So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.
So they worshiped the LORD, but they also chose some of their own people from the lowest social classes to serve as priests at the shrines on hilltops, where these priests would offer sacrifices for them at these local worship sites.
The people claimed to worship God, but they mixed true worship with their own made-up religious practices using unqualified priests.
📚 Historical Context
In the 8th century BC, after the Assyrians conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, they deported the Israelites and resettled people from other nations in the land to maintain control. These newcomers feared the God of Israel due to experiences like lion attacks, as described in the chapter, but they also continued their own pagan worship practices, appointing priests from the lowest social classes to serve at the high places, unauthorized worship sites outside the Jerusalem temple. This reflects a pattern of syncretism, where foreign influences mixed with partial obedience to God's commands.
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