2 Chronicles 13:8

⁶ Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.

⁷ Then worthless and wicked men gathered around him to resist Rehoboam son of Solomon when he was young, inexperienced, and unable to resist them.

And now you think you can resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army, and you have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.

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.

¹⁰ But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not forsaken Him; the priests who minister to the LORD are sons of Aaron, and the Levites attend to their duties.

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: And now you think you can resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army, and you have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods.
KJV: And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
WEB: “Now you intend to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David. You are a great multitude, and the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods are with you.
ASV: And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of David; and ye are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.
DARBY: And now ye think to shew yourselves strong against the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of David; and ye are a great multitude, and ye have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made you for gods.
BLB: And you⁺ are saying to strengthen yourselves before the face of the kingdom of YHWH in the hand of the sons of David, and you⁺ [are] a great multitude, and with you⁺ [are] the gold calves that Jeroboam made for you⁺ as gods.

ÅB: Og nå tenker dere at dere kan stå dere mot Herrens kongedømme, som Davids sønner har i hende, fordi dere er en stor hop og har hos dere de gullkalver som Jeroboam lot gjøre for at de skulle være deres guder.
OTB: Så nå har dere til hensikt å hevde dere mot Herrens kongedømme gjennom Davids sønner, som er en stor mengde og har med dere gullkalvene som Jeroboam laget til guder for dere.
B1930: Og nu tenker I at I kan stå eder mot Herrens kongedømme, som Davids sønner har i hende, fordi I er en stor hop og har hos eder de gullkalver som Jeroboam lot gjøre forat de skulde være eders guder.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Kings 12:28
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
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.
Read in context
Isaiah 7:6–7
‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’
Read in context
Isaiah 9:6–7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 20:12
Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Read in context
Psalms 33:16
No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.
Read in context
2 Chronicles 14:9–11
Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.
Read in context
Psalms 2:1–6
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
Read in context