1 Kings 12:21-31

21 venit autem Roboam Hierusalem et congregavit universam domum Iuda et tribum Beniamin centum octoginta milia electorum virorum et bellatorum ut pugnaret contra domum Israhel et reduceret regnum Roboam filio Salomonis

22 factus est vero sermo Domini ad Semeiam virum Dei dicens

23 loquere ad Roboam filium Salomonis regem Iuda et ad omnem domum Iuda et Beniamin et reliquos de populo dicens

24 haec dicit Dominus non ascendetis nec bellabitis contra fratres vestros filios Israhel revertatur vir in domum suam a me enim factum est verbum hoc audierunt sermonem Domini et reversi sunt de itinere sicut eis praeceperat Dominus

25 aedificavit autem Hieroboam Sychem in monte Ephraim et habitavit ibi et egressus inde aedificavit Phanuhel

26 dixitque Hieroboam in corde suo nunc revertetur regnum ad domum David

27 si ascenderit populus iste ut faciat sacrificia in domo Domini in Hierusalem et convertetur cor populi huius ad dominum suum Roboam regem Iuda interficientque me et revertentur ad eum

28 et excogitato consilio fecit duos vitulos aureos et dixit eis nolite ultra ascendere Hierusalem ecce dii tui Israhel qui eduxerunt te de terra Aegypti

29 posuitque unum in Bethel et alterum in Dan

30 et factum est verbum hoc in peccatum ibat enim populus ad adorandum vitulum usque in Dan

31 et fecit fana in excelsis et sacerdotes de extremis populi qui non erant de filiis Levi

1 Kings 12:21-31 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.