Chapter 7—Jeroboam
Placed on the throne by the ten tribes of Israel who had rebelled
against the house of David, Jeroboam, the former servant of Solomon,
was in a position to bring about wise reforms in both civil and religious
affairs. Under the rulership of Solomon he had shown aptitude and
sound judgment; and the knowledge he had gained during years of
faithful service fitted him to rule with discretion. But Jeroboam failed
to make God his trust.
Jeroboam’s greatest fear was that at some future time the hearts of
his subjects might be won over by the ruler occupying the throne of
David. He reasoned that if the ten tribes should be permitted to visit
often the ancient seat of the Jewish monarchy, where the services of
the temple were still conducted as in the years of Solomon’s reign,
many might feel inclined to renew their allegiance to the government
centering at Jerusalem. Taking counsel with his advisers, Jeroboam de-
termined by one bold stroke to lessen, so far as possible, the probability
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of a revolt from his rule. He would bring this about by creating within
the borders of his newly formed kingdom two centers of worship, one
at Bethel and the other at Dan. In these places the ten tribes should be
invited to assemble, instead of at Jerusalem, to worship God.
In arranging this transfer, Jeroboam thought to appeal to the imag-
ination of the Israelites by setting before them some visible represen-
tation to symbolize the presence of the invisible God. Accordingly he
caused to be made two calves of gold, and these were placed within
shrines at the appointed centers of worship. In this effort to represent
the Deity, Jeroboam violated the plain command of Jehovah: “Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image.... Thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them, nor serve them.”
Exodus 20:4, 5
.
So strong was Jeroboam’s desire to keep the ten tribes away from
Jerusalem that he lost sight of the fundamental weakness of his plan.
He failed to take into consideration the great peril to which he was
exposing the Israelites by setting before them the idolatrous symbol of
the deity with which their ancestors had been so familiar during the
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