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1 Kings Chapter Twelve

 

1 Kings 12 Outlineof Contents

The Revolt Against Rehoboam (v.1~24)

Jeroboam’s Gold Calves (v.25~33)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 12

This chapter relates Rehoboam's going to Shechem to be made king and Jeroboam's return from Egypt 1 Kings 12:1 the people's request to Rehoboam to be eased of their taxes as the condition of making him king 1 Kings 12:3 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 1 Kings 12:5 upon which ten tribes revolted from him and two abode by him 1 Kings 12:16 wherefore he meditated a war against the ten tribes but was forbid by the Lord to engage in it 1 Kings 12:21 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 1 Kings 12:25.

 

1 Kings 12:1   And Rehoboam went to Shechem for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.

   YLT  1And Rehoboam goeth to Shechem for to Shechem hath all Israel come to make him king.

And Rehoboam went to Shechem .... After the death and internment of his father:

for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king: as was pretended though in reality it was to seek occasion against him and make Jeroboam king; it is very probable they knew of the prophecy of Ahijah and therefore would not go to Jerusalem but to Shechem a city in the tribe of Ephraim of which Jeroboam was and where he had sowed the seeds of sedition when ruler there; and this place they chose partly because they could more freely speak what they had in their minds and partly for the safety of Jeroboam they had sent for on this occasion; so that Rehoboam went thither not of choice but of necessity. The JewsF3T. Bab. Sanhedrin fol. 102. 1. observe that this place was very ominous; here Dinah was ravished Joseph was sold Abimelech exercised tyranny and here now the kingdom was divided.

 

1 Kings 12:2   2 So it happened when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt )

   YLT  2And it cometh to pass at Jeroboam son of Nebat's hearing (and he [is] yet in Egypt where he hath fled from the presence of Solomon the king and Jeroboam dwelleth in Egypt)

And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nebat who was yet in Egypt heard of it .... Of the death of Solomon and of the meeting of the Israelites at Shechem:

(for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon; see 1 Kings 11:40.

and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) until the death of Solomon; some render the words "Jeroboam returned out of Egypt"F4וישב־במצרים "reversus est de Aegypto" V. L. Ex Egypto ב pro מן Vatablus. which agrees with 2 Chronicles 10:2 this he did on hearing the above news and on being sent for by some of his friends as follows.

 

1 Kings 12:3   3 that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam saying

   YLT  3that they send and call for him; and they come -- Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel -- and speak unto Rehoboam saying

That they sent and called him .... That is the people of Israel some of the principal of them especially of the tribe of Ephraim sent messengers to him and gave him an invitation to come to them at Shechem; or they had sentF5So Pagninus Montanus. as Kimchi interprets it which was the reason of his returning from Egypt at least one of them:

and Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came; the chief men of them the heads of the people; these with Jeroboam at the head of them who was come out of Egypt came to Shechem where Rehoboam was and they had appointed to meet him:

and spake unto Rehoboam; one in the name of them all perhaps Jeroboam:

saying; as follows.

 

1 Kings 12:4   4 “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us and we will serve you.”

   YLT  4`Thy father made hard our yoke and thou now make light [some] of the hard service of thy father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us and we serve thee.'

Thy father made our yoke grievous .... Laid heavy taxes upon them for the finishing of his buildings for the maintenance of his household for keeping such a large number of horses and chariots and for the salaries of his officers and for the support of his magnificent court; though they had very little reason to complain since this was for the honour and grandeur of their nation and they enjoyed their liberty and lived in peace plenty and safety all his days; and such an abundance of riches was brought unto them by him that silver was as the stones of the street; though perhaps the taxes might be increased in the latter part of his life for the support of his vast number of wives and of their idolatrous worship and for the defence of himself and kingdom against the attempts of Hadad and Rezon; but as most interpreters observe what they find most reason to complain of they take no notice of even the idolatry he had set up among them:

now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter; that is ease them of their taxes or lessen them:

and we will serve thee; acknowledge him as their king give him homage and yield obedience to him.

 

1 Kings 12:5   5 So he said to them “Depart for three days then come back to me.” And the people departed.

   YLT  5And he saith unto them `Go -- yet three days and come back unto me;' and the people go.

