Josaphat Appoints Judges

2 Chronicles 19

Josaphat is rebuked by the prophet Jeu the son of Anani for allying with a wicked king, then turns the people back to the Lord and appoints judges throughout the cities of Juda and in Jerusalem, charging them to judge in the fear of the Lord without partiality or bribery.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW when Josaphat, king of Juda, was returning to his house to Jerusalem,

BrentonAnd Josaphat king of Juda returned to his house at Jerusalem.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Ἰωσαφὰτ βασιλεὺς Ἰούδα εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVAnd Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

JPSAnd Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.

ThomsonJehu the son of Anani the prophet, went out to meet him, and said to him, King Josaphat, dost thou aid a sinner, or form friendship with one hated by the Lord? On this account there would have been wrath against thee,

BrentonAnd there went out to meet him Jeu the prophet the son of Anani, and said to him, King Josaphat, dost thou help a sinner, or act friendly towards one hated of the Lord? Therefore has wrath come upon thee from the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξῆλθεν εἰς ἀπάντησιν αὐτοῦ Ἰηοὺ ὁ τοῦ Ἀνανὶ ὁ προφήτης, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, βασιλεὺς Ἰωσαφὰτ, εἰ ἁμαρτωλῷ σὺ βοηθεῖς, ἢ μισουμένῳ ὑπὸ Κυρίου φιλιάζεις; διὰ τοῦτο ἐγένετο ἐπὶ σὲ ὀργὴ παρὰ Κυρίου.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat: ‘Shouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate the LORD? for this thing wrath is upon thee from before the LORD.

Thomsonbut for the good works which have been found in thee and for thy having removed the bowers out of the land of Juda, and directed thy heart to seek the Lord.

BrentonNevertheless some good things have been found in thee, forasmuch as thou didst remove the groves from the land of Juda, and didst direct thine heart to seek after the Lord.

GreekὍτι ἀλλʼ ἢ λόγοι ἀγαθοὶ ηὑρέθησαν ἐν σοὶ, ὅτι ἐξῇρας τὰ ἄλση ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς Ἰούδα, καὶ κατηύθυνας τὴν καρδίαν σου ἐκζητῆσαι τὸν Κύριον.

KJVNevertheless 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.

JPSNevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast put away the Asheroth out of the land, and hast set thy heart to seek God.’

ThomsonSo Josaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, and again went out to the people from Bersabee to Mount Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers.

BrentonAnd Josaphat dwelt in Jerusalem: and he again went out among the people from Bersabee to the mount of Ephraim, and turned them back to the Lord God of their fathers.

GreekΚαὶ κατῴκησεν Ἰωσαφὰτ εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ· καὶ πάλιν ἐξῆλθεν εἰς τὸν λαὸν ἀπὸ Βηρσαβεὲ ἕως ὄρους Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ Κύριον Θεὸν τῶν πάτερων αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill-country of Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD, the God of their fathers.

ThomsonAnd when he appointed the judges in all the fortified cities of Juda, city by city,

BrentonAnd he appointed judges in all the strong cities of Juda, city by city.

GreekΚαὶ κατέστησε τοὺς κριτὰς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσιν Ἰούδα ταῖς ὀχυραῖς, ἐν πόλει καὶ πόλει.

KJVAnd he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

JPSAnd he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

Thomsonhe said to the judges, Take heed what you do. For you judge not for man, but for the Lord, and with you are the words of the judgment.

BrentonAnd he said to the judges, Take good heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, and with you are matters of judgment.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε τοῖς κριταῖς, ἴδετε τί ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε, ὅτι οὐκ ἀνθρώπῳ ὑμεῖς κρίνετε, ἀλλʼ ἢ τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ μεθʼ ὑμῶν λόγοι τῆς κρίσεως.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSand said to the judges: ‘Consider what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD; and [He is] with you in giving judgment.

ThomsonNow therefore let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Keep watch and do your duty; for with the Lord our God there is no injustice, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.

BrentonAnd now let the fear of the Lord be upon you, and be wary, and do your duty: for there is no unrighteousness with the Lord our God, neither is it for him to respect persons, nor to take bribes.

