AfterthiseventJeroboamdid not returnfrom his evilway,but againhe madepriestsof the highplacesfrom among allthe people;any who would,he ordained,to be priestsof the highplaces.
He didevilin the sightof the LORD,and walkedin the wayof his fatherand in his sinwhichhe made Israelsin.
However,[as for] the sinsof Jeroboamthe sonof Nebat,whichhe made Israelsin,from these Jehudid not depart,[even] the goldencalvesthat [were] at Betheland that [were] at Dan.
He setup priestsof his own for the highplaces,for the satyrsand for the calveswhichhe had made.
"Have you not drivenout the priestsof the LORD,the sonsof Aaronand the Levites,and madefor yourselves priestslike the peoplesof [other] lands?Whoevercomesto consecratehimselfwith a youngbulland sevenrams,even he may becomea priestof [what are] nogods.
but soughtthe Godof his father,followedHis commandments,and did not actas Israeldid.
Now in the timeof his distressthissameKingAhazbecameyetmoreunfaithfulto the LORD.
WhenHe killedthem, then they soughtHim, And returnedand searcheddiligentlyfor God;
"You shall putthem on Aaronyour brotherand on his sonswith him; and you shall anointthem and ordainthem and consecratethem, that they may serveMe as priests.
Thoughyou pounda foolin a mortarwith a pestlealongwith crushedgrain,[Yet] his foolishnesswill not departfrom him.
But the vesselthat he was makingof claywas spoiledin the handof the potter;so he remadeit into anothervessel,as it pleasedthe potterto make.
O LORD,do not Your eyes[look] for truth?You have smittenthem, [But] they did not weaken;You have consumedthem, But they refusedto takecorrection.They have madetheir facesharderthanrock;They have refusedto repent.
For behold,the LORDis going to commandthat the greathousebe smashedto piecesand the smallhouseto fragments.
Then Amaziah,the priestof Bethel,sent[word] to Jeroboamkingof Israel,saying,"Amoshas conspiredagainstyou in the midstof the houseof Israel;the landis unableto endureallhis words.
"So when the tabernacleis to setout, the Levitesshall takeit down;and when the tabernacleencamps,the Levitesshall setit up. But the laymanwho comesnearshall be putto death.
"It will comeabout that the rodof the manwhomI choosewill sprout.Thus I will lessenfrom upon Myself the grumblingsof the sonsof Israel,whoare grumblingagainstyou."
"So you shall appointAaronand his sonsthat they may keeptheir priesthood,but the laymanwho comesnearshall be putto death."
But evilmenand impostorswill proceed[from bad] to worse,deceivingand being deceived.
So Micahconsecratedthe Levite,and the youngmanbecamehis priestand livedin the houseof Micah.
And the manMicahhad a shrineand he madean ephodand householdidolsand consecratedoneof his sons,that he might becomehis priest.
