2 Chronicles 11:15
 2 Chronicles 11:15 
New International Version (©2011)
when he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the pagan shrines, where they worshiped the goat and calf idols he had made.

English Standard Version (©2001)
and he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat idols and for the calves that he had made.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and for the calves which he had made.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places, the goat-demons, and the golden calves he had made.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Jeroboam had appointed his own priests to serve at the high places and to serve the satyrs and calves that he had made.

NET Bible (©2006)
Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the worship centers and to lead in the worship of the goat idols and calf idols he had made.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Instead, Jeroboam appointed [his own] priests for the illegal worship sites and the goat and calf statues he had made as idols.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he ordained himself priests for the high places, and for the goat idols, and for the calf idols which he had made.

American King James Version
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

American Standard Version
and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he made to himself priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

Darby Bible Translation
and he ordained for himself priests for the high places, and for the he-goats and for the calves that he had made.

English Revised Version
and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

World English Bible
and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the male goats, and for the calves which he had made.

Young's Literal Translation
and he establisheth to him priests for high places, and for goats, and for calves, that he made --

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:13-23 When the priests and Levites came to Jerusalem, the devout, pious Israelites followed them. Such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, left the inheritance of their fathers, and went to Jerusalem, that they might have free access to the altar of God, and be out of the temptation to worship the calves. That is best for us, which is best for our souls; in all our choices, religious advantages must be sought before all outward conveniences. Where God's faithful priests are, his faithful people should be. And when it has been proved that we are willing to renounce our worldly interests, so far as we are called to do so for the sake of Christ and his gospel, we have good evidence that we are truly his disciples. And it is the interest of a nation to protect religion and religious people.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - The high places; i.e. Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:28-33). For the devils; i.e. for the "hairy ones" (שְׂעִירִים). Reference is intended to the idolatrous wore ship of the "he-goats" by the Hebrews, after the example of Egypt, and the reference here is either literal or derived (Leviticus 17:7). For the calves (see 1 Kings 12:28).


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he ordained him priests for the high places,.... Of such who were not of the tribe of Levi, and family of Aaron; see 1 Kings 12:31.

and for the devils; demons in the shape of goats, as this word signifies, in which form many of the Heathen deities were worshipped; idols of whatsoever kind are so called; for whosoever worships them worships not God, but devils, 1 Corinthians 10:21 the images which Jeroboam set up may be meant, and the next clause may be rendered as explanative of them:

even for the calves which he had made; one of which he set up at Dan, and the other at Bethel, 1 Kings 12:28.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

15. he ordained him priests—The persons he appointed to the priesthood were low and worthless creatures (1Ki 12:31; 13:33); any were consecrated who brought a bullock and seven rams (2Ch 13:9; Ex 29:37).

for the high places—Those favorite places of religious worship were encouraged throughout the country.

for the devils—a term sometimes used for idols in general (Le 17:7). But here it is applied distinctively to the goat deities, which were probably worshipped chiefly in the northern parts of his kingdom, where the heathen Canaanites still abounded.

for the calves which he had made—figures of the ox gods Apis and Mnevis, with which Jeroboam's residence in Egypt had familiarized him. (See on [432]1Ki 12:26).


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Priests and Levites Forsaken by Jeroboam
13And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 14For 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 to the LORD: 15And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

Leviticus 17:7 They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.'
1 Kings 12:31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites.
1 Kings 13:33 Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places.
1 Kings 14:9 You have done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me.
2 Chronicles 13:8 "And now you plan to resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David's descendants. You are indeed a vast army and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods.
2 Chronicles 13:9 But didn't you drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own as the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods.