Yehu Amkemea Yehoshafati
1Mfalme Yehoshafati wa Yuda akarudi salama kwenye jumba lake la kifalme huko Yerusalemu. 219:2 1Fal 14:13; 16:1; 2Nya 12:12; 16:2-9; Ezr 7:10; 1Sam 9:9; Za 7:11; 2Nya 24:18; 32:25Yehu mwonaji, mwana wa Hanani, akapanda kwenda kuonana naye akamwambia Mfalme Yehoshafati, “Je, utawasaidia waovu na kuwapenda wale wanaomchukia Bwana? Kwa sababu ya jambo hili, ghadhabu ya Bwana iko juu yako. 319:3 1Fal 16:1; 2Nya 16:2-9; 32:25; Mit 7:11; Za 139:21-22Hata hivyo, kuna mema yaliyoonekana kwako, kwa kuwa umeondoa katika nchi nguzo za Ashera na umeukaza moyo wako katika kumtafuta Mungu.”
Yehoshafati Aweka Waamuzi
4Yehoshafati aliishi huko Yerusalemu, naye akatoka akaenda tena miongoni mwa watu, kuanzia Beer-Sheba hadi nchi ya vilima ya Efraimu na kuwageuza wakamrudia Bwana, Mungu wa baba zao. 519:5 Mwa 47:6; Kut 16:18; 18:26Akawaweka waamuzi katika nchi, kwenye miji yote ya Yuda yenye maboma. 619:6 Law 19:15; Kum 16:18-20; Mhu 5:8; Kum 1:7; 1:17; Za 82:1Akawaambia, “Angalieni kwa makini yale mtendayo, kwa kuwa hamkuhukumu kwa ajili ya mwanadamu bali kwa ajili ya Bwana ambaye yu pamoja nanyi kila mtoapo hukumu. 719:7 Kum 32:4; Ay 8:3; Kut 18:16; Rum 2:11; 9:14; Mdo 10:34; Kum 10:17; Ay 34:19; Gal 2:6; Efe 6:9; 1Pet 1:17Basi sasa hofu ya Bwana na iwe juu yenu. Hukumuni kwa uangalifu, kwa kuwa kwa Bwana Mungu wetu hakuna jambo lisilo la haki, upendeleo, wala rushwa.”
819:8 2Nya 17:8-13; 2Sam 23:3; Kum 16:18; 17:9-13; 1Nya 23:4; 26:19Pia huko Yerusalemu, Yehoshafati akaweka baadhi ya Walawi, makuhani na viongozi wa jamaa za Waisraeli ili kutoa hukumu kwa ajili ya Bwana na kuamua magomvi. Nao waliishi huko Yerusalemu. 919:9 2Sam 23:3Akawapa maagizo haya: “Ni lazima mtumike kwa uaminifu na kwa moyo wote katika kicho cha Bwana. 1019:10 Kum 17:8; Hes 16:46; Eze 3:18Katika kila shauri lifikalo mbele yenu kutoka kwa ndugu zenu wale waishio katika miji, ikiwa ni la umwagaji wa damu au mambo mengine yahusuyo sheria, amri, hukumu au maagizo, inawapasa ninyi kuwaonya kwamba wasiingie katika hatia dhidi ya Bwana, la sivyo ghadhabu yake itakuja juu yenu na ndugu zenu. Tendeni hivyo, nanyi hamtatenda dhambi.
1119:11 1Nya 28:20“Amaria kuhani mkuu atakuwa juu yenu katika jambo lolote linalomhusu Bwana naye Zebadia mwana wa Ishmaeli, kiongozi wa kabila la Yuda, atakuwa juu yenu kwa jambo lolote linalomhusu mfalme, nao Walawi watatumika kama maafisa mbele yenu. Tendeni kwa ujasiri, naye Bwana atakuwa pamoja na wale watendao vyema.”
1Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem. 2Jehu the prophet went out to meet him. He was the son of Hanani. Jehu said to the king, “You shouldn’t help evil people. You shouldn’t love those who hate the Lord. The Lord is angry with you. 3But there’s some good in you. You have removed all the poles in the land used to worship the female god named Asherah. And you have worshiped God with all your heart.”
Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges
4Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. He went out again among the people. He went from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim. He turned the people back to the Lord, the God of Israel. 5Jehoshaphat appointed judges in the land. He put them in all the cities of Judah that had high walls around them. 6He told the judges, “Think carefully about what you do. After all, you aren’t judging for human beings. You are judging for the Lord. He’s with you every time you make a decision. 7Have respect for the Lord. Judge carefully. He is always right. He treats everyone the same. Our God doesn’t want his judges to take money from people who want special favors.”
8In Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat chose some Levites and priests. He also chose some leaders of Israelite families. He appointed all of them to apply the law of the Lord fairly. He wanted them to decide cases. He wanted them to settle matters between people. All those judges lived in Jerusalem. 9Here are the orders Jehoshaphat gave them. He said, “Have respect for the Lord. Serve him faithfully. Do it with all your heart. 10Cases will come to you from your people who live in the other cities. The cases might be about murder or other matters dealt with by the law, commands, directions and rules. Warn the people not to sin against the Lord. If you don’t warn them, he will be angry with you and your people. Do what I say. Then you won’t sin.
11“Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter that concerns the Lord. Zebadiah is the leader of the tribe of Judah. He is the son of Ishmael. Zebadiah will be over you in any matter that concerns the king. The Levites will serve as your officials. Be brave. And may the Lord be with those of you who do well.”
