Dual Panel1When King <04428> Jehoshaphat <03092> of Judah <03063> returned <07725> home <01004> safely <07965> to Jerusalem <03389>,
2the prophet <02374> Jehu <03058> son <01121> of Hanani <02607> confronted <03318> him; he said <0559> to <0413> King <04428> Jehoshaphat <03092>, “Is it right to help <05826> the wicked <07563> and be an ally <0157> of those who oppose <08130> the Lord <03068>? Because you have done this <02063> the Lord <03068> is angry <07110> with <06440> you!
3Nevertheless <061> you have done some good <02896> things; you removed <01197> the Asherah poles <0842> from <04480> the land <0776> and you were determined <03559> to follow <01875> the Lord <0430>.”
4Jehoshaphat <03092> lived <03427> in Jerusalem <03389>. He went out <03318> among the people <05971> from Beer Sheba <0884> to <05704> the hill country <02022> of Ephraim <0669> and encouraged <07725> them to follow <0413> the Lord <03068> God <0430> of their ancestors <01>.
5He appointed <05975> judges <08199> throughout <03605> the land <0776> and in each <05892> of the fortified <01219> cities <05892> of Judah <03063>.
6He told <0559> the judges <08199>, “Be careful <07200> what <04100> you <0859> do <06213>, for <03588> you are not <03808> judging <08199> for men <0120>, but for <03588> the Lord <03068>, who will be with <05973> you when you make judicial <01697> decisions <04941>.
7Respect <06343> the Lord <03068> and make <06213> careful <08104> decisions, for <03588> the Lord <03068> our God <0430> disapproves <04856> <0369> of injustice <05766>, partiality <06440>, and bribery <07810> <04727>.”
8In Jerusalem <03389> Jehoshaphat <03092> appointed <05975> some <04480> Levites <03881>, priests <03548>, and Israelite <03478> family <01> leaders <07218> to judge <04941> on behalf of the Lord <03069> and to settle disputes <07379> among the residents of Jerusalem <03389>.
9He commanded <06680> them: “Carry out <06213> your duties with respect <03374> for the Lord <03068>, with honesty <0530>, and with pure <03824> motives <08003>.
10Whenever <03605> your countrymen <0251> who live <03427> in the cities <05892> bring <0935> a case <07379> before you (whether <0996> it involves a violent <01818> crime <01818> or other matters related to the law <08451>, commandments <04687>, rules <02706>, and regulations <04941>), warn <02094> them that they must not <03808> sin against the Lord <03068>. If you fail to do so, God will be <01961> angry <07110> with <05921> you and your colleagues <0251>; but if you obey <06213>, you will be free <03808> of guilt <0816>.
11You will report to <05921> Amariah <0568> the chief <07218> priest <03548> in all <03605> matters pertaining <01697> to the Lord’s <03068> law, and to Zebadiah <02069> son <01121> of Ishmael <03458>, the leader <05057> of the family <01004> of Judah <03063>, in all <03605> matters pertaining <01697> to the king <04428>. The Levites <03881> will serve <07860> as officials <07860> before <06440> you. Confidently <02388> carry out <06213> your duties! May the Lord <03068> be <01961> with <05973> those who do well <02896>!”