Jeroboam

Portrait of Jeroboam

Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, which formed after the united monarchy split following Solomonโ€™s death around 930 BC, when the ten northern tribes rejected Rehoboamโ€™s rule. To secure his throne and discourage pilgrimages to the Jerusalem temple in Judah, he erected golden calves at Bethel and Dan, redirecting worship away from the central sanctuary and instituting new priesthoods and festivals. This policy institutionalized idolatry across the northern tribes, an offense Scripture repeatedly labels the โ€œsin of Jeroboamโ€ that later kings perpetuated. The resulting spiritual decline is presented in the biblical narrative as a primary cause of Israelโ€™s eventual conquest and exile by Assyria, underscoring the lasting consequences of political compromise with false worship.

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Biography

Died
c. 910 BC
Occupation
King of Israel (Northern)
Tribe
Ephraim
Father
Nebat
Mother
Zeruah
Children
Abijah, Nadab
Era
Divided Kingdom (c. 931-910 BC)
Nationality
Israelite

Family

Parents
Nebat Zeruah
โ†“
Jeroboam
โ†“
Children
Abijah, Nadab
Old Testament Divided Kingdom King 1 Kings

Did You Know?

1

Jeroboam, an Ephraimite labor foreman under Solomon, received a symbolic prophecy from Ahijah the Shilonite who tore a new garment into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam, foretelling his rule over the northern tribes.

2

To prevent pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Jeroboam installed golden calves at Bethel and Dan while also creating a rival festival in the eighth month and appointing non-Levitical priests from every class of people.

3

A prophet from Judah traveled to Bethel and denounced Jeroboam's altar, predicting that a future Davidic king named Josiah would desecrate it by burning the bones of its priests upon it, a sign confirmed when the altar split and its ashes spilled out.

4

Jeroboam's dynasty ended abruptly after only two generations when his son Nadab was assassinated by Baasha during a military campaign, fulfilling Ahijah's curse that every male descendant would be cut off and left unburied.

5

Archaeological layers at Tel Dan reveal a large platform and horned altar consistent with the cultic high place Jeroboam established, showing how his religious reforms left material traces still studied by scholars today.

Key Passages

Jeroboam Made King

1 Kings 12:20

This passage reveals how prideful leadership fractures God's people, urging us to lead and follow with humble, listening hearts.

A20nd it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 12 โ†’

Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel

1 Kings 12:25-33

This passage shows how fear-driven compromises can lead leaders and nations into idolatry, pulling hearts away from wholehearted trust in God.

T25hen Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. 31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 12 โ†’

Judgment on Jeroboam

1 Kings 14:7-16

This passage shows how turning from God brings painful consequences for leaders and their people, urging us to stay faithful and lead others well.

G7o, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,

8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; 9 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: 10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. 11 Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it. 12 Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die. 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. 14 Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now. 15 For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger. 16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.

Read full chapter: 1 Kings 14 โ†’

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