2 Chronicles 13:9

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. 2 Chronicles 13:9 (KJV)

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. 2 Chronicles 13:9 (KJV)

This verse belongs to a larger passage that records the confrontation between Abijah, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Abijah addresses Jeroboam and his people, accusing them of rebelling against God’s ordained priesthood and of adopting foreign religious practices.

Casting out the priests of the Lord: Abijah charges that the northern kingdom has removed the legitimate priests of the Lord, those descended from Aaron and belonging to the tribe of Levi. By casting out the authorized priests, the people have undermined the divine order that God established for worship and service in the tabernacle and later in the temple.

Making priests after the manner of the nations: He further accuses them of establishing a priesthood that imitates the customs of surrounding nations. Instead of following God’s prescribed system of worship, they introduced foreign rituals, a clear departure from true worship and a violation of the commandments given to Moses.

Consecrating oneself with a young bullock and seven rams: The verse highlights a specific ritual used by the unauthorized priests. According to the text, anyone could become a priest by offering a young bullock and seven rams. This practice was not authorized by God and was performed in the worship of false deities.

The overall message of this passage is a warning against departing from God’s ordained ways and embracing foreign practices and false worship. Abijah emphasizes the importance of upholding the divinely appointed priesthood and adhering to proper worship of God. By studying this verse, believers learn the significance of remaining faithful to God’s commands, not compromising worship with practices contrary to His Word, and recognizing and respecting the authority that God has established for the leadership and administration of His people.