2 Chronicles 19:8
in 2 Chronicles 19Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and the priests, and of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel, for the judgment of Jehovah, and for controversies. And they returned to Jerusalem.
KJV
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.
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This verse in 2 Chronicles 19
Commentary
8 notes on this verseAnd for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem - Who were they that returned to Jerusalem? Some suppose that it means Jehoshaphat and his courtiers, who returned to Jerusalem after the expedition mentioned 2Ch 19:4: but if this were so, or if the text spoke of any person returning to Jerusalem, would not לירושלם lirushalem, To Jerusalem, and not the simple word ירושלם Yerushalem, without the preposition, be used?
This site's exposition
did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites
on 2 Chronicles 19:8-11
In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat sets a second court of Levites, priests and heads of fathers for cases returned there from the district courts, charging them to act in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. Two jurisdictions are named and divided: Amariah the chief priest over all matters of the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, ruler of the house of Judah, over the king's matters, the sacred and civil courts each with its own head under one throne. The charge ends on courage rather than technique, deal courageously, and the Lord shall be with the good, the same confidence chapter 20 will need within the year.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
The Lord - For matters concerning the laws and worship, of God. Controversies - For matters of difference between man and man. When - When Jehoshaphat and his company were returned to Jerusalem, he made this order concerning establishing Judges there.
This court sat in Jerusalem; for there were set the thrones of judgment: there they would be under the inspection of the king himself. The causes cognizable in this court; and they were of two kinds, as with us:-- (1.) Pleas of the crown, called here the judgment of the Lord, because the law of God was the law of the realm.
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 L ORD ? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the L ORD . 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.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:94%@v2-3
Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
According to others, the two divisions of the supreme court adjudicated: the one according to the law contained in the sacred books; the other according to the law of custom and equity. As in Eastern countries at the present day, the written and unwritten law are objects of separate jurisdiction.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The “fathers of Israel” are the heads of families; the chief of the fathers” are the great patriarchal chiefs, the admitted heads of great houses or clans. They were now admitted to share in the judicial office which seems in David’s time to have been confined to the Levites 1Ch 23:4. For the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies - By the former are meant disputed cases concerning the performance of religious obligations. In “controversies” are included all the ordinary causes, whether criminal or civil. When they returned to Jerusalem - Rather, “and they returned to Jerusalem,” a clause which if detached from the previous words and attached to 2Ch 19:9, gives a satisfactory sense.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
for with the Lord your God there is neither injustice, favoritism, nor bribe-taking and He is with you in judgment; therefore, He does not wish you to commit injustice in judgment.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְגַ֣ם | vegam | and also | H1571 → | 769 times |
| בִּ֠ירוּשָׁלִַם | birushalim | in Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| הֶעֱמִ֨יד | heemid | he appointed | H5975 → | 521 times |
| יְהוֹשָׁפָ֜ט | yehoshafat | Jehoshaphat | H3092 → | 84 times |
| מִן־ | min- | some of | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַלְוִיִּ֣ם | halviyim | the Levites | H3881 → | 291 times |
| וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים | vehakohanim | and the priests | H3548 → | 750 times |
| וּמֵרָאשֵׁ֤י | umerashei | and some of [the] heads of | H7218 → | 599 times |
| הָאָבוֹת֙ | haavot | the fathers | H1 → | 1212 times |
| לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | leyisrael | of Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| לְמִשְׁפַּ֥ט | lemishpat | for [the] judgment of | H4941 → | 422 times |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| וְלָרִ֑יב | velariv | and for <the> dispute[s] | H7379 → | |
| וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּ | vaiyashuvu | and they returned | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ | yerushalim | Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
וְגַ֣םand also
vegamH1571 →769 times
בִּ֠ירוּשָׁלִַםin Jerusalem
birushalimH3389 →643 times
הֶעֱמִ֨ידhe appointed
heemidH5975 →521 times
יְהוֹשָׁפָ֜טJehoshaphat
yehoshafatH3092 →84 times
מִן־some of
min-H4480 →1188 times
הַלְוִיִּ֣םthe Levites
halviyimH3881 →291 times
וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֗יםand the priests
vehakohanimH3548 →750 times
וּמֵרָאשֵׁ֤יand some of [the] heads of
umerasheiH7218 →599 times
הָאָבוֹת֙the fathers
haavotH1 →1212 times
לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לof Israel
leyisraelH3478 →2507 times
לְמִשְׁפַּ֥טfor [the] judgment of
lemishpatH4941 →422 times
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
וְלָרִ֑יבand for <the> dispute[s]
velarivH7379 →
וַיָּשֻׁ֖בוּand they returned
vaiyashuvuH7725 →1056 times
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃Jerusalem
yerushalimH3389 →643 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Deuteronomy 25:1If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.
it leads to
- Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 1:16–17
At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.
- Deuteronomy 17:8–9
If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will…
- Proverbs 17:15
Through
1 Chronicles 23:4“Of these,” said David, “24,000 are to oversee the work of the house of the LORD, 6,000 are to be officers and judges,
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 16:18
You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Nehemiah 11:9
Joel son of Zichri was the officer over them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the Second District of the city.
- 1 Chronicles 23:28–32
but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and…
- Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
- Deuteronomy 17:8–10
If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will…
- Deuteronomy 16:18
About 2 Chronicles
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.