1 Kings 12:28-30

28 So the king took counsel and ¹made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, "You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. ²Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt."

29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.

30 Then ³this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one.^[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

• 1. 2 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Chronicles 11:15; 2 Chronicles 13:8; Hosea 8:5, 6; Hosea 10:5; Hosea 13:2; [1 Kings 14:9]
• 2. [Exodus 32:4, 8]
• 3. 1 Kings 13:34; 2 Kings 17:21

Footnotes

• [a]. Septuagint went to the one at Bethel and to the other as far as Dan