And he said unto them depart yet for three days then come again to me .... Suggesting that he would consider of their proposal and inquire into the merits of it and as things should appear to him he would give them an answer in three days time; which at first sight may seem a point of prudence in him to take time for deliberation and counsel in this affair but in his case and circumstance it was very imprudent; for he might easily see there was discontent among the people and a faction forming against him and by taking time to himself he gave them time to take their measures and hasten and ripen them for a revolt; for by giving them such an answer they might plainly perceive he was not inclined to give them satisfaction; it would have been the most advisable in him to have promised them at once that he would make them easy:

and the people departed; to their quarters and there remained to the third day.

 

1 Kings 12:6   6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived and he said “How do you advise me to answer these people?”

   YLT  6And king Rehoboam consulteth with the elders who have been standing in the presence of Solomon his father in his being alive saying `How are ye counselling to answer this people?'

And King Rehoboam consulted with the old men that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived .... Which was very prudently done; for as these were men in years and had been his father's counsellors from whom do doubt they had learnt much wisdom being often in cabinet council with him they were capable of giving him the best advice:

and said how do you advise that I may answer this people? what answer would you advise me to give to them and in what manner?

 

1 Kings 12:7   7 And they spoke to him saying “If you will be a servant to these people today and serve them and answer them and speak good words to them then they will be your servants forever.”

   YLT  7And they speak unto him saying `If to-day thou art servant to this people and hast served them and answered them and spoken unto them good words then they have been to thee servants all the days.'

And they spake unto him saying .... They gave their advice as follows:

if thou wilt be servant unto this people this day and wilt serve them; condescend to them behave in an humble manner towards them for this day however and gratify and oblige them; though indeed a king is but a servant to his people and his administration of government a doing service to them; hence AntigonusF6Apud Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 2. c. 20. a king mild humble and gentle perceiving his son to behave in a fierce and violent manner towards his subjects said to him my son dost thou not know that our glorious kingdom is a servitude?

and answer them and speak good words unto them; give them a soft answer and speak kindly and gently to them and make them fair promises and give them reason to expect that their requests will be granted:

then they will be thy servants for ever; such conduct would so win upon them and make such an impressions upon them that they would for ever after entertain high opinion of him and be strongly affected and attached to him and readily serve him.

 

1 Kings 12:8   8 But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him who stood before him.

   YLT  8And he forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him and consulteth with the lads who have grown up with him who are standing before him;

But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him .... He did not rightly relish it nor cordially receive it; it did not suit with his haughty temper he could not brook it to stoop to his people; he thought it a lessening of his dignity to do anything that looked like courting their favour; and therefore determined not to take the advice given him by the old men but to seek for other:

and consulted with the men that were grown up with him and which stood before him; the sons of nobles with whom he had his education and who were his companions from his youth upwards and who were now officers in his court and of his privy council being his favourites and those he consulted on this occasion; and though they are called young men as they were in comparison of the old men yet since they were contemporary with Rehoboam who was now forty one years of age they must be about forty or not much under and at an age to be wiser than they appeared to be.

 

1 Kings 12:9   9 And he said to them “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me saying ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?”

   YLT  9and he saith unto them `What are ye counselling and we answer this people who have spoken unto me saying Lighten [somewhat] of the yoke that thy father put upon us?'

And he said unto them what counsel give ye that we may answer this people saying .... See Gill on 1 Kings 12:4.

 

1 Kings 12:10   10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him saying “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you saying ‘Your father made our yoke heavy but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!

   YLT  10And they speak unto him -- the lads who had grown up with him -- saying `Thus dost thou say to this people who have spoken unto thee saying Thy father made our yoke heavy and thou make [it] light upon us; thus dost thou speak unto them My little [finger] is thicker than the loins of my father;

And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him saying .... Gave him the following advice:

thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee saying; as is said 1 Kings 12:4.

thus shall thou say unto them my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins; or "is thicker"F7עבה "grossior est" V. L. Pagninus; "densior est" Junius & Tremellius Piscator. signifying that he had more strength and power than his father had and that he would make them know it and they should feel the weight of it and instead of lessening he would increase their taxes; for also hereby was intimated that his glory grandeur and magnificence was greater than his father's especially when he first came to the kingdom and therefore required the same taxes or greater to support it; and perhaps reference may be had to the difference of their age Solomon being a child or a very young man when he came to the throne; whereas Rehoboam was upwards of forty years of age and capable of judging what was fit to be done and not to be talked to and treated after this manner nor to receive the kingdom upon a condition of the people's prescribing.

