found in you, for you have eradicated the Asherah poles from the land and have determined in your heart to seek God." 19:3 2Ch 12:14; 17:4,6
Jehoshaphat’s Reforms
4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 19:4 2Ch 15:8–135 He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city. 19:5 Dt 16:18–206 Then he said to the judges, "Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment. 19:6 Lv 19:15; Dt 1:177 And now, may the terror of the Lord be on you. Watch what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or taking bribes with the Lord our God." 19:7 Gn 18:25; Dt 10:17–18; 32:4
8 Jehoshaphat also appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites and priests and some of the Israelite family heads for deciding the Lord’s will and for settling disputes of the residents of 19:8 LXX, Vg; MT reads disputes and they returned to Jerusalem. 9 He commanded them, saying, "In the fear of the Lord, with integrity, and wholeheartedly, you are to do the following: 10 For every dispute that comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities — whether it regards differences of bloodguilt, law, commandment, statutes, or judgments 19:10 Dt 17:8 — you are to warn them, so they will not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath will not come on you and your brothers. 19:10 2Ch 19:2 Do this, and you will not incur guilt.
11 "Note that Amariah, the chief priest, is over you in all matters related to the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all matters related to the king, and the Levites are officers in your presence. Be strong; may the Lord be with those who do what is good." 19:11 1Ch 28:20