And he charged them ,.... The members of the court at Jerusalem: saying, thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart ; judge righteously and impartially, as men fearing God, true to the trust reposed in them, and sincere and upright in heart and actions, having nothing else in view but the glory of God, and the good of men. read more
The third chapter in Jehoshaphat's career. In this chapter, regarded for the time in the light of a third chapter in the biography of Jehoshaphat, we are enabled to gauge, not altogether unsatisfactorily, his character as respects the measure of right and wrong in it, and of good and evil in himself. And we are reminded that— I. THERE IS SUCH A THING , MOST UNDENIABLY , AS THE PEACE OF PRESENT SAFETY , WITHOUT THAT WHICH FLOWS FROM CONSISTENT ... read more
A royal reformer. I. AN OLD WORK RESUMED . The reformation of religion ( 2 Chronicles 19:4 ). 1 . The reformer. Jehoshaphat. Whether the work was done by special plenipotentiaries, as in the former instance ( 2 Chronicles 17:7 , 2 Chronicles 17:8 ), or by the king in person, or, as is most probable, by both, the mainspring of this movement, as of the former, was Jehoshaphat; and for a sovereign of Judah it was certainly much more becoming occupation than feasting with... read more
Ennobling the earthly, or making sacred the secular. Jehoshaphat made his reign over Judah a continuous act of Divine service. For while that reign was not without blemish and mistake, the king was evidently ruling "in the fear of the Lord," and was trying to bring his people into willing and loyal subjection to their Divine Sovereign. In taking the measure be now took he acted with great intelligence. For nothing would be so likely to lead the people to discontentment and rebellion... read more
2 Chronicles 19:9. Faithfully, and with a perfect heart Passing such sentences with your lips, as your consciences, upon the hearing of the parties, shall judge to be just, and not acting against your consciences through carnal motives, as corrupt judges do. read more
The reign of Jehoshaphat (17:1-20:37)Jehoshaphat carried on the reform that Asa began, by destroying all the Baal shrines that remained in Judah (17:1-6; cf. 15:17). Positively, he educated the people in the law of God by forming an official group of instructors whom he sent around Judah’s towns and villages. The group consisted of civil leaders, priests and Levites (7-9). He also fortified Judah’s defences and enlarged its army, so that neighbouring countries feared to attack it... read more
fear = reverence. See note on 2 Chronicles 19:7 above. read more
4. Jehoshaphat’s appointment of judges ch. 19Even though God had spared Jehoshaphat’s life in the battle, his close brush with death was the result of an unwise decision to help ungodly Ahab. A prophet rebuked him for this alliance (2 Chronicles 19:2)."A Christian’s attachment to God is necessarily expressed in the kind of atmosphere in which he prefers to live and move and have his being. Company, pursuits, ambitions will all bear upon them the mark of a love of God. This is by no means to put... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Chronicles 19:5-11
Jehoshaphat, having done what he could to make his people good, is here providing, if possible, to keep them so by the influence of a settled magistracy. He had sent preachers among them, to instruct them (2 Chron. 17:7-9), and that provision did well; but now he saw it further requisite to send judges among them, to see the laws put in execution, and to be a terror to evil-doers. It is probable that there were judges up and down the country before, but either they neglected their business or... read more