1 Kings 12:25-32

Expanded Bible

²⁵ Then Jeroboam ·built up [fortified] Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and he lived there. He also went out and ·built up [fortified] the city of Peniel.

Jeroboam Builds Golden Calves

²⁶ Jeroboam said ·to himself [^Lin his heart], “The kingdom will probably ·go back [revert] to David’s ·family [^Lhouse]. ²⁷ If the people continue going to the ·Temple [^Lhouse] of the Lord in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices, ·they will want to be ruled again by [^Lthe heart of the people will return to] Rehoboam king of Judah. Then they will kill me and ·follow [return to] Rehoboam king of Judah.”

²⁸ King Jeroboam asked for advice. Then he made two golden calves [^Con the model of Aaron’s calf; Ex. 32]. “It is too ·long a journey [much] for you to go to Jerusalem [^Cto worship],” he said to the people. “Israel, here are your gods [or this is your God; ^Cit is possible that the image was associated with the false worship of the true God] who brought you out of Egypt.” ²⁹ Jeroboam put one golden calf in the city of Bethel and the other in the city of Dan [^Cat opposite ends of his kingdom]. ³⁰ This became a very great sin, because the people traveled as far as Dan^[a] [^Cin the north] to worship the calf there.

³¹ Jeroboam built ·temples [^Lhouses] on the ·places of worship [^Lhigh places; 3:2]. He also chose priests from all the people, not just from the tribe of Levi [^Ca violation of God’s command; cf. Num. 3:10]. ³² And he started a new festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, just like the festival in Judah [^Cthe Feast of Shelters; he was trying to imitate Israel’s way of worship]. During that time the king ·offered sacrifices on [went up to] the altar, along with sacrifices to the calves in Bethel he had made. He also chose priests in Bethel to serve at the ·places of worship [^Lhigh places; 3:2] he had made.