GreekΚαὶ νῦν γενέσθω φόβος Κυρίου ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, καὶ φυλάσσετε καὶ ποιήσατε, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι μετὰ Κυρίου Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἀδικία, οὐδὲ θαυμάσαι πρόσωπον, οὐδὲ λαβεῖν δῶρα.

KJVWherefore 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.

JPSNow therefore 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 bribes.’

ThomsonIn Jerusalem also Josaphat appointed some of the priests and Levites and patriarchs of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and to judge the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

BrentonMoreover Josaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the priests, and Levites, and heads of houses of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and to judge the dwellers in Jerusalem.

GreekΚαί γε ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ κατέστησεν Ἰωσαφὰτ τῶν ἱερέων καὶ τῶν Λευιτῶν καὶ τῶν πατριαρχῶν Ἰσραὴλ εἰς κρίσιν Κυρίου, καὶ κρίνειν τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVMoreover 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.

JPSMoreover 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 the LORD, and for controversies. And they returned to Jerusalem.

ThomsonAnd he gave them a charge, saying, Thus shall you act, in the fear of the Lord, with truth and with an upright heart—

BrentonAnd he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, in truth and with a perfect heart.

GreekΚαὶ ἐνετείλατο πρὸς αὐτοὺς, λέγων, οὕτω ποιήσετε ἐν φόβῳ Κυρίου, ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, καὶ ἐν πλήρει καρδίᾳ·

KJVAnd he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.

JPSAnd he charged them, saying: ‘Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a whole heart.

ThomsonYou must all conjointly determine every cause of your brethren who dwell in their cities, which shall come before you for decision, between blood and blood, and between ordinance and command. And you shall explain to them the rules of rectitude and judgments, that they may not sin against the Lord, and that no wrath may come upon you, nor upon your brethren. Thus you shall do and not sin.

BrentonWhatsoever man of your brethren that dwell in their cities shall bring the cause that comes before you, between blood and blood, and between precept and commandment, and ordinances and judgments, ye shall even decide for them; so they shall not sin against the Lord, and there shall not be wrath upon you, and upon your brethren: thus ye shall do, and ye shall not sin.

GreekΠᾶς ἀνὴρ κρίσιν τὴν ἐλθοῦσαν ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὑμῶν τῶν κατοικούντων ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν ἀναμέσον αἷμα αἵματος, καὶ ἀναμέσον τοῦ προστάγματος καὶ ἐντολῆς, καὶ δικαιώματα καὶ κρίματα, καὶ διαστελεῖσθε αὐτοῖς, καὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσονται τῷ κυρίῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ὀργὴ ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν· οὕτως ποιήσετε, καὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσεσθε.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd whensoever any controversy shall come to you from your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, ye shall warn them, that they be not guilty towards the LORD, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren; thus shall ye do, and ye shall not be guilty.

ThomsonAnd behold Amarias the priest, is ruler over you for every word of the Lord, and Zabdias son of Ismael, the ruler over the house of Juda, for every matter touching the king; and the scribes and the Levites are to attend you. Be firm and do your duty, and the Lord will be with the good.

BrentonAnd, behold, Amarias the priest is head over you in every matter of the Lord; and Zabdias the son of Ismael is head over the house of Juda in every matter of the king; and the scribes and Levites are before you: be strong and active, and the Lord shall be with the good.

GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ Ἀμαρίας ὁ ἱερεὺς ἡγούμενος ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς εἰς πάντα λόγον Κυρίου, καὶ Ζαβδίας υἱὸς Ἰσμαὴλ ὁ ἡγούμενος εἰς οἶκον Ἰούδα πρὸς πάντα λόγον βασιλέως, καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ Λευῖται πρὸ προσώπου ὑμῶν· ἰσχύσατε καὶ ποιήσατε, καὶ ἔσται Κύριος μετὰ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ.

KJVAnd, 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.

JPSAnd, 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, in all the king’s matters; also the officers of the Levites before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD be with the good.’