12:31 He built temples 17 on the high places and appointed as priests people who were not Levites. 12:32 Jeroboam inaugurated a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, 18 like the festival celebrated in Judah. 19 On the altar in Bethel he offered sacrifices to the calves he had made. 20 In Bethel he also appointed priests for the high places he had made.
12:33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month (a date he had arbitrarily chosen) 21 Jeroboam 22 offered sacrifices on the altar he had made in Bethel. 23 He inaugurated a festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to offer sacrifices.
13:33 After this happened, Jeroboam still did not change his evil ways; 24 he continued to appoint common people 25 as priests at the high places. Anyone who wanted the job he consecrated as a priest. 26 13:34 This sin caused Jeroboam’s dynasty 27 to come to an end and to be destroyed from the face of the earth.
1 tn The Hebrew text has “because” at the beginning of the sentence. In the Hebrew text vv. 2-3 are one sentence comprised of a causal clause giving the reason for divine punishment (v. 2) and the main clause announcing the punishment (v. 3). The translation divides this sentence for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “walked in the way of Jeroboam.”
3 tn Heb “angering me by their sins.”
4 tn Heb “and also through Jehu son of Hanani the word of the
5 tn Heb “angering him by the work of his hands, so that he was like the house of Jeroboam, and because of how he struck it down.”
6 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
7 tn Heb “walking in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he did to make Israel sin.”
8 tn Heb “said in his heart.”
9 tn Heb “Now the kingdom could return to the house of David.” The imperfect verbal form translated “could return” is understood as having a potential force here. Perhaps this is not strong enough; another option is “will return.”
10 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
11 tn Heb “the heart of these people could return to their master.”
12 tn The words “with his advisers” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
13 tn Heb “to them,” although this may be a corruption of “to the people.” Cf. the Old Greek translation.
14 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.
15 tn Heb “and this thing became a sin.”
16 tc The MT reads “and the people went before the one to Dan.” It is likely that some words have been accidentally omitted and that the text originally said, “and the people went before the one at Bethel and before the one at Dan.”
17 tn The Hebrew text has the singular, but the plural is preferable here (see 1 Kgs 13:32). The Old Greek translation and the Vulgate have the plural.
18 sn The eighth month would correspond to October-November in modern reckoning.
19 sn The festival he celebrated in Judah probably refers to the Feast of Tabernacles (i.e., Booths or Temporary Shelters), held in the seventh month (September-October). See also 1 Kgs 8:2.
20 tn Heb “and he offered up [sacrifices] on the altar; he did this in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made.”
21 tn Heb “which he had chosen by himself.”
22 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jeroboam) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
23 map For location see Map4-G4; Map5-C1; Map6-E3; Map7-D1; Map8-G3.
24 tn Heb “did not turn from his evil way.”
25 sn The expression common people refers to people who were not Levites. See 1 Kgs 12:31.
26 tn Heb “and one who had the desire he was filling his hand so that he became [one of] the priests of the high places.”
27 tn Heb “house.”