1 Kings 12:28-30

28 And by counsel thought out, Jeroboam made twain golden calves, and he said to the people, Do not ye ascend more into Jerusalem; Israel, lo! thy gods, that led thee out of the land of Egypt. (And so, by counsel carefully thought out, Jeroboam made two gold calves, and he said to the people, Do not ye go up to Jerusalem any more; Israel, lo! thy gods, that led thee out of the land of Egypt.)

29 And he set one calf in Bethel, and the tother in Dan.

30 And this word was made to Israel into sin; for the people went into Dan, to worship the calf. (And this thing became a sin in Israel; and some people went all the way up to Dan to worship the calf there.)

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.