2 Chronicles 19

1-3 But Jehoshaphat king of Judah got home safe and sound. Jehu, son of Hanani the seer, confronted King Jehoshaphat: “You have no business helping evil, cozying up toGod-haters. Because you did this,Godis good and angry with you. But you’re not all bad—you made a clean sweep of the polluting sex-and-religion shrines; and you were single-minded in seeking God.”

4 Jehoshaphat kept his residence in Jerusalem but made a regular round of visits among the people, from Beersheba in the south to Mount Ephraim in the north, urging them to return toGod, the God of their ancestors.

5-7 And he was diligent in appointing judges in the land—each of the fortress cities had its judge. He charged the judges: “This is serious work; do it carefully. You are not merely judging between men and women; these areGod’s judgments that you are passing on. Live in the fear ofGod—be most careful, forGodhates dishonesty, partiality, and bribery.”

8-10 In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat also appointed Levites, priests, and family heads to decide on matters that had to do with worship and mediating local differences. He charged them: “Do your work in the fear ofGod; be dependable and honest in your duties. When a case comes before you involving any of your fellow citizens, whether it seems large (like murder) or small (like matters of interpretation of the law), you are responsible for warning them that they are dealing withGod. Make that explicit, otherwise both you and they are going to be dealing withGod’s wrath. Do your work well or you’ll end up being as guilty as they are.

11 “Amariah the chief priest is in charge of all cases regarding the worship ofGod; Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, is in charge of all civil cases; the Levites will keep order in the courts. Be bold and diligent. AndGodbe with you as you do your best.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/85/32k/2CH/19-d8408c6e28ee5cabfffee1355c516fdf.mp3?version_id=97—

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