Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the united kingdom split into the northern and southern kingdoms following the death of King Solomon. Jeroboam’s sin is a central theme discussed in 1 Kings starting in chapter 11. Jeroboam is described as leading the northern kingdom into idolatry and false worship by setting up golden calves for the people to worship instead of God. This article will examine in detail what Jeroboam’s sins were, the context around them, and the consequences.
The Kingdom Divides
After the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam became king. However, he refused to lighten the burden of taxes and forced labor that Solomon had placed on the people. This caused ten of the tribes of Israel to rebel and appoint Jeroboam as their king over the northern kingdom, while Rehoboam continued to rule over the southern kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 12:1-24).
Jeroboam likely feared that if the northern kingdom continued going to the temple in Jerusalem to worship, their allegiance would return to Rehoboam. So he took steps to prevent this and secure his kingship over Israel (1 Kings 12:26-27). This background provides context for understanding Jeroboam’s motivations.
The Golden Calves
Jeroboam’s first major sin was making two golden calves for the people to worship, setting one up in Bethel and the other in Dan. He told the people, “Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:28).
This was in direct violation of the second commandment against making idols (Exodus 20:4-6). By making golden calves and presenting them as the gods who delivered Israel from Egypt, Jeroboam was leading the people into false worship by combining pagan practices with the worship of Yahweh. The golden calves imitated the idolatry Aaron had led the people into at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32).
In addition, Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests who were not Levites to lead worship at these shrines (1 Kings 12:31). He completely disregarded God’s commandments by creating unauthorized places and rituals of worship.
The Festival Innovation
Jeroboam also changed the date of the Fall Festival to be on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month later than when God had prescribed it should occur (1 Kings 12:32-33). Jeroboam’s goal was to prevent the people from going to Jerusalem to celebrate the festivals as God had instructed, again for fear that they would switch allegiances back to Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:27).
By changing the date set by God, Jeroboam showed his willingness to alter God’s commands to suit his political aims. This festival innovation was another way of leading the people away from proper worship of God.
Judgment for the Sins
The book of 1 Kings makes clear that Jeroboam’s sins were evil in God’s eyes and brought judgment down on the king. 1 Kings 13 records how God sent a prophet to prophesy judgment against the altar Jeroboam had built. The prophet proclaimed that Josiah would come and destroy this altar (1 Kings 13:1-3).
1 Kings 14 describes how Jeroboam’s son Abijah became sick, and Jeroboam sent his wife in disguise to ask the prophet Ahijah for help. However, Ahijah prophesied God’s judgment against Jeroboam’s family because of his idolatry, saying that Jeroboam had provoked God to anger more than any of the previous kings (1 Kings 14:1-18). Judgment came and Jeroboam’s son died.
1 Kings 15:30 later summarizes Jeroboam’s legacy: “This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.” His promotion of idolatry brought God’s wrath in the form of calamity and military defeats.
Lessons from Jeroboam’s Sins
There are some key lessons that emerge from examining Jeroboam’s sins:
- God wants his people to worship Him only as He has commanded, not according to human innovations or false gods.
- God hates idolatry and false worship – these things provoke His wrath.
- God will judge and punish leaders who lead His people into idolatry and disobedience.
- Political motivations should never override complete allegiance to God.
- God’s word speaks out against syncretism – combining worship of God with pagan elements.
Jeroboam failed in his role as king to lead the people to worship God faithfully. His innovations and golden calves led the northern kingdom into idolatry, false worship practices, and judgment from God. Jeroboam’s legacy is a warning to all leaders about faithfulness to God.
Further Details on Jeroboam’s Sins
Looking deeper into the biblical account of Jeroboam’s sins provides some additional details and insights:
- 1 Kings 12:28 indicates Jeroboam’s key motivation was concern that the kingdom would return to the house of David if people kept going to Jerusalem to worship. This reveals a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty.
- The sins clearly violated the first two commandments by worshiping other gods and idols instead of the one true God (Exodus 20:3-6).
- Jeroboam ignored the warnings of prophets like Ahijah that his sins would bring God’s judgment (1 Kings 14:7-11).
- He did not set his heart on seeking God but on securing his own kingship according to his own wisdom (1 Kings 12:26-30).
- By ordaining priests from all the people rather than the Levites, Jeroboam violated God’s commands for proper priesthood and worship (1 Kings 12:31; Numbers 3:5-13).
- The golden calves were likely meant to be visible representations of the invisible God, violating the prohibition against images.
- Jeroboam’s innovations encouraged syncretism and religious mixing, which God forbids (1 Kings 14:24).
This deeper look shows Jeroboam’s heart motives, his neglect of God’s commands, and his willingness to pragmatically twist religious practices for political gain. He failed as king to lead the people in righteous worship.
Old Testament Context
It’s also helpful to understand Jeroboam’s sins in light of the larger Old Testament context:
- Idolatry and false worship were constant temptations for Israel, leading to judgment throughout their history (Psalms 106:36-43).
- Mixing pagan worship elements with the worship of Yahweh was common but condemned in the law and prophets (Ezekiel 20:39-44).
- Kings were judged by faithfulness to God’s law, especially religious faithfulness (1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles).
- The temple and priesthood were essential Old Testament concepts, so altering them was serious.
- The golden calves echoed Aaron’s sin and other pagan religions in the region that used bull idols.
- Innovation versus faithfulness to God’s commands was a key theme in 1-2 Kings and a measuring rod for judging kings.
Placed in this broader context, Jeroboam’s sins are archetypal examples of Old Testament idolatry, false worship, and unfaithfulness to God among Israel’s kings. His idolatry was not anomalous but representative of Israel’s chief struggles and temptations.
Contrast with David
Comparing Jeroboam with King David also highlights Jeroboam’s failings:
- David was zealous for proper worship, establishing the ark, priesthood, and temple site (2 Samuel 6-7). Jeroboam altered and disregarded them.
- David unified Israel under worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 15). Jeroboam fragmented it.
- David repented when confronted with his sins (2 Samuel 12; Psalm 51). Jeroboam persisted in his sins without repentance.
- David sought to obey God fully (1 Kings 15:5). Jeroboam only obeyed when convenient to his political goals.
Whereas David had a heart to obey and worship God wholeheartedly despite his flaws, Jeroboam appears fixated on his own political ambition and self-interest even to the point of disregarding God’s clear commands.
Prophetic Critiques
The prophets who came after Jeroboam echo the condemnation of his idolatry:
- Amos criticized the golden calf shrines as forms of idolatry (Amos 4:4, 5:5-6).
- Hosea condemned the “spirit of harlotry” the calves had caused in Israel (Hosea 4:12-19, 8:5-6, 10:5-6).
- The sins of Jeroboam became a byword for the cause of judgment on Israel (2 Kings 17:21-23).
The prophetic books show that syncretism and idolatry continued to plague Israel. But its roots are traced back to Jeroboam, making his sins exemplars of what Israel needed to repent of and avoid.
New Testament Perspectives
The New Testament looks back on Jeroboam and his sins through a Christ-centered lens:
- Stephen rebukes Israel for worshiping idols made with human hands (Acts 7:39-43), as Jeroboam had done.
- The writer of Hebrews praises the faith of prophets like Ahijah who condemned Jeroboam’s sins (Hebrews 11:32-38).
- Paul teaches that idols are not real gods at all (1 Corinthians 8:4-6), nullifying Jeroboam’s “gods.”
- Christ fulfilled the Old Testament priesthood and temple (Hebrews 7-10), overriding Jeroboam’s alterations.
- Jesus alone is the way to the Father (John 14:6), not the idolatrous ways of Jeroboam.
The New Testament affirmations of Jesus as the only Savior and his work as fulfillment of Old Testament patterns help highlight Jeroboam’s sins as antithetical departures from God’s purposes.
Application for Today
While Jeroboam’s historical situation differs from today, his sins still provide lessons for modern readers:
- Avoid syncretism and mixing of religious practices – worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:24).
- Cling to God’s word rather than altering practices to suit modern culture or preferences.
- Focus on Jesus rather than religious ritual (Hebrews 12:2).
- All leaders should model faithfulness to God in their public and private lives.
- Do not fear political results but trust outcomes to God (Proverbs 3:5-6).
- Avoid idolatry and materialism – let nothing replace the worship of God alone.
Though the contexts differ, the human temptations of idolatry, religious pragmatism, and distrust of God persist. Jeroboam’s negative example remains relevant as a warning today.
In summary, Jeroboam led the northern kingdom of Israel into idolatry and false worship practices after the kingdom divided. By establishing golden calves, unauthorized priests, and altered festivals, he violated God’s commands and provoked judgment. Jeroboam’s legacy serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of idolatry, religious innovation, syncretism, and leadership that draws people away from pure worship of God.