1Jehoshaphat on his return is reproved by Jehu for having joined in alliance with Ahab. 4He visiteth his kingdom. 5His instructions to the judges whom he appointed in the cities of Judah; 8and to the priests and Levites, who exercised judgment at Jerusalem.
1AND Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
2And aJehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and blove them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
a 1Ki. 16.1. b 1Ki. 22.44. ch. 18.1. Ps. 139.21. 2Co. 6.14.
3Nevertheless there are cgood things found in thee, in that thou hast dtaken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
c 1Ki. 14.13. d ch. 17.4,6.
4And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and 1he went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to emount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
1Heb. he returned and went out.
e ch. 15.8.
5¶And he set fjudges in the land throughout all gthe fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
f De. 16.18. g ch. 17.2.
6And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for hye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you 2in the judgment.
2Heb. in the matter of judgment, Ec. 5.8.
h De. 1.17.
7Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it : for there is ino iniquity with the LORD our God, nor jrespect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
i De. 32.4. j De. 10.17.
8¶Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, kfor the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.
k v.11. Ac. 6.12,15. 1Ch. 26.30. ch. 17.7,8.
9And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do lin the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
l 2Sa. 23.3. Ex. 18.21. De. 1.16,17; 17.8; 5.31; 10.12. Ps. 82.1-6. Ec. 5.8.
10And mwhat cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they *trespass not against the LORD, and so nwrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.
*trespass-sin, transgress.
m De. 17.8. n Nu. 16.46. Is. 3.11. Ro. 2.8,9. Jos. 22.20. Eze. 3.18. Ho. 5.11.
11And, behold, oAmariah the chief priest is over you in all pmatters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, qfor all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. 3Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.
3Heb. take courage and do, Jos. 1.6,9. 1Ch. 22.11,16,19. 1Co. 16.13. 2Ti. 2.1. Ep. 6.10.
o 1Ch. 6.11. Ezr. 7.3. p 1Ch. 26.30. v.8. q 1Ch. 26.32.