2 Chronicles 13:9

Translations

Modern

But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? And did you not make priests for yourselves as do the peoples of other lands? Now whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of things that are not gods.

Traditional

Have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.

Literal

Have you not cast out the priests of YHWH, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of the lands? Everyone comes to consecrate himself with a bull, a son of the herd, and seven rams, and he will be a priest of what are not gods.

Latin

Et ejecistis sacerdotes Domini, filios Aaron, atque Levitas, et fecistis vobis sacerdotes sicut omnes populi terrarum: quicumque venerit, et initiaverit manum suam in tauro de bobus, et in arietibus septem, fit sacerdos eorum qui non sunt dii.

Original

Hebrew

English

But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? And did you not make priests for yourselves as do the peoples of other lands? Now whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of things that are not gods.

Notes

2 Chronicles 13:8–9

Abijah’s speech highlighted two main points about the northern rebellion: The north rejected:

The rightful king
The true place of worship

The northerners' revolt, where they expelled the proper priestly order, contrasts sharply with us (2 Chronicles 13:10). The most objectionable issues were the worship of the calves and the role of unauthorized priests.

Theme notes and profiles

Jeroboam I

Related verses

2 Chronicles 11:14–15
For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD.
Jeremiah 2:11
Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
Exodus 29:35
This is what you are to do for Aaron and his sons based on all that I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them.
Leviticus 8:2
“Take Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,
Exodus 32:29
Afterward, Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so the LORD has bestowed a blessing on you this day.”
Acts 19:26
And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
Hosea 8:6
For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.
Leviticus 16:32
The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest shall make atonement. He will put on the sacred linen garments
1 Chronicles 29:5
…for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who is willing to consecrate himself to the LORD today?”
Exodus 29:1
“Now this is what you are to do to consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve Me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without blemish,
1 Kings 12:31–33
Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.
2 Kings 19:18
They have cast their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods, but only wood and stone—the work of human hands.

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites

Glossary

Abijah Abijam Chronicles, Books of First and Second Genealogy Jehoram Jeroboam

Topics

Faith: And Other Conquests Faithfulness: Abijah God: Preserver by Abijah Jeroboam: First King of Israel After the Revolt: Subverts the Religion of Moses Kings: Who Reigned Over Judah: Abijam or Abijah Levites: Degraded from the Levitical office by Jeroboam Rebellion: Revolt of the Ten Tribes Reproof: Faithfulness in a Prophet of Judah, of Jeroboam War: Enemy Harangued by the General of the Opposing Side

2 Chronicles 13:9

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