After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.
Even after this happened, Jeroboam didn't turn away from his evil ways. Instead, he continued appointing priests for the worship sites on the hills, choosing people from the common population. Anyone who wanted to become a priest, he would consecrate them, and they became priests of these hilltop worship places.
The writer is showing that King Jeroboam stubbornly continued his religious sins even after being warned, carelessly appointing unqualified priests from anyone willing to serve.
📚 Historical Context
In the divided kingdom of Israel after Solomon's reign, Jeroboam became the king of the northern tribes and established idolatrous worship sites with golden calves to keep his people from traveling to Jerusalem in the southern kingdom. Despite a prophet's direct warning and a miraculous sign from God, Jeroboam refused to repent and continued his rebellion against God's laws. This led him to appoint anyone from the common people as priests for these unauthorized high places, ignoring the divine requirement that only Levites serve in such roles.
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