John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And said to the judges, take heed what you do , etc.] In judgment, that they judged righteous judgment according to the law of God, without partiality and respect of persons: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord ; not for man only, but for the Lord; and not so much for man as for the Lord, whom they represented in judgment; whose law was the rule of their judgment, and whose glory their end, and to whom they were accountable: who is with you in the judgment : as to guide and direct you, so to observe how they behaved, and be a witness for or against them; the Targum is, “ye judge not before men, but before the Word of the Lord, whose Shechinah dwells with you in the affair of judgment.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Jehoshaphat visits his kingdom.
--Whenever we return in peace to our houses, we ought to acknowledg God's providence in preserving our going out and coming in. And if we have been kept through more than common dangers, we are, in a specia manner, bound to be thankful. Distinguishing mercies lay us unde strong obligations. The prophet tells Jehoshaphat he had done very il in joining Ahab. He took the reproof well. See the effect the reproo had upon him. He strictly searched his own kingdom. By what the prophe said, Jehoshaphat perceived that his former attempts for reformatio were well-pleasing to God; therefore he did what was then left undone It is good when commendations quicken us to our duty. There ar diversities of gifts and operations, but all from the same Spirit, and for the public good; and as every one has received the gift, so let his minister the same. Blessed be God for magistrates and ministers scribes and statesmen, men of books, and men of business. Observe the charge the king gave. They must do all in the fear of the Lord, with perfect, upright heart. And they must make it their constant care to prevent sin, as an offence to God, and what would bring wrath on the people _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 אל413 השׁפטים8199 ראו7200 מה4100 אתם859 עשׂים6213 כי3588 לא3808 לאדם120 תשׁפטו8199 כי3588 ליהוה3068 ועמכם5973 בדבר1697 משׁפט׃4941
