2 Chronicles 19:8

the chief of the fathers of Israel R.V. the heads of the fathers" houses of Israel.

for the judgment of the Lord, and for controversies By the first expression the Chronicler no doubt refers to matters regarding which some decision could be found in the Law of the Lord (i.e. the Pentateuch). The second ("controversies") probably means civil disputes for which arbitration rather than a strictly legal decision was suitable.

when they returnedto Jerusalem R.V. And they returned to Jerusalem. These words seem to be corrupt; read, and they (i.e. the judges appointed by Jehoshaphat) dwelt in Jerusalem. The most difficult cases could alwaysbe decided in Jerusalem, because the judges were always there.