1 Kings 12:28

Jeroboam’s Idolatry · 1 Kings 12:25–33
Read 1 Kings 12

Translations

Modern
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
Traditional
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Literal
The king and took counsel and made two calves of gold, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
Latin
Et excogitato consilio fecit duos vitulos aureos, et dixit eis: Nolite ultra ascendere in Jerusalem: ecce dii tui Israël, qui te eduxerunt de terra Ægypti.

Original

Hebrew
English
After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

Notes

Two gold calves would resonate with Israel's history (see Exodus 32; especially 32:4). Similar religious practices linked to the Canaanite god Baal-Hadad also attracted the remaining Canaanite people in the northern kingdom. Jeroboam's actions undermined true worship and led to religious confusion (see 1 Kings 14:9; Hosea 8:6).

Jeroboam's efforts to establish his kingdom are described in two parts. One part covers his construction projects (1 Kings 12:25), and the other discusses his false shrines and religious practices (1 Kings 12:26–33).

Theme notes and profiles

Jeroboam I Joseph True Success

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Aven Bethel (Place), Bethelite Cattle Golden Calf Idols, Idolatry Jeroboam Judaism Kings, Books of First and Second Monotheism Temple Tribe of Dan

Topics

Beth-El: A City North of Jerusalem: Jeroboam Institutes Idolatrous Worship At Calf: Images of, Set up in Beth-El and Dan by Jeroboam Calves of Jeroboam: Designed to Represent God Calves of Jeroboam: Made of Gold Church and State: State Superior to Religion: Jeroboam, in Subverting the Jewish Religion Dan: A City of the Tribe of Dan: Idolatry Established At Idolatry: Jeroboam Idolatry: The Jews: Often Mixed Up, with God's Worship Jeroboam: First King of Israel After the Revolt: Subverts the Religion of Moses National Sins: Often Caused and Encouraged by Rulers Offense: Jeroboam Rebellion Against God: Jeroboam Religion: National: Established by Jeroboam Religion: National: Subverted by Jeroboam Rulers: Wicked: Jeroboam, Perverting the True Worship Statecraft: Jeroboam