Jeroboam I

Jeroboam. The first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, usually referred to as Jeroboam I (c. 931—c. 910 b.c.). He was an Ephraimite from Zeredah, the son of Nebat and of Zeruah (1 Ki 11:26). While foreman over a company of builders during the construction of the *Millo at Jerusalem, Jeroboam was told by the prophet Ahijah of Shiloh that he would become king over 10 of Israel's tribes (vs 27—39). Jeroboam was not a man to wait patiently for God to work out His plans and to give him the promised kingdom, as David had done under similar circumstances. Instead he seems to have begun at once to plot against Solomon (v 27). When this was discovered, Solomon attempted to kill him, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt (v 40).

There he found refuge with Pharaoh Shishak, the founder of the twenty second dynasty, who seems to have discontinued his predecessor's friendly policy toward Solomon. When news of Solomon's death and news that the new king of Israel was to be crowned at Shechem reached Jeroboam in Egypt, he returned to Palestine (ch 12:1—3). At once he became spokesman for the people and demanded a promise from Rehoboam, Solomon's son, that the public burden be alleviated (vs 3—5). Rehoboam, misled by the foolish advice of inexperienced counselors, refused to meet the justified grievances of the people. As a result the 10 northern tribes declared their independence from the house of David and proclaimed Jeroboam their king (vs 6—20).

Jeroboam immediately took drastic measures to prevent the two kingdoms from reuniting. He founded two new temples, one at Dan on the northern border of the country and the other at Bethel on the southern border not far from the main highway to Jerusalem. In both places bull images were set up as visible cult symbols for the worship of Yahweh (1 Ki 12:26—30). In his proclamation calling upon the people to worship at these places, Jeroboam echoed the words that Aaron had pronounced at Mount Sinai to gather the people for the worship of the golden calf (cf. 1 Ki 12:28 with Ex 32:4).

This bull worship, which was probably an imitation of the Canaanite worship of El under the image of a bull, became the "sin of Jeroboam," which was followed by practically every ruler of the northern kingdom (1 Ki 15:26, 34 16:19, 31 22:52 etc.). Jeroboam also appointed as priests men who were not of the tribe of Levi, and ordered that the chief feasts should be celebrated during the 8th month, not in the 7th, as was done in Judah (ch 12:31, 32).