2 Chronicles 19:5

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

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — King Jehoshaphat acts immediately after his circuit of religious reform, establishing a judicial network across Judah before addressing the appointed officials in Jerusalem. He implements this structure in the fortified cities of the southern kingdom.

The words — The text highlights וַ/יַּעֲמֵ֨ד (va/i.ya.'a.Med), meaning he appointed or established, and שֹֽׁפְטִ֜ים (sho.fe.Tim), meaning judges. These terms denote the formal installation of civil magistrates rather than temporary arbitrators.

The thread — This action fulfills the Deuteronomy 16:18 mandate to place judges in every town, parallels the Jerusalem tribunal Jehoshaphat forms in 2 Chronicles 19:8, and aligns with the New Testament principle that governing authority derives from God in Romans 13:1.

Why it lands — It establishes a localized judicial system under royal administration, requiring readers to recognize that civil order is instituted by leadership as part of broader divine governance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיַּעֲמֵ֨דva/i.ya.'a.Medand/ he appointed שֹֽׁפְטִ֜יםsho.fe.Timjudges בָּאָ֗רֶץba./'A.retzin the/ land בְּכָל־be./kholin/ all עָרֵ֧י'a.Rei[the] cities of יְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahJudah הַבְּצֻר֖וֹתha./be.tzu.Rot<the>/ fortified לְעִ֥ירle./'Irfor/ a city וָעִֽיר׃va./'Irand/ a city

King James Version

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

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.
2 Chronicles 19:8 Moreover, Jehoshaphat appointed in Jerusalem some of the Levites, priests, and heads of the Israelite families to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem.
Romans 13:1 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.
1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority,