1 Kings 12:28-33

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:32

Ordained a feast - The Jews held their feast of tabernacles on the fifteenth day of the seventh month; Jeroboam, who would meet the prejudices of the people as far as he could, appointed a similar feast on the fifteenth of the eighth month; thus appearing to hold the thing while he subverted the ordinance. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:33

He offered upon the altar - Jeroboam probably performed the functions of high priest himself, that he might in his own person condense the civil and ecclesiastical power. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:21-33

I. AN ERROR THAT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED ( 1 Kings 12:21-24 ). Rehoboam had zeal and strength behind him in his attempt to bring back the tribes by force. One hundred and eighty thousand men responded to his call; but all were dispersed at the lifting up of God's hand. The attempt was forbidden, 1 . Because of the ties of kindred . These were forgotten by Rehoboam when he threatened the people with a heavier yoke. Tyranny is possible only in the denial of the brotherhood... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:26-28

The Sin of Jeroboam. This passage describes the act which is so often referred to with horror, in the books of Kings and Chronicles, as "the sin of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat." To an irreligious man like himself, nothing would appear more natural or politic than this conduct. He had been driven into Egypt by Solomon, had there married Pharaoh's daughter, and become familiar with the worship of Apis and Mnevis. Now he had returned, and found himself the ruler of the ten tribes, the first... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:26-30

The Golden Calves. Jeroboam here earns for himself that name of evil repute—"the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin." As the leader in the revolt of the ten tribes he was simply fulfilling a Divine purpose. "The thing was from the Lord,"—the ordained penalty of Solomon's transgression ( 1 Kings 11:31 , 1 Kings 11:38 ). But this setting up of the golden calves, this only too successful attempt to sever the sacred bond that bound the people of the whole land in one common allegiance to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:28

Whereupon the king took counsel ["With his counsellors, or the heads of the nation who had helped him to the throne" (Keil). Bähr understands, "he reflected about it alone" ( et excogitato consilio, Vulgate), alleging that so important a circumstance as the concurrence of the heads of the people in changing the system of worship would not have been passed over in silence. But while the text does not perhaps imply any formal deliberation with the elders, it is reasonable to suppose that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:28

Jeroboam's Calves. Unbelief is the root of all mischief. Had the king of Israel believed God, he would have obeyed Him; then he would have been under no temptation to set up a spurious religion to the confusion of his family and people. But what did he mean by these calves? I. THEY WERE INTENDED TO BE IMAGES OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL . 1 . So he describes them in the text . 2 . His error was a reproduction of Aaron's . 3 . Yet this was idolatry . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:28-33

Jeroboam's Sin. The king of Israel, moved by personal ambition instead of zeal for God, fearing lest his people, in going to Jerusalem to worship, should see reason to regret having rent the kingdom, took counsel to prevent this. The result was the development of the policy described in the text. It was cunning— I. IN THE KIND OF WORSHIP IMPOSED . 1 . As to its objects . 2 . As to its modes . 3 . As to its ministers . II. IN THE PLACES CHOSEN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:29

And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Daniel [Two considerations seem to have influenced Jeroboam in his choice of these sites. First, both these places were in some sort sanctuaries already. Bethel was already a makom, or holy place, in the days of Abraham; was consecrated by the visions and altar of Jacob ( Genesis 28:11-19 ; Genesis 31:13 ; Genesis 35:1 , Genesis 35:7 , Genesis 35:15 ), and by the ark having been there ( 20:26-28 , Hebrews; cf. Jos; Ant; 5.2.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:30

And this thing became a sin [It was in itself sinful, for it both set at nought the express prohibition of the Decalogue ( Exodus 20:4 ), and also disregarded the one sanctuary of God's choice ( Deuteronomy 12:5 ). And it led to other sins, e . g ; the intrusion of a schismatic and irregular priesthood, and the performance of unauthorized rites, and to "an ever-deepening corruption of the national faith" (Ewald). Cf. Hosea 8:5 ; Hosea 13:2 . But the meaning is, it became an... read more

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