2 Chronicles 19:11 kjv
And, 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.
2 Chronicles 19:11 nkjv
And take notice: 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 will be officials before you. Behave courageously, and the LORD will be with the good."
2 Chronicles 19:11 niv
"Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the LORD, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the LORD be with those who do well."
2 Chronicles 19:11 esv
And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the upright!"
2 Chronicles 19:11 nlt
"Amariah the high priest will have final say in all cases involving the LORD. Zebadiah son of Ishmael, a leader from the tribe of Judah, will have final say in all civil cases. The Levites will assist you in making sure that justice is served. Take courage as you fulfill your duties, and may the LORD be with those who do what is right."
2 Chronicles 19 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 16:18-20 | "Judges and officers shalt thou make... that they may judge the people..." | Law on appointing righteous judges. |
| Deut 17:8-12 | "If there arise a matter too hard for thee... come unto the priests..." | Procedure for difficult legal cases to priests/judges. |
| Exod 18:13-26 | "And Moses chose able men... rulers of thousands... tens..." | Jethro's advice for a tiered judicial system. |
| Lev 10:11 | "And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes..." | Priests' role in teaching God's law. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law..." | Priest's duty to preserve and teach divine law. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God..." | God institutes civil authorities. |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake..." | Submission to governing authorities. |
| Deut 31:6 | "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not..." | Exhortation to courage, similar to Josh 1:6-9. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe..." | Call for courage in obeying God's law. |
| 1 Chr 22:13 | "Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes..." | Courage linked to obedience and prosperity. |
| Psa 27:14 | "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart..." | Courage derived from trust in God. |
| Prov 29:4 | "The king by judgment establisheth the land..." | King's role in establishing justice for stability. |
| Isa 1:17 | "Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed..." | Exhortation to practice justice and righteousness. |
| Amos 5:24 | "But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." | Plea for justice and righteousness to prevail. |
| Psa 75:7 | "But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." | God as the ultimate judge. |
| Prov 1:7 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge..." | Principle of fearing the Lord in all endeavors. |
| Acts 10:35 | "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness..." | God accepts those who fear Him and do righteousness. |
| Psa 111:10 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..." | Wisdom and understanding come from fearing God. |
| Phil 4:13 | "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." | Strength for service comes from God. |
| Gen 18:19 | "...that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment..." | Patriarchal responsibility for justice. |
| Prov 28:16 | "...but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days." | Warnings against unrighteous rule; contrasting with justice. |
| Mic 6:8 | "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" | Summarizes God's requirement for human conduct. |
2 Chronicles 19 verses
2 Chronicles 19 11 Meaning
2 Chronicles 19:11 details King Jehoshaphat's establishment of a comprehensive judicial system in Judah. It outlines a two-tiered leadership for the supreme court in Jerusalem: Amariah, the chief priest, to preside over matters concerning the LORD (religious and moral law), and Zebadiah, a civil ruler, to oversee the king's secular affairs. Levites were also appointed as officers to assist this judiciary. The verse concludes with an exhortation to act with courage and integrity, assuring that the LORD's presence and favor would be with those who uphold justice righteously. This structure emphasized both spiritual and civil governance working in harmony under God's ultimate authority.
2 Chronicles 19 11 Context
This verse is situated within King Jehoshaphat's reform efforts after a challenging military alliance and a sharp rebuke from Jehu the seer (2 Chr 19:1-3). Realizing the need for spiritual and moral restoration, Jehoshaphat personally re-established justice throughout the land, commissioning judges in all fortified cities (2 Chr 19:4-7) with explicit instructions to judge without partiality, fear, or bribery, always remembering the fear of the LORD. Verse 11 then describes the capstone of this judicial reform: the establishment of the central court in Jerusalem, detailing its leadership and their respective areas of responsibility, ensuring accountability to both divine law and civil governance.
2 Chronicles 19 11 Word analysis
- And, behold: (Hebrew: v'hinneh) A common introductory phrase, serving to draw immediate attention to the significant pronouncement or observation that follows. It underscores the importance of the declaration concerning the newly established leadership roles.
