2 Chronicles 11:13-17·~1 min

Jeroboam Forsakes the Priests and Levites

Priests and Levites from across Israel stand with Rehoboam because Jeroboam rejects them as priests of the LORD and installs his own priests for illicit worship. The movement south begins as a response to broken worship in the north.

M¹³oreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam. ¹⁴For 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. ¹⁵And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

Others from every tribe who are set on seeking the LORD follow them to Jerusalem to sacrifice there. Their presence strengthens Judah and supports Rehoboam for three years while the kingdom walks in the way of David and Solomon.

¹⁶Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. ¹⁷So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

Section summaryAs Jeroboam rejects the LORD’s priests and establishes his own cult, priests, Levites, and other seekers of the LORD leave Israel for Judah and Jerusalem. Their arrival gives spiritual and political strength to Rehoboam’s kingdom for a time.

Role in the chapterThis section explains why Judah’s strength is more than military. The kingdom is reinforced by people who gather around right worship after Jeroboam drives them away.