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:
The Levites abandoned their pasture lands and property, and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them and wouldn't let them serve as priests to the LORD.
This verse explains that the Levitical priests left their homes in the northern kingdom because Jeroboam kicked them out of their religious duties and wouldn't let them serve God properly.
📚 Historical Context
After Solomon's death, the kingdom of Israel split into two parts: the northern kingdom (Israel) under Jeroboam and the southern kingdom (Judah) under Rehoboam. Jeroboam set up his own religious system with golden calves and non-Levitical priests to prevent his people from traveling to Jerusalem to worship. This forced the legitimate Levitical priests to flee south to Judah where they could continue their God-ordained duties.
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