Bible Strands
1 Kings 13:33
Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records Jeroboam’s actions immediately after the prophet from Judah is killed and the altar in Bethel begins to fulfill its divinely pronounced destruction.
The words — The Hebrew phrase לֹא שָׁב מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה (lo shav midarko hara'ah) literally means "he did not turn back from his evil way." The verb שָׁב (shav) indicates a deliberate refusal to return or repent.
The thread — Jeroboam’s appointment of unqualified priests for unauthorized high places parallels the rebellion described in 2 Chronicles 11:15 and 2 Chronicles 13:9, standing in direct contrast to the consecrated priesthood established in Exodus 28:41.
Why it lands — The text states that Jeroboam ignored fulfilled prophecy and continued ordaining anyone who desired priestly office, and that this persistent, self-directed worship resulted in the complete extermination of his house.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 11:15 And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.
- 2 Chronicles 13:9 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.
- Exodus 28:41 After you put these garments on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint them, ordain them, and consecrate them so that they may serve Me as priests.
- Numbers 1:51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.
- Numbers 3:10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”
- Numbers 17:5 The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”
- Numbers 17:12 Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
- Judges 17:12 Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house.
- 1 Kings 12:31 Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.
- Psalms 78:34 When He slew them, they would seek Him; they repented and searched for God.