2 Chronicles 13:9

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.

Have ye not cast out {H5080} the priests {H3548} of the LORD {H3068}, the sons {H1121} of Aaron {H175}, and the Levites {H3881}, and have made {H6213} you priests {H3548} after the manner of the nations {H5971} of other lands {H776}? so that whosoever cometh {H935} to consecrate {H4390}{H3027} himself with a young {H1121}{H1241} bullock {H6499} and seven {H7651} rams {H352}, the same may be a priest {H3548} of them that are no {H3808} gods {H430}.

Yes, you drove out the cohanim of ADONAI, the descendants of Aharon, and the L'vi'im; and you made yourselves priests as do the peoples in other countries, so that anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of those non-gods.

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.

Have ye not driven out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made you priests after the manner of the peoples 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.

Commentary

Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:9 (KJV)

2 Chronicles 13:9 is part of King Abijah of Judah's powerful speech to Jeroboam and the Northern Kingdom of Israel before a significant battle. This verse lays bare a core accusation against Jeroboam's religious innovations, highlighting the profound spiritual schism that accompanied the political division of the kingdom after Solomon's reign.

Context

Following the death of King Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel split into two: Judah in the south (ruled by Rehoboam, Solomon's son, and later Abijah) and Israel in the north (ruled by Jeroboam). Fearful that his subjects would return to Jerusalem to worship and potentially shift their allegiance back to the Davidic line, Jeroboam established new centers of worship in Dan and Bethel, complete with golden calves. This led to a significant religious upheaval, compelling the legitimate priests and Levites to migrate to Judah. Abijah's speech here serves as a powerful defense of Judah's adherence to the true worship of the LORD and a condemnation of Israel's apostasy. He emphasizes the stark contrast between Judah's faithfulness and Israel's deviation, particularly concerning the priesthood. For more on Jeroboam's actions, see 1 Kings 12:28-33.

Key Themes

  • Apostasy and False Worship: The verse directly confronts Jeroboam's rejection of God's prescribed worship. By casting out the legitimate priests and Levites, Israel abandoned the divine order for temple service and instituted a system of worship "after the manner of the nations," adopting pagan practices. This act represents a severe breach of the covenant.
  • The Legitimate Priesthood: Abijah stresses the divine appointment of the "priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites." According to God's law, only those from the tribe of Levi, specifically the descendants of Aaron, were authorized to serve as priests (Numbers 3:10). Jeroboamโ€™s creation of new, unauthorized priests was a direct defiance of God's established order.
  • Man-Made Religion vs. Divine Mandate: The phrase "whosoever cometh to consecrate himself" highlights the stark contrast between God's specific requirements for His priesthood and Jeroboam's open, self-appointed system. This made the priesthood accessible to anyone who could afford the prescribed offerings (a young bullock and seven rams), regardless of their lineage or spiritual qualification. This was a perversion of God's sacred institutions.
  • The Futility of Idolatry: The ultimate consequence of Jeroboam's actions was that these new priests served "them that are no gods." Abijah explicitly states that the deities worshipped by the nations were not true gods, emphasizing their powerlessness and non-existence compared to the living God of Israel. This underscores the emptiness and spiritual danger of false worship.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "no gods" translates the Hebrew lo elohim (ืœึนื ืึฑืœึนื”ึดื™ื), which literally means "not gods" or "non-gods." This powerful expression emphasizes the absolute non-existence and impotence of the idols and false deities worshipped by the surrounding nations, contrasting sharply with the true and living God of Israel. It's a theological declaration that there is only one true God, and all other purported deities are nothing. This concept is echoed elsewhere in Scripture, for instance, in 1 Corinthians 8:4, which states that "an idol is nothing in the world."

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of man-made religion and spiritual compromise.

  • Adherence to God's Word: It reminds us of the importance of adhering to God's revealed truth and established principles for worship and spiritual leadership, rather than inventing our own traditions or following popular trends.
  • Discernment of Authority: The passage encourages discernment regarding spiritual authority. True spiritual leadership is rooted in God's calling and His Word, not in human ambition or convenience.
  • Worship the True God: Ultimately, 2 Chronicles 13:9 calls us to worship the one true God alone, recognizing the emptiness and futility of any form of worship directed towards "no gods" or anything other than Him. Our worship should be sincere, informed by Scripture, and directed solely to the LORD.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 11:14

    For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:

  • 2 Chronicles 11:15

    And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

  • Jeremiah 2:11

    Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are] yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for [that which] doth not profit.

  • Exodus 29:35

    And thus shalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all [things] which I have commanded thee: seven days shalt thou consecrate them.

  • 1 Kings 13:33

    After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became [one] of the priests of the high places.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:5

    The gold for [things] of gold, and the silver for [things] of silver, and for all manner of work [to be made] by the hands of artificers. And who [then] is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?

  • Exodus 32:29

    For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
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