2 Kings 10:29

¶ Howbeit [from] the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, [to wit], the golden calves that [were] in Bethel, and that [were] in Dan.

Howbeit from the sins {H2399} of Jeroboam {H3379} the son {H1121} of Nebat {H5028}, who made Israel {H3478} to sin {H2398}, Jehu {H3058} departed {H5493} not from after {H310} them, to wit, the golden {H2091} calves {H5695} that were in Bethel {H1008}, and that were in Dan {H1835}.

However, Yehu did not turn away from the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, with which he had led Isra'el into sin, the gold calves that were in Beit-El and Dan.

but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan.

Commentary

This verse delivers a sobering assessment of King Jehu's reign, immediately following his zealous purge of Baal worship from Israel. Despite his decisive action against the house of Ahab and the prophets of Baal, Jehu failed to fully eradicate idolatry from the Northern Kingdom. He continued in the long-standing sin of Jeroboam, the first king of Israel, who introduced the worship of golden calves in Bethel and Dan.

Context

Jehu was divinely appointed to execute judgment upon the wicked house of Ahab and Jezebel, and to destroy Baal worship (see 2 Kings 9:7-10). He carried out this mission with ruthless efficiency, eliminating all who were associated with Baal (as seen in 2 Kings 10:28). However, Jehu's obedience was tragically incomplete. The "sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat" refer to the strategic, yet idolatrous, decision made by Jeroboam I when the kingdom divided. To prevent his subjects from going to Jerusalem to worship and potentially returning to the house of David, Jeroboam set up golden calves in the northern city of Dan and the southern city of Bethel, declaring them to be the gods who brought Israel out of Egypt (a clear echo of the golden calf incident at Sinai). This political idolatry became the defining sin of the Northern Kingdom, passed down from king to king, and Jehu, for all his zeal, did not depart from it.

Key Themes

  • Partial Obedience: Jehu's story is a powerful illustration of selective obedience. He followed God's command to destroy Baal, but not to fully cleanse the nation of all idolatry. This highlights that God desires complete faithfulness, not just convenient or politically advantageous adherence.
  • The Enduring Legacy of Sin: The phrase "who made Israel to sin" is a recurring indictment against Jeroboam, emphasizing the profound and lasting negative influence of his initial act of idolatry. This sin became ingrained in the national identity of Israel.
  • Compromise and Idolatry: The golden calves were not necessarily intended as a rejection of Yahweh, but rather as a corrupted, visible representation of Him. This compromise, however, was fundamentally idolatrous and deeply offensive to God, as it violated the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-5).
  • God's Standards: Despite Jehu's effectiveness in one area, his failure in another demonstrates that God's judgment is based on adherence to His full law, not just on achievements.

Linguistic Insights

The recurring phrase "who made Israel to sin" (Hebrew: הֶחֱטִיא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל - hech'ti et-Yisrael) is a strong indictment throughout the books of Kings. It signifies not just personal sin, but the act of leading an entire nation into persistent spiritual error. This highlights Jeroboam's profound and detrimental impact on Israel's spiritual trajectory. The "golden calves" were a deliberate choice by Jeroboam to replicate a form of worship that was both politically expedient and reminiscent of earlier, forbidden practices, cementing a pattern of syncretism rather than pure worship of the Lord.

Practical Application

The account of Jehu serves as a powerful warning for believers today:

  1. Beware of Partial Obedience: It's easy to be zealous in areas where we feel strong or where our actions are publicly applauded, while neglecting hidden sins or areas of compromise. God calls for complete surrender and obedience in all aspects of life.
  2. Examine Our "Calves": What are the "golden calves" in our own lives or churches? These can be anything that we elevate to a place of worship or trust that should belong to God alone—whether it's tradition, comfort, success, approval, or even good works done in our own strength.
  3. The Danger of Lingering Sin: Just as Jeroboam's sin persisted through generations of kings, unaddressed compromise in our lives can have long-lasting negative effects on ourselves and those we influence. True spiritual reformation requires a thorough cleansing, not just a superficial one.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 12:28

    Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves [of] gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

  • 1 Kings 12:30

    And this thing became a sin: for the people went [to worship] before the one, [even] unto Dan.

  • 1 Kings 14:16

    And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.

  • 1 Kings 13:33

    After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became [one] of the priests of the high places.

  • 1 Kings 13:34

    And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut [it] off, and to destroy [it] from off the face of the earth.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:9

    But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:13

    Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
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