Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, May 13th, 2025
the Fourth Week after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

2 Chronicles 13:9

Have you not thrown out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made priests to yourselves like the peoples of the lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a bull, a son of the herd, and sevenrams, even he becomes a priest to no gods.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Faith;   Faithfulness;   Jeroboam;   Levites;   Rebellion;   Reproof;   War;   Thompson Chain Reference - Animals;   Bullocks;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Kings;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Abijah;   Jeroboam;   King, Kings;   Levites;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Abijah (abijam);   Jeroboam;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Chronicles, Theology of;   Priest, Christ as;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Earth;   Zemaraim;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Israel;   Jeroboam;   Priest;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Chronicles, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Chronicles, I;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Abijah ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Judah the kingdom of;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Calf, Golden;   Consecrate;   Israel, Kingdom of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abijah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Didn’t you banish the priests of the Lord, the descendants of Aaron and the Levites, and make your own priests like the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to ordain himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.
Hebrew Names Version
Haven't you driven out the Kohanim of the LORD, the sons of Aharon, and the Levites, and made you Kohanim after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, the same may be a Kohen of [those who are] no gods.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord , the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes for ordination with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are not gods.
New Century Version
You have thrown out the Levites and the Lord 's priests, Aaron's sons. You have chosen your own priests as people in other countries do. Anyone who comes with a young bull and seven male sheep can become a priest of idols that are not gods.
New English Translation
But you banished the Lord 's priests, Aaron's descendants, and the Levites, and appointed your own priests just as the surrounding nations do! Anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of these fake gods!
Amplified Bible
"Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? So whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of non-existent gods (idols).
New American Standard Bible
"Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of things that are not gods.
World English Bible
Haven't you driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made you priests after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, the same may be a priest of [those who are] no gods.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Haue ye not driuen away the Priestes of the Lorde the sonnes of Aaron and the Leuites, and haue made you Priests like the people of other countreis? whosoeuer commeth to consecrate with a yong bullocke and seuen rams, the same may be a Priest of them that are no gods.
Legacy Standard Bible
Have you not driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to ordain himself with a bull from the herd and seven rams, even he may become a priest of what are no gods.
Berean Standard Bible
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.
Contemporary English Version
You don't even have descendants of Aaron on your side, because you forced out the Lord 's priests and Levites. In their place, you appoint ordinary people to be priests, just as the foreign nations do. In fact, anyone who brings a bull and seven rams to the altar can become a priest of your so-called gods.
Complete Jewish Bible
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.
Darby Translation
Have ye not cast out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made you priests as the peoples of the lands? whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, he becomes a priest of what is not God.
Easy-to-Read Version
You threw out the Lord 's priests, the descendants of Aaron. And you threw out the Levites. Then you chose your own priests, as every other nation on earth does. And now, anyone who will bring a young bull and seven rams can become a priest to serve these ‘no-gods.'
George Lamsa Translation
And you have cast out the priests the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and have made priests for yourselves of the people of the land. And whosoever comes to offer an offering, you take from him a young bullock and seven rams, and he becomes a priest of them that are not gods.
Good News Translation
You drove out the Lord 's priests, the descendants of Aaron, and you drove out the Levites. In their place you appointed priests in the same way that other nations do. Anybody who comes along with a bull or seven sheep can get himself consecrated as a priest of those so-called gods of yours.
Lexham English Bible
Did you not drive out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, the Levites? Have you not made for yourselves priests like all the peoples of the lands? All who come to be consecrated for priestly service with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what is not a god.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Haue ye not expelled the prestes of the LORDE the children of Aaron and the Leuites? and haue made you prestes of youre awne, euen as the people of the londes? Who so euer commeth to fyll his hande with a yonge bullocke and seuen rammes, shal be preste vnto them that are not goddes.
American Standard Version
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.
Bible in Basic English
And after driving out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, have you not made priests for yourselves as the people of other lands do? so that anyone who comes to make himself priest by offering an ox or seven sheep, may be a priest of those who are no gods.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And haue ye not cast out the priestes of the Lorde the sonnes of Aaron and the Leuites, and haue made you priestes after the maner of the nations of other landes? so that whosoeuer commeth & consecrateth his hande with a young oxe and seuen rammes, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Have ye not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have 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 becometh a priest of them that are no gods.
King James Version (1611)
Haue yee not cast out the Priests of the Lord the sonnes of Aaron, and the Leuites, and haue made you priests after the maner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoeuer commeth to consecrate himselfe with a young bullocke and seuen rammes, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Did ye not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make to yourselves priests of the people of any other land? whoever came to consecrate himself with a calf of the heard and seven rams, he forthwith became a priest to that which is no god.
English Revised Version
Have ye not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have 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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And ye han caste a wei the preestis of the Lord, the sones of Aaron, and dekenes, and ye han maad preestis to you, as alle the puplis of londis han preestis; who euer cometh and halewith his hond in a bole, in oxis, and in seuene wetheris, anoon he is maad preest of hem that ben not goddis.
Update Bible Version
Haven't you driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, the same may be a priest of [those that are] no gods.
Webster's Bible Translation
Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made for you priests after the manner of the nations of [other] lands? so that whoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, [the same] may be a priest of [them that are] no gods.
New King James Version
Have you not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that are not gods?
New Living Translation
But you have chased away the priests of the Lord (the descendants of Aaron) and the Levites, and you have appointed your own priests, just like the pagan nations. You let anyone become a priest these days! Whoever comes to be dedicated with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of these so-called gods of yours!
New Life Bible
Have you not driven out the religious leaders of the Lord, the sons of Aaron and the Levites? And have you not made religious leaders for yourselves like the people of other lands? Whoever comes to make himself holy with a young bull and seven rams becomes a religious leader of false gods.
New Revised Standard
Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord , the descendants of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to be consecrated with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are no gods.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Have ye not driven out the priests of Yahweh, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, - and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of the countries? Whosoever cometh to install himself with a young bullock, and seven rams, then becometh he a priest unto the, no-gods.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And you have cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites: and you have made you priests, like all the nations of the earth: whosoever cometh and consecrateth his hand with a bullock of the herd, and with seven rams, is made a priest of those who are no gods.
Revised Standard Version
Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are no gods.
Young's Literal Translation
`Have ye not cast out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make to you priests like the peoples of the lands? every one who hath come to fill his hand with a bullock, a son of the herd, and seven rams, even he hath been a priest to No-gods!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams, even he may become a priest of what are no gods.

