2 Chronicles 19:8

8 And also in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat ordained deacons, and priests, and the princes of the families of Israel, that they should deem the doom and the cause of the Lord, to the dwellers of Jerusalem. (And in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat ordained the Levites, and the priests, and the leaders of the families of Israel, to declare the judgement of the Lord, and to administer the civil laws, for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.)

2 Chronicles 19:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 19:8

Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and
of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel
This was the great court of judicature, consisting of princes, priests, and Levites, of ecclesiastics and political persons; for causes of both sorts were brought thither:

for the judgment of the Lord;
in things sacred, which related to the worship of God, and the support of it:

and for controversies;
of a civil kind between man and man, whether pecuniary or capital, of a more private or public kind:

when they returned to Jerusalem;
that is, this court was set up at Jerusalem, when Jehoshaphat, the priests, Levites, and chief men that went with him, returned thither.

2 Chronicles 19:8 In-Context

6 And he commanded to the judges, and said to them, See ye, that is, be ye ware, what ye do; for ye use not the doom of man, but doom of the Lord; and whatever thing ye deem unjustly, it shall turn against you; (And he commanded to the judges, and said to them, Be ye ware what ye do; for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord; and whatever thing ye judge unjustly, it shall return to you;)
7 the dread of the Lord be with you (let the fear of the Lord/let reverence for the Lord be with you), and do ye all things with diligence, that is, with discretion; forsooth with the Lord your God (there) is no wickedness, neither taking, or accepting, of persons, neither covetousness of gifts.
8 And also in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat ordained deacons, and priests, and the princes of the families of Israel, that they should deem the doom and the cause of the Lord, to the dwellers of Jerusalem. (And in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat ordained the Levites, and the priests, and the leaders of the families of Israel, to declare the judgement of the Lord, and to administer the civil laws, for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.)
9 And he commanded to them, and said, Thus ye shall do in the dread of the Lord, faithfully, and in perfect heart. (And he commanded to them, and said, Thus ye shall do in the fear of the Lord/in reverence for the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.)
10 Each cause that cometh to you of your brethren, that dwell in their cities, betwixt kindred and kindred, wherever is question of the law, (or) of the commandment, or of ceremonies, either sacrifices, or of justifyings, show ye to them, that they do not sin against the Lord, and that wrath of the Lord come not upon you, and upon your brethren. Therefore ye doing thus shall not do sin. (Each cause, or case, that cometh to you of your kinsmen, who live in their cities, between kindred and kindred, wherever there is a question of the law, or of the commandment, or of ceremonies, or sacrifices, or of statutes, show ye to them, so that they do not sin against the Lord, and that the Lord's anger come not upon you, and upon your kinsmen. And by doing so, ye shall do no sin.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.