 

1 Kings 12:11   11 And now whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scourges!’”[a]

   YLT  11and now my father laid on you a heavy yoke and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips and I -- I chastise you with scorpions.'

And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke .... Which was putting words into his mouth owning the charge and accusation brought against his father as he did 1 Kings 12:14 which was very unbecoming if true; unless this is said according to the sense of the people:

I will add to your yoke; make it heavier lay more taxes on them:

my father hath chastised you with whips; which was putting a lie into his mouth and which he uttered 1 Kings 12:14 for no instance of severity exercised on the people in general can be given during the whole reign of Solomon:

but I will chastise you with scorpions; treat them more roughly and with greater rigour: whips may mean smaller ones these horse whips as in the Targum; which gave an acute pain like the sting of scorpions or made a wound like one. Ben Gersom says these were rods with thorns on them which pierced and gave much pain. WeemseF8Christian Synagogue paragraph 6. diatrib. 2. p. 190. thinks these are alluded to by thorns in the sides Numbers 33:55 for whipping with them was about the sides and not along the back. Abarbinel calls them iron thorns rods that had iron prongs or rowels to them which tore the flesh extremely. IsidoreF9Origin. l. 5. c. 27. p. 39. says a rod that is smooth is called a rod but if knotty and prickled it is rightly called a scorpion because it makes a wound in the body arched or crooked. PlinyF11Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 56. ascribes the invention of this sort of scorpions to the Cretians.

 

1 Kings 12:12   12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day as the king had directed saying “Come back to me the third day.”

   YLT  12And they come -- Jeroboam and all the people -- unto Rehoboam on the third day as the king had spoken saying `Come back unto me on the third day.'

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day .... Jeroboam came to him at the head of the people being the head of the faction and designed for their king:

as the king had appointed saying come to me again the third day; see 1 Kings 12:5.

 

1 Kings 12:13   13 Then the king answered the people roughly and rejected the advice which the elders had given him;

   YLT  13And the king answereth the people sharply and forsaketh the counsel of the elders which they counselled him

And the king answered the people roughly .... In a blustering manner gave them hard words and severe menaces being worked up to such a spirit by his young counsellors:

and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him: to give them good words and kind promises.

 

1 Kings 12:14   14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men saying “My father made your yoke heavy but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scourges!”[b]

   YLT  14and speaketh unto them according to the counsel of the lads saying `My father made your yoke heavy and I add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips and I -- I chastise you with scorpions;'

And spake to them after the counsel of the young men .... And in the very language in which they gave it:

saying my father made your yoke heavy and I will add to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions; see Gill on 1 Kings 12:11.

 

1 Kings 12:15   15 So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the Lord that He might fulfill His word which the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

   YLT  15and the king hearkened not unto the people for the revolution was from Jehovah in order to establish His word that Jehovah spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam son of Nebat.

Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people .... To lessen their taxes and ease them of their burdens as they desired:

for the cause was from the Lord; it was according to his will and appointment; the defection of the people was willed by the Lord and various things in Providence turned up to alienate their minds from Rehoboam and dispose them to a revolt from him in favour of Jeroboam; and the Lord suffered the counsellors of Rehoboam to give him the advice they did and gave him up to the folly of his own heart to take it:

that he might perform his saying which the Lord spake to Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat; see 1 Kings 11:29.

 

1 Kings 12:16   16 Now when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them the people answered the king saying: “What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents O Israel! Now see to your own house O David!” So Israel departed to their tents.

   YLT  16And all Israel see that the king hath not hearkened unto them and the people send the king back word saying `What portion have we in David? yea there is no inheritance in the son of Jesse; to thy tents O Israel; now see thy house O David!' and Israel goeth to its tents.

So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them .... To grant their requests:

the people answered the king saying what portion have we in David? or in his posterity which are not of our tribes nor are we obliged to have a king of that family; nor can we expect any benefit or advantage from thence as may be easily concluded from the rough answer of Rehoboam:

neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; so they called David by way of contempt; which was great ingratitude when he had done such great things for them and he and his son Solomon had raised them to the pitch of wealth and glory they now enjoyed; these were seditious expressions and seem to be borrowed from a seditious person in the times of David 2 Samuel 20:1.

to your tents O Israel; signifying it was high time to depart from Rehoboam and to have nothing to say to him or do with him but retire to their habitations to consider whom to set as king over them:

now see to thine own house David; thou son or grandson of David; not his own house and family and mind his domestic affairs nor the house of the sanctuary in his tribe as many of the Jewish writers interpret it; but rather the tribe of Judah of which he was and would have him consider to what a narrow compass his kingdom would be brought who was just now blustering and boasting of his grandeur as a king:

so Israel departed unto their tents; to their cities as the Targum and their habitations there without recognizing Rehoboam as their king or swearing allegiance or giving homage to him as such.

 

1 Kings 12:17   17 But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah.

   YLT  17As to the sons of Israel those dwelling in the cities of Judah -- over them reign doth Rehoboam.

But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah .... Either such Israelites of the ten tribes that had before dwelt or now upon this removed for the sake of worship to dwell in the tribe of Judah; or else that part of Israel the tribe of Judah which dwelt in the cities belonging to it:

Rehoboam reigned over them; they owned him to be their king and submitted to his government.

 

1 Kings 12:18   18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram who was in charge of the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with stones and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem.

   YLT  18And king Rehoboam sendeth Adoram who [is] over the tribute and all Israel cast at him stones and he dieth; and king Rehoboam hath strengthened himself to go up into a chariot to flee to Jerusalem;

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram who was over the tribute .... There was one of this name in this office in the time of David 2 Samuel 20:24 this is the same with Adoniram as Jarchi thinks see 1 Kings 4:6 him he sent either to collect the tribute of the Ephraimites to show his authority; or rather to call the people back to have some further discourse with them and endeavour to soften things and bring them to a compliance so JosephusF12Antiqu. l. 8. c. 8. sect. 3. ; but it was too late and he employed a very improper person; the heavy taxes were their complaint and a tax gatherer and especially one that was at the head of the tribute must be of all men the most disagreeable to them; this is another instance of the folly and false steps of Rehoboam:

and all Israel stoned him with stones that he died; the populace fell upon him at once and stoned him to death; and which though contrary to law and justice was approved of and applauded by their principal men and all the people; so irritated and provoked were they by Rehoboam's answer to them. HottingerF13Praefat. ad Cipp. Hebr. p. 4. Vid. Walton. in Bibl. Polyglott. Prolegom. 3. sect. 35. p. 22. says this man was buried in Shechem which is very probable; but it is not expressed here as he suggests it is; however a grave stone found A. D. 1480 in Spain with this inscription is not genuine

"this is the grave of Adoniram a servant of King Solomon who came to collect tribute and died such a day:'

therefore King Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot to flee to Jerusalem; from Shechem fearing they would treat him in the same manner in their rage and fury; his courage was now cooled and his haughty and hectoring spirit was now brought down and he was glad to make use of his chariot for flight; this is the first time we read of a king of Israel riding in a chariot; though before of Sisera a Canaanitish captain and that only in a chariot of war.

 

1 Kings 12:19   19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

   YLT  19and Israel transgresseth against the house of David unto this day.

So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. In which the writer of this book lived and so continued until their captivity by the king of Assyria. Their revolt is called a rebellion; for though it was according to the purpose and will of God yet the people had no command or order from God for it and was done without consulting him and was a rejection of their lawful prince.

 

1 Kings 12:20   20 Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back they sent for him and called him to the congregation and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only.

   YLT  20And it cometh to pass at all Israel's hearing that Jeroboam hath returned that they send and call him unto the company and cause him to reign over all Israel; none hath been after the house of David save the tribe of Judah alone.

And it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again .... Out of Egypt; the chief men knew of it before for he had headed them in their approach and address to Rehoboam; but the people in common had not and especially those of the various tribes besides that of Ephraim:

that they sent and called him unto the congregation and made him king over all Israel; they sent for him from his tent or house which probably was in Shechem and gave him an invitation to come to their assembly met together to deliberate about a king; when they unanimously chose him to be king over Israel that is over the ten tribes and inaugurated him into his office:

there was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only; in which Benjamin was included as appears from the following verse; that being joined to it and mixed with it and both having a part in Jerusalem and so ever after the kingdom was denominated the kingdom of Judah.

