1 Kings 12:28-30

28 So the king consulted, and ¹made two golden ²calves, and he said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; ³behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt."

29 He set ⁴one in ⁵Bethel, and the other he put in ⁶Dan.

30 Now ⁷this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.

1 Kings 12:28-30 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 12

This chapter relates Rehoboam's going to Shechem to be made king, and Jeroboam's return from Egypt, 1Ki 12:1,2, the people's request to Rehoboam to be eased of their taxes, as the condition of making him king, 1Ki 12:3,4, his answer to them, after three days, having had the advice both of the old and young men, which latter he followed, and gave in a rough answer, 1Ki 12:5-15, upon which ten tribes revolted from him, and two abode by him, 1Ki 12:16-20, wherefore he meditated a war against the ten tribes, but was forbid by the Lord to engage in it, 1Ki 12:21-24 and Jeroboam, in order to establish his kingdom, and preserve the people from a revolt to the house of David, because of the temple worship at Jerusalem, devised a scheme of idolatrous worship in his own territories, 1Ki 12:25-33.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 17:16; Hosea 8:4-7
• 2. Hosea 10:5
• 3. Exodus 32:4, 8
• 4. Hosea 10:5
• 5. Genesis 28:19
• 6. Judges 18:26-31
• 7. 1 Kings 13:34; 2 Kings 17:21

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "took counsel"