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2 Chronicles 19 · a question people ask

Jehu asks, "Should you… love those who hate the LORD?" Didn't Jesus say to love your enemies?

In the text

Here is what each passage says. Jehu's question comes after the alliance of chapter 18: Jehoshaphat "allied himself with Ahab" (18:1) and told him, "I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war" (18:3). Jehu asks, "Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD?" (19:2). The chapter doesn't name whom he means. Jesus said, "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). Neither passage speaks of the other, and these notes quote each as it stands without saying more than the verses say.

The verses

“Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he allied himself with Ahab.”
2 Chronicles 18:1 · World English Bible
“Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?” He answered him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people. We will be with you in the war.””
2 Chronicles 18:3 · World English Bible
“Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath is on you from before the LORD.”
2 Chronicles 19:2 · World English Bible
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,”
Matthew 5:44 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 19

2 Chronicles 19: Not for man, but for the LORD

Jehoshaphat's reason for his judges, "there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes" (19:7), is Moses' own description of the LORD, "who doesn’t respect persons or take bribes" (Deuteronomy 10:17), given as the reason for how Judah's judges were to judge.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions