1 Kings 12:32

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that [is] in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

And Jeroboam {H3379} ordained {H6213} a feast {H2282} in the eighth {H8066} month {H2320}, on the fifteenth {H2568}{H6240} day {H3117} of the month {H2320}, like unto the feast {H2282} that is in Judah {H3063}, and he offered {H5927} upon the altar {H4196}. So did {H6213} he in Bethel {H1008}, sacrificing {H2076} unto the calves {H5695} that he had made {H6213}: and he placed {H5975} in Bethel {H1008} the priests {H3548} of the high places {H1116} which he had made {H6213}.

Yarov'am instituted a festival in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, similar to the festival held in Y'hudah; he went up to the altar in Beit-El to sacrifice to the calves he had made; and he placed in Beit-El the cohanim he had appointed for the high places.

And Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he went up unto the altar; so did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places that he had made.

Commentary

Context

1 Kings 12:32 stands at a critical juncture in Israel's history, immediately following the division of the united kingdom. After Solomon's death, the ten northern tribes rebelled against Rehoboam and crowned Jeroboam as their king. Fearing that his subjects would return to Jerusalem for worship during the mandated feasts, thereby shifting their loyalty back to the Davidic line, Jeroboam took drastic measures to establish an independent religious system. This verse details his audacious attempt to replace divinely ordained worship with human-made innovations designed to secure his political power.

Key Themes

  • Religious Innovation and Idolatry: Jeroboam's actions were a direct challenge to God's law. He established centers of worship at Bethel and Dan, installing golden calves for the people to worship, reminiscent of the sin committed at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:4). This was a blatant act of idolatry, a violation of the Second Commandment against making graven images.
  • Political Motivation Over Divine Command: The primary driver for Jeroboam's religious reforms was political expediency. He aimed to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem for worship, thus consolidating his rule over the Northern Kingdom. This illustrates how worldly ambition can corrupt spiritual life and lead to profound disobedience.
  • Unauthorized Worship and Priesthood: Jeroboam not only changed the object of worship but also altered the sacred calendar and appointed unauthorized priests. He ordained a feast in the "eighth month, on the fifteenth day," mimicking the Feast of Tabernacles which was divinely appointed for the seventh month. Furthermore, he appointed "priests of the high places" from among the common people, disregarding the Levitical priesthood which God had established for legitimate worship.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "high places" (Hebrew: bamot) refers to elevated locations used for worship. While some pre-temple worship occurred on high places, after the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem, these sites often became associated with syncretistic practices and forbidden worship, particularly when dedicated to idols. Jeroboam's establishment of these high places in Bethel and Dan further solidified his kingdom's deviation from pure, centralized worship of Yahweh.

Practical Application

1 Kings 12:32 serves as a powerful warning against compromising divine truth for human convenience or worldly gain.

  • Beware of Human-Made Religion: True worship must be rooted in God's revealed Word, not in traditions or practices invented by humans, no matter how well-intentioned or politically advantageous they may seem.
  • The Dangers of Idolatry: Idolatry extends beyond physical statues to anything that usurps God's rightful place in our lives—be it power, security, comfort, or even religious structures that prioritize human desires over divine commands.
  • Leadership Responsibility: Jeroboam's actions set a destructive precedent that influenced generations of kings in the Northern Kingdom, ultimately leading to their spiritual decline and downfall. Leaders, whether in the church, family, or society, bear a heavy responsibility to lead in accordance with God's truth.
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Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 8:5

    And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, [were] with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

  • Numbers 29:12

    ¶ And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:

  • Numbers 29:40

    And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.

  • Amos 7:10

    ¶ Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.

  • Amos 7:13

    But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it [is] the king's chapel, and it [is] the king's court.

  • 1 Kings 8:2

    And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which [is] the seventh month.

  • Matthew 15:8

    This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
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