1 Kings 12:28-32 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 12:25-33

We have here the beginning of the reign of Jeroboam. He built Shechem first and then Penuel?beautified and fortified them, and probably had a palace in each of them for himself (1 Kgs. 12:25), the former in Ephraim, the latter in Gad, on the other side Jordan. This might be proper; but he formed another project for the establishing of his kingdom which was fatal to the interests of religion in it. I. That which he designed was by some effectual means to secure those to himself who had now... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:28

Whereupon the king took counsel ,.... Of some of his principal men, that had as little religion as himself, and were only concerned for the civil state; and the result of their consultation was as follows: and made two calves of gold ; in imitation of that which was made by Aaron, and encouraged by his example and success; and having been in Egypt some time, he might have learned the calf or ox worship there, and might take his pattern from thence, and have two as they had; the one they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:29

And he set the one in Bethel ,.... In the southern part of the land, on the border of Ephraim and Benjamin; and the rather he chose this place, because its name signifies the house of God, and had been a sacred place, where Jacob more than once enjoyed the divine Presence: and the other put he in Dan : in the northern part of the land, for the convenience of the inhabitants of those parts; and the rather, since it had been a place resorted to in former times, because of the teraphim of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:30

And this thing became a sin ,.... The cause and occasion of the sin of idolatry; it led them by degrees to leave off the worship of God, and to worship these calves as gods: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan ; which was the furthest off, such was their great zeal for idolatrous worship; or they went thither before that at Bethel was set up; and even they at Bethel would go as far as Dan to worship, such was their veneration for both the calves. Abarbinel is of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:31

And he made an house of high places ,.... Or "altars" F19 במות "altarium", Vatablus. , built a temple at Dan, and set up several altars in it for sacrifice, both for burnt offerings, and for incense, as at Jerusalem: and made priests of the lowest of the people ; this clause seems not so well rendered; for this would have been very unpopular, and brought his new form of worship into contempt, to make the dregs of the people priests, which was not only a very sacred office, but of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:32

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah ,.... The feast of tabernacles, which was on the fifteenth day of the seventh month; this was done chiefly for the sake of an alteration; though Abarbinel thinks, because the fruits of the land were not so soon ripe nor so soon gathered, in the northern parts of the land, as nearer Jerusalem, he judged this month the fittest for the feast of ingathering the fruits; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:28

Made two calves of gold - He invented a political religion, instituted feasts in his own times different from those appointed by the Lord, gave the people certain objects of devotion, and pretended to think it would be both inconvenient and oppressive to them to have to go up to Jerusalem to worship. This was not the last time that religion was made a state engine to serve political purposes. It is strange that in pointing out his calves to the people, he should use the same words... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:29

One in Beth-el , and the other - in Dan - One at the southern and the other at the northern extremity of the land. Solomon's idolatry had prepared the people for Jeroboam's abominations! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:31

A house of high places - A temple of temples; he had many high places in the land, and to imitate the temple at Jerusalem, he made one chief over all the rest, where he established a priesthood of his own ordination. Probably a place of separate appointment, where different idols were set up and worshipped; so it was a sort of pantheon. Made priests of the lowest of the people - He took the people indifferently as they came, and made them priests, till he had... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 12:25-33

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:32

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:28

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:29

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 12:31

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

Group of Brands