2 Chronicles 19:4

Jehoshaphat’s reforms

4 Though Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, he regularly went out among the people between Beer-sheba and Ephraim's highlands, and encouraged them to return to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.

2 Chronicles 19:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 19:4

And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem
And went out no more to Samaria, nor concerned himself about the affairs of Israel, but attended to his own:

and he went out again through the people;
took a tour throughout his dominions now, in his own person, as before by his princes, with the priests and Levites:

from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim;
Beersheba was the southern boundary of the land of Judah, and Mount Ephraim lay to the north, and was the northern boundary of it since the division of the kingdom:

and brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers;
from idolatry to the pure worship of God, such who had relapsed since the first reformation, or had not been influenced by it.

2 Chronicles 19:4 In-Context

2 Jehu son of Hanani the seer came out to meet him and said, "Why did you help the wicked? Why have you loved those who hate the LORD? This is why the LORD is angry with you.

3 Nevertheless, there is some good to be found in you, in that you have removed the sacred poles from the land and set your mind to seek God."

4 Though Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, he regularly went out among the people between Beer-sheba and Ephraim's highlands, and encouraged them to return to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.

5 He appointed judges throughout the land in each of the fortified cities of Judah,

6 instructing them, "Be careful when you pass judgment. You aren't dispensing justice by merely human standards but for the LORD, who is with you.