Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Chronicles 11:14
For 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 unto the LORD:
14. suburbs ] See note on 1Ch 5:16.
had cast them off from executing ] R.V. cast them off, that they should not execute. In 1 Kin. (1Ki 12:31; 1Ki 13:33) it is not said that Jeroboam rejected the tribe of Levi, but only that he allowed men of any tribe to become priests; “he made priests from among all the people” (R.V.).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Jeroboam probably confiscated the Levitical lands for the benefit of this new priesthood. Under these circumstances the priests and Levites emigrated in large numbers to the southern kingdom; an act which was followed by a general emigration of the more pious Israelites 2Ch 11:16.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. The Levites left their suburbs] They and the priests were expelled from their offices by Jeroboam, lest they should turn the hearts of the people to the true God, and then they would revolt to Judah, 1Kg 12:26; and therefore he established a new worship, and made new gods.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They would not suffer them to instruct and assist the Israelites in the worship and service of God, nor to go up to Jerusalem to worship in their courses; and these priests would not join with them in the worship of the calves, as they were desired and commanded to do; and therefore they willingly forsook all their patrimonies and possessions for Gods sake.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession,…. The cities and the fields adjacent to them, which were given them in the several tribes, and were in all forty eight; see Jos 21:1 and came to Judah and Jerusalem; to the cities of Judah, which belonged to the Levites; and to Jerusalem, where they exercised their functions:
for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from exercising the priest’s office unto the Lord; neither suffering them to go to Jerusalem in their courses, as they used to do by turns, nor to perform their office in their own dwellings, according to the law of God, in teaching and instructing the people.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14) Their suburbs.Pasture-grounds (Num. 35:1-8).
And their possessioni.e., the cities assigned to them among the ten tribes.
Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priests office unto the Lord.See 1Ki. 12:26-31. There we are told that, as a matter of policy, Jeroboam established two centres of worship within his own dominions, so that his subjects might cease to visit the Temple of Jerusalem. In appointing priests chosen promiscuously from all classes of the people to minister in the new sanctuaries, Jeroboam struck a direct blow at the Levitical order, and thrust them out from acting as priests to Jehovah, as our verse declares.
And his sons.Usually explained to mean his successors on the throne. (Comp. 1Ch. 3:16.) For in this matter all the kings of Israel walked in the footsteps of Jeroboam (Keil). Of Jeroboams own sons Nadab was the only one who reigned (1Ki. 15:25 sqq.); and the narrative of Kings (1 Kings 14, 15) mentions but one other son of this king. It does not, however, exclude the possibility of there having been more than these two, and if there were, they may have co-operated with their father in his religious policy.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. For Jeroboam cast them off The priests and Levites probably opposed Jeroboam’s innovations, and for that reason suffered persecution, and many of them may have been obliged to leave their suburbs and possessions.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
We have here introduced, in a parenthesis, a short but awful sketch of the infamous character of Jeroboam, which is spoken of in scripture in such dreadful terms of reproach.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
suburbs: Num 35:2-5, Jos 21:20-42, 1Ch 6:66-81
their possession: Lev 27:30-34, Num 18:21-28
Jeroboam: 2Ch 13:9, 1Ki 12:28-33, 1Ki 13:33
Reciprocal: Exo 28:1 – among Num 35:3 – General Deu 12:19 – Take 1Ki 12:31 – priests 2Ki 4:42 – bread Jer 23:38 – ye say Luk 1:8 – he
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ch 11:14. For Jeroboam and his sons cast them off They would not suffer them to instruct the Israelites in the worship of God, nor to go up to Jerusalem to worship in their courses: and these priests would not join with them in the worship of the calves, as they were commanded by Jeroboam to do; and therefore they willingly forsook all their patrimonies and possessions for Gods sake. No secular advantages whatsoever should detain us there, where we are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. It was a mercy to these priests and Levites that they had a place of refuge to flee to; and that, when Jeroboam cast them off, there were those so near that would receive and bid them welcome; and that they were not forced to flee into the lands of the heathen. And it was an evidence that they loved their work better than their maintenance, in that they left their suburbs and possessions in the country, where they might have lived at ease upon their own property, because they were restrained from serving God there, and in that, casting themselves upon Gods providence, and the charity of their brethren, they came where they might have the full enjoyment of Gods ordinances, according to his own institution. They judged that poverty, in the way of duty, was to be chosen, rather than plenty, in the way of sin; and that it was better to live upon alms, or die in a prison, with a good conscience, than roll in wealth and pleasure with a prostituted one. At the same time, it was the wisdom and praise of Rehoboam and his people, that they bid them welcome, though they probably incommoded themselves to make room for them. Conscientious refugees bring a blessing along with them to the countries that entertain them, as they leave a curse behind them with those that expel them.