2 Chronicles 19

Chapter context

What is happening in 2 Chronicles 19?

templereformprayerjudgment

2 Chronicles 19 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as reforms and failures. Second Chronicles recounts Solomon’s temple, the Judahite kings, reform movements, the fall of Jerusalem, and Cyrus’s decree of return. Read this chapter with the wider themes of temple, reform, and prayer in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem. ² And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD. ³ Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God. ⁴ And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers. ⁵ And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, ⁶ And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment. ⁷ Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. ⁸ Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. ⁹ And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. ¹⁰ And what 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 wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass. ¹¹ And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.

Study helps

Glossary

Jehoshaphat Person v. 1-2, 4, 8: Jehovah-judged. (1. ) One of David’s body-guard ( 1 Chr. 11:43 ). (2. ) One of the priests who accompanied the removal of the ark to Jerusalem ( 1 Chr. 15:24 ).
Jerusalem Place v. 1, 4, 8: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jerusalem.
Hanani Person v. 2: God has gratified me, or is gracious. (1. ) One of the sons of Heman ( 1 Chr. 25:4 , 25). (2. ) A prophet who was sent to rebuke king Asa for entering into a league with Benhadad I., king of Syria, against Judah.
Jehu Person v. 2: Jehovah is he. (1. ) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah ( 1 Chr. 2:38 ). (2. ) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:3 ).
Beersheba Place v. 4: Well of the oath, or well of seven, a well dug by Abraham, and so named because he and Abimelech here entered into a compact ( Gen. 21:31 ). On re-opening it, Isaac gave it the same name ( Gen. 26:31-33 ). Modern identification: Tel Beer Sheva.
City People v. 5: The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain ( Gen. 4:17 ). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).
Amariah Person v. 11: Said by Jehovah. (1. ) One of the descendants of Aaron by Eleazar ( 1 Chr. 6:7 , 52). He was probably the last of the high priests of Eleazar’s line prior to the transfer of that office to Eli, of the line of Ithamar.
Zebadiah Person v. 11: Gift of Jehovah. (1. ) A son of Asahel, Joab’s brother ( 1 Chr. 27:7 ). (2. ) A Levite who took part as one of the teachers in the system of national education instituted by Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chr. 17:7 , 8).