1 Kings 12:32-33

32 Jeroboam instituted a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth * day of the month, ¹like the feast which is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; thus he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves which he had made. And he stationed in Bethel ²the priests of the high places which he had made.

33 Then he went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth * day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had ³devised in his own heart; and he instituted a feast for the sons of Israel and went up to the altar ⁴to burn incense.

1 Kings 12:32-33 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. Leviticus 23:33, 34; Numbers 29:12; 1 Kings 8:2, 5
• 2. Amos 7:10-13
• 3. Numbers 15:39
• 4. 1 Kings 13:1

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "made"
• [b]. Or "offered upon"
• [c]. Or "offered upon"
• [d]. Lit "made"
• [e]. Lit "from"
• [f]. Lit "made"
• [g]. Or "offered upon"
• [h]. Or "sacrifices"