²⁶ Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. ²⁷ If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem,^(A) they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”

²⁸ After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves.^(B) He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”^{(C) 29} One he set up in Bethel,^(D) and the other in Dan.^{(E) 30} And this thing became a sin;^(F) the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.^[a]

³¹ Jeroboam built shrines^(G) on high places and appointed priests^(H) from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. ³² He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth^(I) month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel,^(J) sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made.

³³ Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways,^(A) but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts^(B) of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. ³⁴ This was the sin^(C) of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction^(D) from the face of the earth.