 

1 Kings 12:21   21 And when Rehoboam came to Jerusalem he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin one hundred and eighty thousand chosen men who were warriors to fight against the house of Israel that he might restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.

   YLT  21And Rehoboam cometh to Jerusalem and assembleth all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin a hundred and eighty thousand chosen warriors to fight with the house of Israel to bring back the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem From Shechem which was forty milesF14Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 1007. from Jerusalem:

he assembled all the house of Judah with the tribe of Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men which were warriors to fight against the house of Israel to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon; which not only shows courage reassumed by Rehoboam now safely home but the hearty attachment of Judah and Benjamin to him who raised presently so numerous an army in his favour; and had it not been that the Lord was against their going to battle with Israel in all probability they might have gained their point Jeroboam being scarcely settled in his kingdom and having no forces raised.

 

1 Kings 12:22   22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God saying

   YLT  22And the word of God is unto Shemaiah a man of God saying

But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God .... A prophet in those days see 2 Chronicles 12:15 and the word that came to him as in the Targum is called the word of prophecy:

saying; as follows.

 

1 Kings 12:23   23 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people saying

   YLT  23`Speak unto Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin and the rest of the people saying

Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon king of Judah .... He is called king before but of what tribe or tribes is not expressly said only it is implied in 1 Kings 12:17 and he is only acknowledged king of Judah by the Lord himself:

and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin; which made but one house as before but one tribe 1 Kings 11:36.

and to the remnant of the people; of the other tribes that might dwell among them at Jerusalem and especially Simeon whose inheritance was within the tribe of Judah Joshua 19:1.

saying: as follows.

 

1 Kings 12:24   24 ‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house for this thing is from Me.”’” Therefore they obeyed the word of the Lord and turned back according to the word of the Lord.

   YLT  24Thus said Jehovah Ye do not go up nor fight with your brethren the sons of Israel; turn back each to his house for from Me hath this thing been;' and they hear the word of Jehovah and turn back to go according to the word of Jehovah.

Thus saith the Lord .... A common preface the prophets used when they spoke in the name of the Lord:

ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; and that because they were their brethren; though that is not the only reason another follows:

return every man to his house for this thing is from me; it was according to the will of God as Josephus rightly saysF15Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 8. c. 8. sect. 3.) ; it was by his ordination and appointment though Jeroboam and the people sinned in the way and manner in which they brought it about; and therefore to fight against Israel in order to regain the kingdom would be fighting against God and so to no purpose:

they hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord and returned to depart according to the word of the Lord; they knew Shemaiah was a prophet of the Lord and they believed the message he brought came from him and therefore hearkened and were obedient to it; and with the consent of Rehoboam were disbanded and returned to their habitations being satisfied with and submissive to the will of God both king and people.

 

1 Kings 12:25   25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel.

   YLT  25And Jeroboam buildeth Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim and dwelleth in it and goeth out thence and buildeth Penuel;

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in Mount Ephraim and dwelt therein .... Not that this city had lain in ruins from the times of Abimelech Judges 9:45 for then it would not have been a proper place for the convention of the people 1 Kings 12:1 but he repaired the walls of it and fortified it and built a palace in it for his residence:

and went out from thence and built Penuel; a place on the other side Jordan the tower of which was beaten down by Gideon Judges 8:17 and might be now rebuilt or at least the city was repaired by him and anew fortified perhaps for the better security of his dominions on that side Jordan; though Fortunatus ScacchusF16Elaeochrism. Myrothec. l. 2. c. 58. col. 593. is of opinion that this was an altar the same as at Carmel 1 Kings 18:30 which Jeroboam built and called by this name in testimony of the common religion of the Israelites and Jews.

 

1 Kings 12:26   26 And Jeroboam said in his heart “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David:

   YLT  26and Jeroboam saith in his heart `Now doth the kingdom turn back to the house of David –

And Jeroboam said in his heart As he was musing about the state of his kingdom and the affairs of it:

now shall the kingdom return to the house of David; such were his fears unless some method could be taken to prevent it particularly with respect to religion which was what his thoughts were employed about.

 

1 Kings 12:27   27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord Rehoboam king of Judah and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

   YLT  27if this people go up to make sacrifices in the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem then hath the heart of this people turned back unto their lord unto Rehoboam king of Judah and they have slain me and turned back unto Rehoboam king of Judah.'

