2 Chronicles 19:1-11
1 When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, 2 Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, the wrath of the Lord is on you. 3 There is, however, some good in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles and have set your heart on seeking God.”
4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6 He told them, “Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. 7 Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
8 In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. 9 He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. 10 In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.
11 “Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.”
Jehoshaphat king of Judah came back safely to his palace in Jerusalem...Jehu son of Hanani went out to meet him...Jehu was a seer...He said to King Jehoshaphat, “Why did you help evil people?...Why do you love those who hate the LORD?...That is the reason the LORD is angry with you...But there is some good in you...You took the Asherah idols out of this country...And you have wanted to obey God.”...
Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem...He went out again to be with the people...He went from Beersheba to the mountains of Ephraim...He brought these people back to the LORD, the God their ancestors followed...Jehoshaphat appointed judges in all the land...He appointed judges for each of the strong, walled cities of Judah...Jehoshaphat said to them, “Be careful in what you do...This is because you are not judging for people but for the LORD...He will be with you when you make a decision...Now let each of you fear the LORD...Be careful in what you do because the LORD our God wants people to be fair...He wants all people to be treated the same...And He doesn’t want people to accept money to change their judgments.”...And in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and leaders of Israelite families to be judges...They were to decide cases about the law of the LORD...And they were to settle problems between the people who lived in Jerusalem...Jehoshaphat gave them commands...He said, “You must always serve the LORD completely...You must fear Him...You will have cases about killing, about the teachings, commands, rules or some other law...These cases will come from your people living in the cities...In all these cases you must warn the people not to sin against the LORD...If you don’t, the LORD will be angry with you and your people...But if you warn them, you won’t be guilty...“Amariah is the leading priest...He will be over you in all cases about the LORD...Zebadiah son of Ishmael is a leader in the tribe of Judah...He will be over you in all cases about the king...Also, the Levites will serve as officers for you...Have courage...May the LORD be with those who do what is right.”...