Jehoshaphat's Reforms

2 Chronicles 19

1 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 But n Jehu the son of o Hanani p the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you q help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, r wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. 3 Nevertheless, s some good is found in you, for t you destroyed the Asherahs out of the land, and have u set your heart to seek God."

4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to v the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 5 He appointed w judges in the land in all x the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, "Consider what you do, y for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. 7 Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for z there is no injustice with the Lord our God, a or partiality or taking bribes."

8 Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat b appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, y to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them: c "Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, d and with your whole heart: 10 e whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and f wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you g in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. h Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!" 1

  1. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 20:34
    Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
    1 Kings 16:1
    And the word of the Lord came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying.
  2. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 16:7
    At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 9:9
    (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, "Come, let us go to the seer," for today's "prophet" was formerly called a seer.)
  4. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 18:1
    Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.
    2 Chronicles 20:37
    Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, "Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made." And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.
    Psalms 139:21
    Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord ? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
  5. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 19:10
    Whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt.
    2 Chronicles 24:18
    And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.
    2 Chronicles 32:25
    But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.
  6. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 12:12
    And when he humbled himself the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to make a complete destruction. Moreover, conditions were good in Judah.
    1 Kings 14:13
    And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something pleasing to the Lord, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.
  7. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 17:6
    His heart was courageous in the ways of the Lord. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.
  8. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 30:19
    Who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.
    Ezra 7:10
    For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
  9. Cross References
    Joshua 24:33
    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.
  10. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 16:18
    You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
  11. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 11:5
    Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah.
  12. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:17
    You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.
  13. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:4
    The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
    Job 8:3
    Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
    Job 34:10
    Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
    Genesis 18:25
    Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?
    Romans 9:14
    What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
  14. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 10:17
    For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
  15. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 17:8 - 9
    And with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram.
  16. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 19:6
    And said to the judges, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment.
  17. Cross References
    2 Samuel 23:3
    The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God.
  18. Cross References
    1 Kings 8:61
    Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.
  19. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 17:8
    If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose.
  20. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 19:2
    But 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 has gone out against you from the Lord.
  21. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 26:30
    Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, 1,700 men of ability, had the oversight of Israel westward of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king.
    1 Chronicles 26:32
    King David appointed him and his brothers, 2,700 men of ability, heads of fathers' houses, to have the oversight of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites for everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
  22. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 28:10
    Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.
    Ezra 10:4
    Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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