They feared. — They were fearing. (See Note on 2 Kings 17:25; 2 Kings 17:28, supra.)
Of the lowest of them. — Rather, of all orders, or promiscuously. (Comp. 1 Kings 12:31.) This is another indication that it was Jeroboam’s mode of worship which was now restored.
Which sacrificed. — Heb., and they used to do. The verb do is used in the sense of sacra facere, just like the Greek - ποιεῗν ἔρδειν ρέζειν.
Priests of the high places. — Rather, bâmâh-priests (omit the). Bamah-priests are opposed to the priests of Jehovah’s Temple.