If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem .... In the temple there three times in the year which all the males were obliged to besides other times when they had occasion to offer sacrifice which they might do nowhere else:

then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their Lord even unto Rehoboam king of Judah; being drawn by the magnificence of the temple the beauty and order of worship in it the holiness of the place and the grandeur of the royal court and the persuasions of the priests and prophets of the Lord both to keep to the service of the Lord and to obey their lawful sovereign; and besides they might be in fear they should be taken up and punished as traitors and therefore would choose to submit to Rehoboam that they might have the liberty of sacrificing without fear; Jeroboam seems conscious himself that Rehoboam was their liege lord and lawful king:

and they shall kill me and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah; his fears ran so high that he should not only lose his kingdom but his life unless some step was taken to make an alteration in religious worship.

 

1 Kings 12:28   28 Therefore the king asked advice made two calves of gold and said to the people “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods O Israel which brought you up from the land of Egypt!”

   YLT  28And the king taketh counsel and maketh two calves of gold and saith unto them `Enough to you of going up to Jerusalem; lo thy gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.'

Whereupon the king took counsel .... Of some of his principal men that had as little religion as himself and were only concerned for the civil state; and the result of their consultation was as follows:

and made two calves of gold; in imitation of that which was made by Aaron and encouraged by his example and success; and having been in Egypt some time he might have learned the calf or ox worship there and might take his pattern from thence and have two as they had; the one they called Apis which was worshipped at Memphis and another called Mnevis worshipped at Hierapolis as many learned men have observed; these were she calves according to the Septuagint and JosephusF17Ut supra (Antiqu. l. 8. c. 8.) sect. 4. :

and said unto them; not his counsellors but the people of the land:

it is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; pretending he sought their ease by contriving a method to prevent their long fatiguing journeys to go up with their sacrifices firstfruits &c. and the JewsF18Schulchan Aruch par. 1. c. 580. sect. 2. say the firstfruits ceased from going up to Jerusalem on the twenty third of Sivan which answers to part of May and part of June on which day they kept a fast on that account:

behold thy gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; using the same words Aaron did on a like occasion; not that he thought these were really gods and had divinity in them; nor could he hope or expect that the people would believe they had; but that these were representations of the true God who had brought them out of Egypt; and that it might as well be supposed that God would cause his Shechinah to dwell in them as between the cherubim over the ark.

 

1 Kings 12:29   29 And he set up one in Bethel and the other he put in Dan.

   YLT  29And he setteth the one in Beth-El and the other he hath put in Dan

And he set the one in Bethel .... In the southern part of the land on the border of Ephraim and Benjamin; and the rather he chose this place because its name signifies the house of God and had been a sacred place where Jacob more than once enjoyed the divine Presence:

and the other put he in Dan: in the northern part of the land for the convenience of the inhabitants of those parts; and the rather since it had been a place resorted to in former times because of the teraphim of Micah there.

 

1 Kings 12:30   30 Now this thing became a sin for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.

   YLT  30and this thing becometh a sin and the people go before the one -- unto Dan.

And this thing became a sin .... The cause and occasion of the sin of idolatry; it led them by degrees to leave off the worship of God and to worship these calves as gods:

for the people went to worship before the one even unto Dan; which was the furthest off such was their great zeal for idolatrous worship; or they went thither before that at Bethel was set up; and even they at Bethel would go as far as Dan to worship such was their veneration for both the calves. Abarbinel is of opinion that these calves were not made by Jeroboam for idolatrous uses only the altar later mentioned; and that he never worshipped before them nor sacrificed to them nor even built the altar before them; but that these were set up as signs and in memory of his kingdom like the pillars in Solomon's temple; that he chose the calf or ox as emblems of his family the family of Joseph Deuteronomy 33:17 two to represent Ephraim and Manasseh; golden ones to denote the majesty and perpetuity of his kingdom; and he set these the one at Bethel at the entrance of it and the other at Dan at the further borders of it; and that he did not call those gods but the only true God as he that brought Israel out of Egypt; only signified by that expression that he was everywhere there as well as at Jerusalem; but that the Israelites who were taken with sensible objects on visiting these out of curiosity it became a snare to them and they fell into the worship of them; just as Gideon's ephod and Moses' brasen serpent were unto them.

