How we cite our quotes:
Quote #4
The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all their territories. The Levites had left their common lands and their holdings and had come to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had prevented them from serving as priests of the Lord, and had appointed his own priests for the high places, and for the goat-demons, and for the calves that he had made. Those who had set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon. (2 Chronicles 11:13-17, NRSV)
The priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts. 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: And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. (2 Chronicles 11:13-17, KJV)
Tradition says that only the descendants of Aaron could serve as priests, but the guys in the Northern Kingdom appointed their own priests and gave the Levites' jobs to other people. So the priests and Levites break ranks and swear allegiance to Judah. This only worked until Rehoboam started straying from God. Maybe he wanted to find out what those goat-demons were all about.
Quote #5
In the third year of his reign he sent his officials […] to teach in the cities of Judah […] They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the Lord with them; they went around through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. (2 Chronicles 17:7, 9, NRSV)
In the third year of his reign he sent to his princes […] to teach in the cities of Judah […] They taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. (2 Chronicles 17:7, 9, KJV)
The only thing more important than keeping traditions is passing them on. That's what makes them traditions, duh. King Jehoshaphat makes sure that his people are well-educated on Jewish laws and customs. Kind of a No Judean Left Behind policy.
Quote #6
Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord's people. Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Jehoiada assigned the care of the house of the Lord to the levitical priests whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the Lord, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David. (2 Chronicles 23:16-18, NRSV)
Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the Lord's people. Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. (2 Chronicles 23:16-18, KJV)
The high priest Jehoiada restores order after he gets done deposing and disposing of the Baal-loving Queen Athaliah. He literally cleans house and sets things up the way David intended, including lots of music. You're probably getting a good idea by now about how all these traditions were established, trashed, re-established, and trashed again—all depending on who happened to be in power.