2 Chronicles 11:14

12 He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

13 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.

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.

15 And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.

16 Those 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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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:
WEB
For the Levites left their pasture lands and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem; for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office to the LORD.
ASV
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest`s office unto Jehovah;
DARBY
for the Levites left their suburbs and their possessions, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from exercising the priesthood to Jehovah;
BLB
For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possession, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them from serving as priests to YHWH.
ÅB
for levittene forlot sine jorder og sin eiendom og dro til Juda og Jerusalem, fordi Jeroboam og hans sønner[^1] drev dem bort fra deres tjeneste som prester for Herren,
OTB
For levittene forlot sine beitemarker og sine eiendommer og kom til Juda og Jerusalem, fordi Jeroboam og hans sønner hadde utelukket dem fra å tjene som prester for Herren.
B1930
for levittene forlot sine jorder og sin eiendom og drog til Juda og Jerusalem, fordi Jeroboam og hans sønner drev dem bort fra deres tjeneste som prester for Herren, / < d.e. efterfølgere.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 35:2–5

    “Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 12:28–33

    After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

    Read in context
  • Numbers 18:21–28

    Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.

    Read in context
  • Joshua 21:20–42

    The remaining Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted these cities: From the tribe of Ephraim

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 27:30–34

    Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.

    Read in context
  • 1 Chronicles 6:66–81

    And some of the clans of the Kohathites were given cities from the tribe of Ephraim for their territory:

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context