 

1 Kings 12:31   31 He made shrines[c] on the high places and made priests from every class of people who were not of the sons of Levi.

   YLT  31And he maketh the house of high places and maketh priests of the extremities of the people who were not of the sons of Levi;

And he made an house of high places .... Or "altars"F19במות "altarium" Vatablus. built a temple at Dan and set up several altars in it for sacrifice both for burnt offerings and for incense as at Jerusalem:

and made priests of the lowest of the people; this clause seems not so well rendered; for this would have been very unpopular and brought his new form of worship into contempt to make the dregs of the people priests which was not only a very sacred office but of great honour; it was usual in some nations for kings to be priests alsoF20Rex Anius &c. Virgil. l. 3. Vid. Servium in ib. and Jeroboam himself exercised this office 1 Kings 12:33 and therefore would never put the meanest of the people into it but rather those of higher rank: the words may be literally rendered "from the extremities" or "ends of the people"F21מקצות העם "de extremitatibus populi" Vatablus Piscator. ; meaning not merely from the extremist parts of his country but rather out of the whole of the people; out of all sorts of them out of any of them without any distinction of tribe: for so it follows

which were not of the sons of Levi; and as by this means he enriched himself by taking the cities that belonged to the priests and Levites which they were obliged to leave and from whence he drove them 2 Chronicles 11:14 so he pleased the people by laying open the priesthood common to them and freeing them from the payment of tithes and the like.

 

1 Kings 12:32   32 Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made.

   YLT  32and Jeroboam maketh a festival in the eighth month in the fifteenth day of the month like the festival that [is] in Judah and he offereth on the altar -- so did he in Beth-El -- to sacrifice to the calves which he made and he hath appointed in Beth-El the priests of the high places that he made.

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day of the month like unto the feast that is in Judah .... The feast of tabernacles which was on the fifteenth day of the seventh month; this was done chiefly for the sake of an alteration; though Abarbinel thinks because the fruits of the land were not so soon ripe nor so soon gathered in the northern parts of the land as nearer Jerusalem he judged this month the fittest for the feast of ingathering the fruits; and he might hope to get more people to come to his feast when all were gathered in:

and he offered upon the altar (so he did in Bethel) sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: this he did by his priests or rather he himself did it see 1 Kings 13:4 this shows that Jeroboam made these calves for worship and did sacrifice to them at least as representations of God. Abarbinel to make this agree with his hypothesis gives this sense of the clause that he did not sacrifice to the calves but to God because of them that his kingdom which they were a sign of might be continued; and there being but one calf in a place he could not be said to sacrifice to them both but to God because of both; or else he thinks this must be done after the people had turned aside to them and not when Jeroboam made them. The clause in the parenthesis "so he did in Bethel" intimates that he did the same in Bethel as in Dan of which what is said before is spoken; that is that he made an house of high places in Bethel also made priests out of all the people such as were not of the tribe of Levi appointed the feast of the fifteenth day of the eighth month to be observed there also and he himself offered on the altar there:

and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made: to officiate there.

 

1 Kings 12:33   33 So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the month which he had devised in his own heart. And he ordained a feast for the children of Israel and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense.

   YLT  33And he offereth up on the altar that he made in Beth-El on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the month that he devised of his own heart and he maketh a festival to the sons of Israel and offereth on the altar -- to make perfume.

So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month .... As he had done in Dan:

even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; the feast of tabernacles was of God's appointing but the time of keeping he had devised himself changing it from the seventh month or Tisri which answers to our September and October to the eighth month or Marchesvan which answers to part of October and part of November:

and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel; to be observed by them as the feast of tabernacles was by the priests of Judah and Benjamin:

and he offered upon the altar and burnt incense; which none but the priests should do; perhaps the reason why the same resentment was not shown as to Uzziah was because this was not at the altar of the Lord: whether he burnt incense after the manner of the Jewish priests or as the priests of Egypt did to the sun where he had been for some time is not certain; the former burnt incense only twice a day morning and evening the latter three times; at sunrising they burnt rosin about noon myrrh and about sun setting "kuphi" which was a compound of sixteen sortsF23Plutarch de lside & Osiride. .

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

Footnotes:

  1. 1 Kings 12:11 Literally scorpions
  2. 1 Kings 12:14 Literally scorpions
  3. 1 Kings 12:31 Literally a house