- Amariah the chief priest: (Hebrew: Amariah hakkohen harosh)
- Amariah: "Yahweh has said" or "Yahweh is exalted." A significant name, signifying divine endorsement of his role.
- chief priest: Designated as the head of the religious judicial system, reflecting a separation and elevation of spiritual authority in matters pertaining to God's law. This title indicates his supremacy within the priestly hierarchy concerning these specific legal matters.
- is over you in all matters of the LORD: Establishes Amariah's direct authority over issues related to religious law, ritual purity, temple procedures, and moral commandments. This realm demanded intimate knowledge of the Torah and adherence to divine principles, ensuring that decisions reflected God's will.
- and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah: (Hebrew: v'Zevadyahu ben Yishmael hannagid l'veit Yehudah)
- Zebadiah: "Yahweh has bestowed" or "Yahweh has granted." Another name highlighting divine provision.
- ruler of the house of Judah: (Hebrew: nagid) This term denotes a prince or leader, indicating his primary responsibility in civil, secular matters. He represented the king's authority, maintaining public order and administering royal law. This clearly demarcated the civil sphere of governance.
- for all the king's matters: Refers to civil disputes, public administration, royal decrees, tax collection, and potentially military oversight. This role ensured that the daily practicalities of governance were handled effectively and justly.
- also the Levites shall be officers before you: (Hebrew: v'hashshotrim hall'vi'im lifnei-khem)
- Levites: Members of the priestly tribe but not necessarily priests. They often served as teachers of the law, scribes, temple assistants, and civil administrators throughout Israel.
- officers: (Hebrew: shotrim) Refers to judicial aides, enforcers of court decisions, clerks, or registrars. They facilitated the legal processes and ensured that judgments were carried out. Their role ensured logistical support and dissemination of justice.
- Deal courageously: (Hebrew: chizqu v'asu) An imperative, literally "be strong and do." It conveys a strong command for boldness, resolve, and moral fortitude in executing their duties without fear of human influence, partiality, or corruption. This strength was not merely physical but moral and spiritual.
- and the LORD shall be with the good: A conditional promise and encouragement. "The good" refers to those who are righteous, upright, and act with integrity and in accordance with God's will. It guarantees divine support, presence, and success to those who perform their duties faithfully and justly, recognizing that human efforts require God's empowering presence.
2 Chronicles 19 11 Bonus section
This intricate judicial structure in 2 Chronicles 19:11 is seen by many scholars as a significant administrative innovation, drawing upon earlier Mosaic laws (e.g., Deut 17:8-12) and embodying principles found in Jethro's advice to Moses (Exod 18). It laid the groundwork for future forms of governance in Judah. The careful distinction between "matters of the LORD" and "the king's matters" did not imply a strict separation of church and state in the modern sense, but rather a functional delineation of responsibilities within a monotheistic society where all authority ultimately derived from God. Both leaders were expected to operate under divine principles, and the underlying motivation for all judicial action was to be the "fear of the LORD," as emphasized earlier by Jehoshaphat in verse 7. This setup effectively created a supreme court designed to render unbiased, righteous judgments, crucial for the nation's spiritual and civil well-being.
2 Chronicles 19 11 Commentary
This verse establishes a crucial governmental structure in post-exilic Judah, showcasing a divinely sanctioned dual authority system for judicial administration. Jehoshaphat's wisdom is evident in appointing distinct leaders for religious and civil affairs, preventing a blurring of lines that could lead to spiritual compromise or civil overreach. Amariah's leadership in "matters of the LORD" highlights the supremacy of divine law and the priest's role in its interpretation and application. Zebadiah's oversight of "the king's matters" addresses the need for practical civil governance. The Levites' auxiliary role further underlines a structured and distributed responsibility for maintaining order and upholding justice. The final exhortation to "deal courageously" emphasizes that justice is not merely procedural but requires moral strength and commitment to truth, while the assurance that "the LORD shall be with the good" underscores God's active partnership with those who faithfully execute righteous judgment, aligning human governance with divine purpose.