2 Chronicles 19:5
New International Version
He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

New Living Translation
He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns,

English Standard Version
He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

Berean Standard Bible
He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

King James Bible
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

New King James Version
Then he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

New American Standard Bible
He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.

NASB 1995
He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.

NASB 1977
And he appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, in each city.

Amplified Bible
He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

Christian Standard Bible
He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He appointed judges in all the fortified cities of the land of Judah, city by city.

American Standard Version
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

Contemporary English Version
He assigned judges to each of the fortified cities in Judah

English Revised Version
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He appointed judges in the country, in each fortified city of Judah.

Good News Translation
He appointed judges in each of the fortified cities of Judah

International Standard Version
and appointing judges throughout the land in all of the walled cities of Judah, city by city. He issued this reminder to the judges:

Majority Standard Bible
He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

NET Bible
He appointed judges throughout the land and in each of the fortified cities of Judah.

New Heart English Bible
He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

Webster's Bible Translation
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

World English Bible
He set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he establishes judges in the land, in all the fortified cities of Judah, for every city,

Young's Literal Translation
And he establisheth judges in the land, in all the fenced cities of Judah, for every city,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will set up judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, to city and city;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he set judges of the land in all the fenced cities of Juda, in every place.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he appointed judges of the land, in all the fortified cities of Judah, in each place.

New American Bible
He appointed judges in the land, in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

New Revised Standard Version
He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he appointed judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah and the great cities.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he raised up Judges in the land, in all the fortress towns of Yehuda and in the fortified cities
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he appointed judges in all the strong cities of Juda, city by city.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jehoshaphat's Reforms
4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and once again he went out among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 5He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 16:18
You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.

Exodus 18:21-22
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. / Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

Deuteronomy 1:16-17
At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident. / Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”

Romans 13:1-4
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ...

Proverbs 29:14
A king who judges the poor with fairness—his throne will be established forever.

1 Samuel 8:1-3
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. / The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. / But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

1 Kings 3:9
Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ...

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Amos 5:15
Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

James 2:1-4
My brothers, as you hold out your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, do not show favoritism. / Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. / If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,” ...


Treasury of Scripture

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

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, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.

Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment…

Romans 13:1-5
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God…

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Appointed Cities City Establisheth Fenced Fortified Judah Judges Throughout Walled
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Appointed Cities City Establisheth Fenced Fortified Judah Judges Throughout Walled
2 Chronicles 19
1. Jehoshaphat, reproved by Jehu, visits his kingdom
5. His instructions to the judges
8. to the priests and Levites














He appointed judges
The act of appointing judges signifies a return to a structured and just governance system, reflecting God's desire for order and righteousness. The Hebrew root for "appointed" is "שָׁפַט" (shaphat), which means to judge, govern, or rule. This action by Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, underscores his commitment to restoring justice and aligning the kingdom with divine principles. Historically, judges were crucial in maintaining societal order and ensuring that the laws of God were upheld among the people.

in the land
This phrase indicates the widespread nature of Jehoshaphat's reforms. The "land" refers to the entire territory of Judah, suggesting that the king's efforts were comprehensive and inclusive. By implementing these changes throughout the land, Jehoshaphat aimed to ensure that justice was accessible to all, reflecting the biblical principle that God's justice is universal and not limited to specific areas or groups.

in each of the fortified cities
Fortified cities were strategically important locations, often serving as centers of administration and defense. The Hebrew term for "fortified" is "מִבְצָר" (mivtsar), meaning a stronghold or fortress. By appointing judges in these cities, Jehoshaphat ensured that justice was administered in places of power and influence, reinforcing the idea that God's law should govern even the most secure and significant areas of society. This decision also highlights the importance of integrating spiritual and civil leadership in maintaining a godly nation.

of Judah
Judah, the southern kingdom, was the remnant of the united Israelite monarchy, known for its lineage of Davidic kings. The mention of Judah emphasizes the covenantal relationship between God and the house of David, as well as the responsibility of its leaders to uphold God's statutes. Historically, Judah's kings were expected to lead the people in faithfulness to God, and Jehoshaphat's actions reflect his dedication to this divine mandate. By focusing on Judah, the text reminds readers of the enduring promise of God's faithfulness to His chosen people and the importance of righteous leadership in fulfilling that promise.

(5) And he set.--Appointed, or stationed.

The fenced cities.--As being the chief centres of each district.

City by city.--For every city, according to the Law, Deuteronomy 16:18, "in all thy gates." (Comp. 1Chronicles 23:4; 1Chronicles 26:29.) The judges would be Levites, and probably also priests and family chiefs, as in the case of Jerusalem (2Chronicles 19:8).

Verse 5. - Judges... fenced cities. Jehoshaphat proceeds from direct religious reforms to that which is of importance only second in the life of a nation - reform in the matter of civil administration of justice. The skeleton here given of what should be the character of a judge, and why, harmonizes well with the uniform stress laid in Scripture upon "justice and judgment." It is hard indeed to see, rather impossible, upon what foundation a sure structure of civil growth and stability can be laid, except on that of positive religion. Note the positions and the succinct arguments of vers. 6, 7; and how unequivocally they are based upon faith in a personal God, and upon his revealed character. It can scarcely be that this was the first time of judges being set in the cities of Judah but possibly the meaning intended to be conveyed with emphasis is, that now, looking well round his kingdom, he took care that all the cities should be properly provided with the necessary judges, while of late some had been, and some had not, and some, though they had been officered with judges, had found them not what judges ought to be. The immense majority of the "six thousand" Levite "officers and judges" of David's regulation (1 Chronicles 23:4; 36:29) had, with their superiors, kings and prophets, gone astray. With our present passage may be compared Deuteronomy 16:18-20, where the original enactment of judges and officers is narrated. Fenced cities. Hebrew for "fenced," בְּצֻרות; kal passive part. plur. The word occurs twenty-six times from the Book of Numbers to the Book of the Prophet Zechariah, and is rendered in the Authorized Version "fenced" or "defenced" twenty-two times, "walled" twice, "strong" once, and "mighty" once. The "gates" of the original institution in Deuteronomy are now (probably still the gates of) fenced cities.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He appointed
וַיַּעֲמֵ֨ד (way·ya·‘ă·mêḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

judges
שֹֽׁפְטִ֜ים (šō·p̄ə·ṭîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

in the land,
בָּאָ֗רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

in each of
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the fortified
הַבְּצֻר֖וֹת (hab·bə·ṣu·rō·wṯ)
Article | Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1219: To cut off, make inaccessible, enclose

cities
עָרֵ֧י (‘ā·rê)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of Judah.
יְהוּדָ֛ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 19:5 He set judges in the land throughout (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 19:4
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