1 Kings 12:31 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 12:31

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

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

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 12:28-33

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 12:31

And he made an house of high places [See on 1 Kings 3:2 , and cf. 2 Kings 17:29 . It is often assumed (Keil, Rawlinson, al. after Josephus) that Jeroboam built two temples for his cherubim, and the statement of the text, that he built one, is explained on the ground that the historian contrasts the "house of high places" with the "house of the Lord." Ewald, too, after 2 Kings 17:29 , 2 Kings 17:32 , understands the words as plural . But is it not more probable that a chapel... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 12:31

He made an house of high places - i. e., “He built a temple, or sanctuary, at each of the two cities where the calves were set up.” The writer uses the expression “house of high places” in contempt, meaning that the buildings were not real temples, or houses of God, like that at Jerusalem, but only on a par with the temples upon high places which had long existed in various parts of the land.Made priests of the lowest of the people - More correctly, “from all ranks of the people.” That the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 12:31

1 Kings 12:31. And he made a house of high places That is, saith Abarbinel, he made a house or temple at Dan, wherein there was not one altar only, as there was at Jerusalem, but a great many altars or high places, probably complaining of it as an inconvenience, that in the temple at Jerusalem there was but one. The multiplying of altars passed with some as a piece of devotion; but God, by the prophet, puts another construction upon it, Hosea 8:11, Ephraim has made many altars to sin. And... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:25-33

False religion in the north (12:25-33)Shechem, where Rehoboam had hoped to unite all Israel, now became the capital of Jeroboam’s breakaway kingdom. Jeroboam established a second capital at Penuel, east of Jordan, probably with the aim of holding the allegiance of the two and a half eastern tribes (25). Later he moved his capital a short distance north to Tirzah, which remained the capital during the reigns of several kings (see 14:17; 15:21,33).Jeroboam saw that his people might be tempted to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 12:31

house = a temple. Not merely "high places". read more

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:21-33

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:28-33

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 12:31

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 12:31

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 12:31

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 12:25-33

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Kings 12:31

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