1 Kings 12:29

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 12:29

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

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

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 12:26-30

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 12:28-33

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 12:29

In the first place, Jeroboam consulted the convenience of his subjects, who would thus in no case have very far to go in order to reach one or the other sanctuary. Further, he avoided the danger of reminding them continually that they had no ark - a danger which would have been imminent, had the two cherubs been placed together in one shrine.He selected Bethel (in the south) for one of his seats of worship, on account of its pre-eminent sanctity. (See the marginal reference; Judges 20:26-28; 1... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 12:29

1 Kings 12:29 . He set the one in Beth-el, &c. Which two places he chose for the people’s convenience, Beth-el being in the southern, and Dan in the northern part of his kingdom. Add to this, that as Bethel was in every body’s opinion a sacred place, having been consecrated by God’s appearing there more than once to Jacob; so Dan had been famous for the teraphim of Micah, unto which there had been great resort for a long time, Judges 18:30. For such reasons as these it is likely he... 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

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