2 Chronicles 11:15-16
and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for the calves that he had made. And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to just see "he appointed his own priests" and move on, but the verse highlights the kind of priests he appointed: those serving "high places," "goat idols," and "calves." This wasn't just a minor organizational change; he was deliberately setting up a rival worship system, deliberately choosing to serve the things God explicitly condemned, not just appointing any priests he pleased.
Following Solomon's death, the kingdom split, and Jeroboam, now king of the northern tribes, wanted to prevent his people from going back to Jerusalem for worship. To solidify his rule and create a distinct religious system, he set up his own unauthorized places of worship with appointed priests and idols. This verse highlights Jeroboam's deliberate act of establishing a corrupted, man-made religion to keep Israel from the God of their fathers.
Jeroboam had a choice: follow God's clear commands or forge his own religious path. Sadly, he chose the latter, and the consequences were profound.
The Birth of Alternative Worship
After the kingdom split, Jeroboam, now king of the northern tribes, feared that the people might return to worshipping in Jerusalem under King Rehoboam of Judah.
To prevent this, he established a new religious system in his own territory. He made two golden calves, setting one up in Bethel and the other in Dan. This wasn't about worshipping the true God in a new way; it was a direct violation of God's commands against idolatry.
Appointing Unauthorized Priests
Verse 15 tells us he appointed his own priests. These weren't Levites chosen according to God's law. Instead, "whoever would, he consecrated him to be a priest of the high places." This opened the door to anyone, regardless of lineage or spiritual qualification, to lead worship. This syncretistic approach blended elements of Canaanite religion, focusing on fertility symbols like goat idols alongside the calves, creating a deeply corrupted form of worship.
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God's instructions for worship were specific and exclusive. Jeroboam's 'high places' and idols represent a deliberate turning away from God's covenant.
Worship Redefined, Not Renewed
The "high places" were often natural elevations used for worship, and they were frequently associated with pagan deities and idolatrous practices in the ancient Near East.
Jeroboam co-opted these existing sites and corrupted them further by placing his golden calves and goat idols there. This wasn't just a different style of worship; it was a wholesale rejection of the tabernacle (and later, the temple) and the prescribed Levitical priesthood.
The Deception of Idolatry
Idols, like the golden calves and goat figures, offered a tangible, visible 'god' that people could control and manipulate. They promised fertility, prosperity, and security, but they were ultimately empty and deceptive. Worshipping them led the people away from the true, invisible God who desired a relationship based on faith and obedience, not appeasement of carved images.
Understand the original words
bamah · Hebrew Noun
High places, or 'bamah', were elevated locations often used for worship. In the Bible, they are frequently associated with illicit worship or idolatry outside of the central sanctuary appointed by God.
sa'ir · Hebrew Noun
Represents demonic powers or false deities, frequently associated with immoral or idolatrous worship practices that stand in direct opposition to the worship of the one true God.
egel · Hebrew Noun
Images of calves created by Jeroboam to serve as alternative sites of worship, representing a departure from the Mosaic Law and a snare of syncretism and idolatry.
lebab · Hebrew Noun
A mental and spiritual commitment or resolution; the seat of the will, intellect, and emotions in biblical anthropology.
darash · Hebrew Verb
To inquire of, investigate, or pursue with diligence; often used of seeking God's will, presence, or help.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the covenant God of Israel, YHWH, who revealed Himself as the Redeemer and Sustainer of His people.
zabach · Hebrew Verb
A ritual act of offering an animal or gift to God, signifying devotion, atonement, or thanksgiving in accordance with covenantal law.
This verse highlights the immediate aftermath of the kingdom's division, as Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, quickly established a state-sponsored idolatrous religion to solidify his rule and sever ties with the Jerusalem temple.
c. 975 BC
Death of King Solomon
Solomon's reign ended, and his son Rehoboam was set to succeed him as king over all Israel.
c. 975 BC
Israel Splits into Two Kingdoms
The northern tribes of Israel revolted under Jeroboam, rejecting Rehoboam and establishing the separate Kingdom of Israel. Rehoboam remained king of the southern Kingdom of Judah.
c. 975 BC— this verse
Jeroboam Sets Up Idolatry
To prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem (in Judah) to worship, Jeroboam established new religious centers with golden calves at Bethel and Dan, appointing his own priests.
c. 975 BC
Rehoboam Fortifies Judah
King Rehoboam, facing the split, strengthened the defenses of Judah, anticipating conflict with the northern kingdom.
c. 970 BC
Shishak Invades Judah
Pharaoh Shishak of Egypt marched into Judah, capturing many fortified cities and eventually reaching Jerusalem.
This verse parallels Jeroboam's actions, showing the same pattern of establishing unauthorized priests for his own created gods and calves, highlighting the widespread religious corruption in the northern kingdom.
Exodus 32:4This passage describes the creation of the golden calf by Aaron and the Israelites, revealing the deep-seated temptation to create physical representations of God and establish their own worship systems outside of God's command.
Hosea 10:5The prophet Hosea prophesied against the calf idol at Beth-aven, illustrating the severe judgment that would come upon the people for their idolatry and the creation of illegitimate places and objects of worship.
Leviticus 17:7God explicitly warned the Israelites against sacrificing to goat demons (or familiar spirits), showing that the practice of appointing priests for such idolatry was a direct violation of His ordained worship.
It's easy to just see "he appointed his own priests" and move on, but the verse highlights the kind of priests he appointed: those serving "high places," "goat idols," and "calves." This wasn't just a minor organizational change; he was deliberately setting up a rival worship system, deliberately choosing to serve the things God explicitly condemned, not just appointing any priests he pleased.
Following Solomon's death, the kingdom split, and Jeroboam, now king of the northern tribes, wanted to prevent his people from going back to Jerusalem for worship. To solidify his rule and create a distinct religious system, he set up his own unauthorized places of worship with appointed priests and idols. This verse highlights Jeroboam's deliberate act of establishing a corrupted, man-made religion to keep Israel from the God of their fathers.
Following Solomon's death, the kingdom split, and Jeroboam, now king of the northern tribes, wanted to prevent his people from going back to Jerusalem for worship. To solidify his rule and create a distinct religious system, he set up his own unauthorized places of worship with appointed priests and idols. This verse highlights Jeroboam's deliberate act of establishing a corrupted, man-made religion to keep Israel from the God of their fathers.
"and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for the calves that he had made. And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem t…" — It's easy to just see "he appointed his own priests" and move on, but the verse highlights the kind of priests he appointed: those serving "high places," "goat idols," and "calves." This wasn't jus…
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