And he ordained. — And had appointed (1 Chronicles 15:16-17; 1 Chronicles 22:2).
For the high places. — Bâmôth. (See Note on 1 Kings 12:31 seqq.) Such local sanctuaries existed not only at Dan and Bethel, but also in other cities of the northern kingdom. (Comp. 2 Kings 17:9.)
And for the devils. — Sĕ‘îrîm, “satyrs” (Isaiah 13:21). Literally, goats. (See Note on Leviticus 17:7.) The phrase indicates a prevalence of debasing idolatry in the time of Jeroboam.
And for the calves. — See Note on 1 Kings 12:28. The “calves” represented the God of Israel. It appears therefore that Jeroboam encouraged a system of syncretism, or mixture of worships.