Contextual Overview

1 In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned three years in Jerusalem. And the name of his mother was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel, from Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. 3 And Abijah joined the battle with an army of mighty men of war, four hundred thousand chosen men. And Jeroboam had set the battle in order with him, with eight hundred thousand chosen men, mighty men of valor. 4 And Abijah stood up on Mount Zemaraim in the hills of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, Jeroboam and all Israel. 5 Do you not know that Jehovah the God of Israel has given the kingdom to David over Israel forever, to him and to his sons, a covenant of salt? 6 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon, the son of David has risen up and rebelled against his lord. 7 And vain men gathered to him, sons of worthlessness, and they made themselves strong against Rehoboam the son of Solomon; and Rehoboam was a youth and tender of heart, and could not be strong against them. 8 And now you think to be strong against the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of David. And you are a great host; yea, with you are calves of gold that Jeroboam has made as gods to you. 9 Have you not thrown out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made priests to yourselves like the peoples of the lands? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a bull, a son of the herd, and sevenrams, even he becomes a priest to no gods. 10 As for us, Jehovah is our God, and we have not forsaken Him; yea, priests are serving Jehovah, the sons of Aaron and the Levites, in the work,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

cast out: 2 Chronicles 11:14, 2 Chronicles 11:15

made you priests: 1 Kings 12:31-33, 1 Kings 13:33

consecrate himself: Heb. fill his hand, Exodus 32:29, Leviticus 16:32, 1 Chronicles 29:5, *marg.

young: Exodus 29:1, Exodus 29:35, Leviticus 8:2

no gods: Deuteronomy 32:17, 2 Kings 19:18, Jeremiah 2:11, Hosea 8:6, Acts 19:26, Galatians 4:8

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 29:31 - consecrated yourselves Ezekiel 11:12 - but Amos 7:10 - the priest

Cross-References

Genesis 13:8
And Abram said to Lot, Please let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are men, brothers.
Genesis 13:12
And Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the circuit, and tented as far as Sodom.
Genesis 13:13
And the men of Sodom were evil and sinners before Jehovah, exceedingly so.
Genesis 13:18
Then Abram moved his tent and came and lived among the oaks of Mamre, which were in Hebron; and he built an altar to Jehovah there.
Genesis 20:15
Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before you. Live where it pleases you.
Genesis 34:10
And live with us, and the land is before you; live and trade in it, and get property in it.
Psalms 120:7
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
Romans 12:18
If possible, from you being in peace with all men;
1 Corinthians 6:7
Indeed, then, there is already a failure with you all, that you have lawsuits with yourselves. Why not instead be wronged? Why not instead be defrauded?
Hebrews 12:14
Eagerly pursue peace and holiness with all, without which no one will see the Lord,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Have ye not cast out the priests of the Lord the sons of Aaron, and the Levites,.... Because they would not sacrifice to his idols, and that they might not instruct the people in the pure worship of God, and that he and his people might be free from the payment of tithes, firstfruits, c. and their cities fall into his hands:

and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of [other] lands? after the manner of the Gentiles, without any regard to any particular tribe, which God had appointed those to be taken from:

so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams which were five more than what were required by the law of Moses for the consecration of a priest, Exodus 29:1, the same

may be a priest of [them that are] no gods; by nature, only nominal and fictitious deities, as the calves were, which had no divinity in them, see 1 Kings 13:31.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Seven rams - “A bullock and two rams” was the offering which God had required at the original consecration of the sons of Aaron Exodus 29:1; Leviticus 8:2. Jeroboam, for reasons of his own, enlarged the sacrifice, and required it at the consecration of every priest.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Chronicles 13:9. A young bullock and seven rams — He who could provide these for his own consecration was received into the order of this spurious and wicked priesthood. Some think he who could give to Jeroboam a young bullock and seven rams, was thereby received into the priesthood; this being the price for which the priesthood was conferred. The former is most likely.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile