Jehoshaphat Reproved by Jehu

1And Iehoshaphat the King of Iudah returned safe to his house in Ierusalem. 2And Iehu the sonne of Hanani the Seer went out to meete him, and said to King Iehoshaphat, Wouldest thou helpe the wicked, and loue them that hate the Lorde? therefore for this thing the wrath of the Lord is vpon thee. 3Neuertheles good things are found in thee, because thou hast taken away ye groues out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seeke God.

Jehoshaphat’s Reforms

4So Iehoshaphat dwelt at Ierusalem, and returned & went through the people from Beer-sheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them againe vnto the Lord God of their fathers.

5And hee set iudges in the lande throughout all the strong cities of Iudah, citie by citie, 6And said to the iudges, Take heede what ye doe: for yee execute not the iudgements of man, but of the Lorde, and he will be with you in the cause and iudgement. 7Wherefore nowe let the feare of the Lorde be vpon you: take heede, and do it: for there is no iniquitie with the Lord our God, neither respect of persons, nor receiuing of reward.

8Moreouer in Ierusalem did Iehoshaphat set of the Leuites, and of the Priests and of the chiefe of the families of Israel, for the iudgement and cause of the Lord: & they returned to Ierusale. 9And he charged them, saying, Thus shall yee doe in the feare of the Lord faithfully and with a perfite heart. 10And in euery cause that shall come to you of your brethren that dwel in their cities, betweene blood and blood, betweene law and precept, statutes and iudgements, ye shall iudge them, and admonish them that they trespasse not against the Lord, that wrath come not vpon you and vpon your brethren. This shall ye do and trespasse not. 11And behold, Amariah the Priest shalbe the chiefe ouer you in all matters of the Lord, & Zebadiah ye sonne of Ishmael, a ruler of the house of Iudah, shalbe for al the Kings affaires, & the Leuites shalbe officers before you. Bee of courage, and doe it, and the Lord shalbe with the good.