1 Kings 12:28-30

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.[a]

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 5

  • 1. S Exodus 32:4; 2 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 17:16; S 2 Chronicles 11:15
  • 2. S Exodus 32:8
  • 3. S Genesis 12:8; S Joshua 7:2; Genesis 28:19
  • 4. Judges 18:27-31; Amos 8:14
  • 5. 1 Kings 13:34; 1 Kings 14:16; 1 Kings 15:26,30; 1 Kings 16:2; 2 Kings 3:3; 2 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 17:21

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text "people went to the one as far as Dan"
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