View 2nd Chronicles 19 in the note window.
Jehoshaphat is reproved by a prophet, ver. 1 - 3.
He reforms the kingdom, ver. 4.
Gives instructions to the itinerant judges, ver. 5 - 7.
And to the supreme court at Jerusalem, ver. 8 - 11.
2: Therefore - Therefore God will chastise thee for this
miscarriage. Which he did partly by stirring up the Moabites, and
others to invade him, (2Ch 20:1), partly by permitting his eldest
son Jehoram to kill all his brethren, (2Ch 21:4), and principally
by bringing that almost general destruction upon his grand - children by
Jehu, (2Ki 9:27,10:13,14), which was the fruit of his alliance
with Ahab.
3: Good things - Good marks proceeding from an honest heart; which
God more regards than this particular error: and therefore though he will
chasten thee, yet he will not utterly destroy thee.
4: Through - Through the whole kingdom, whereof these were the two
bounds. And brought - Such of them as had revolted from God to idols,
he reclaimed by his counsel and example, and by the instructions of the
Levites and priests, whom he carried with him. Many, probably, had
revolted to idolatry, when they saw their king so intimate with idolaters.
Therefore he thought himself doubly obliged to do all he could to reduce
them. If we truly repent of sin, we shall do our utmost to repair the
damage we have done to religion, or the souls of others.
6: The Lord - You represent God's person to whom judgment belongeth,
you have your commission from God, and not from man only; and your
administration of justice is not only for man's good, but also for God's
honour and service. With you - Both to observe your carriage, and to
defend you against all those enemies whom the impartial exercise of
justice may provoke.
7: Wherefore - And therefore you who are in God's stead, and do his
work, and must give an account to him, must imitate God herein.
8: The fathers - Persons of other tribes eminent for their dignity,
ability and integrity. But whether these persons made up one court,
called the Sanhedrim, by which all causes ecclesiastical and civil
were decided; or there were two distinct courts, the one ecclesiastical,
consisting of the priests and Levites; the other civil, consisting of
the chief of the fathers of Israel, it is not easy to determine.
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.
10: Blood - This refers to (De 17:8), between the blood of the
person slain, and the blood of the man - slayer. All the cities of refuge,
except Hebron, now belonged to the kingdom of Israel, so that the
man - slayer now usually fled to the courts of the temple, or the horns of
the altar. And therefore the trial of these, was reserved for the court
at Jerusalem. Law, &c. - When any debates shall arise about the
meaning of any of God's laws. Warn - Ye shall not only give a righteous
sentence for what is past, but ye shall admonish the offender, and others,
to take better heed for the future.
11: Over you - Shall be your president. Matters of the Lord - In
Spiritual, or ecclesiastical matters. Ruler - The prince, or chief ruler,
under the king, of the tribe of Judah. The king's matters - For civil
causes, or controversies either between the king and his people; or
between subject and subject, which may be called the king's matters,
because it was a principal part of his office to see them justly decided.
The Levites - Shall be at your command to see your just sentences
executed; which work was fitly committed to the Levites, as persons
who might add their instructions to the corrections, and might work the
guilty to an acknowledgement of their fault and a submission to their
punishment. The Lord - Shall protect and bless good judges.
