2 Chronicles 19:4

“And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem, etc.] And went out no more to Samaria, nor concerned himself about the affairs of Israel, but attended to his own: and he went out again through the people; took a tour throughout his dominions now, in his own person, as before by his princes, with the priests and Levites: from Beersheba to Mount Ephraim; Beersheba was the southern boundary of the land of Judah, and Mount Ephraim lay to the north, and was the northern boundary of it since the division of the kingdom: and brought them back to the Lord God of their fathers; from idolatry to the pure worship of God, such who had relapsed since the first reformation, or had not been influenced by it.”

“he went out again through the people--This means his reappointing the commissioners of public instruction (Ch2 17:7-9), perhaps with new powers and a larger staff of assistants to overtake every part of the land. The complement of teachers required for that purpose would be easily obtained because the whole tribe of Levites was now concentrated within the kingdom of Judah.”

“Jehoshaphat, while declining to renounce the alliance with Israel (compare the 2 Kings 3:7 note), was careful to show that he had no sympathy with idolatry, and was determined to keep his people, so far as he possibly could, free from it. He therefore personally set about a second reformation, passing through the whole land, from the extreme south to the extreme north 2 Chronicles 13:19. return to 'Top of Page'”

“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. 2 Chronicles 19:6”

“19:4-11 In Jehoshaphat’s judicial reform, he appointed judges in the fortified towns (19:5) and in a central court in Jerusalem (19:8). He exhorted all the judges to think carefully, and to judge with integrity and in the fear of the Lord. This excluded acting with any partiality or taking of bribes, and included warning criminals not to sin against the Lord. The reform reestablished the law of Deuteronomy (Deut 16:18–17:13).”

“went out again: Heb. returned and went out, Sa1 7:15-17 Beersheba: Gen 21:33; Jdg 20:1 mount: Jos 17:15; Jdg 19:1 brought: Ch2 15:8-13, Ch2 29:10, Ch2 29:11; Sa1 7:3, Sa1 7:4; Mal 4:6; Luk 1:17 2 Chronicles 19:5”

“Jehoshaphat's further arrangements for the revival of the Jahve-worship, and the establishment of a proper administration of justice. - The first two clauses in Ch2 19:4 are logically connected thus: When Jehoshaphat (after his return from the war) sat (dwelt) in Jerusalem, he again went forth (ויּצא ויּשׁב are to be taken together) among the people, from Beersheba, the southern frontier (see Ch1 21:2), to Mount Ephraim, the northern frontier of the kingdom of Judah, and brought them back to Jahve, the God of the fathers. The "again" (ישׁב) can refer only to the former provision for the instruction of the people, recorded in Ch2 17:7.; all that was effected by the commission which…”