### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Yârobʻâm**, represented by `{{H3379}}`, is defined as "(the) people will contend." It appears 104 times across 95 unique verses. The name is borne by two significant Israelite kings whose reigns are chronicled in the books of Kings, Chronicles, and the prophets.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H3379}}` is primarily associated with two kings. The first, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, was a servant of Solomon who rebelled against the king [[1 Kings 11:26]]. After fleeing to Egypt, he returned and was made king over the northern tribes of Israel when the kingdom divided [[1 Kings 12:20]]. To prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem to worship, he established idolatry by making two golden calves, one in Bethel and one in Dan, which became known as the sin that "made Israel to sin" [[2 Kings 10:29]]. This act of apostasy, which included ordaining priests from the lowest of the people [[1 Kings 13:33]], led to a divine judgment that his house would be cut off [[1 Kings 14:10]]. The second king, Jeroboam the son of Joash, also reigned over Israel [[Amos 1:1]]. While he also "did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD" [[2 Kings 14:24]], the LORD used him to save Israel [[2 Kings 14:27]]. He ruled during the time of the prophets Amos and Hosea [[Hosea 1:1]]. Amos prophesied that the house of Jeroboam would face the sword [[Amos 7:9]] and that Jeroboam himself would die by the sword [[Amos 7:11]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are key to understanding the context of **Yârobʻâm**:
* `{{H4428}}` **melek** (king): This title is central, as Jeroboam refers to two Israelite kings who played pivotal roles in the history of the divided kingdom [[2 Kings 15:1]].
* `{{H2398}}` **châṭâʼ** (to sin): The legacy of the first Jeroboam is defined by his sin and how he "made Israel to sin," a phrase repeated throughout the historical books [[1 Kings 14:16]].
* `{{H5028}}` **Nᵉbâṭ** (Nebat): The father of the first Jeroboam. His name is consistently used to identify Jeroboam I and distinguish him from the second [[1 Kings 11:26]].
* `{{H3101}}` **Yôwʼâsh** (Joash): The father of the second Jeroboam, used to identify Jeroboam II in prophetic and historical records [[Amos 1:1]].
* `{{H5695}}` **ʻêgel** (calf): This word is crucial to the primary sin of Jeroboam I, who established the worship of golden calves in Israel [[2 Chronicles 13:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H3379}}` is primarily tied to the legacy of Jeroboam, son of Nebat.
* **A Standard for Sin:** Jeroboam's actions established a pattern of idolatry that became the benchmark for evil against which many subsequent kings of Israel were measured. Kings are condemned for walking "in the way of Jeroboam" and provoking the LORD to anger ([[1 Kings 16:2]], [[1 Kings 22:52]]).
* **Divine Sovereignty:** The narrative shows that even in rebellion, God's purposes are fulfilled. The division of the kingdom under Jeroboam was a "cause from the LORD" to carry out the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite ([[1 Kings 12:15]], [[2 Chronicles 10:15]]). Likewise, God used the later Jeroboam, despite his evil ways, to save Israel [[2 Kings 14:27]].
* **Consequences of Apostasy:** The story of Jeroboam I and his dynasty is a stark illustration of judgment against unfaithfulness. The LORD declared through the prophet Ahijah that He would "bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam" and "cut off from Jeroboam" his descendants, a judgment that was ultimately fulfilled ([[1 Kings 14:10]], [[1 Kings 15:29]]).
### Summary
In summary, **Yârobʻâm** `{{H3379}}` is the name of two Israelite kings whose reigns highlight themes of rebellion, divine judgment, and God's sovereignty. The first Jeroboam is infamous for leading the northern kingdom into a lasting legacy of idolatry, becoming a symbol of apostasy. The second Jeroboam, though also an evil king, was used by God as an instrument of temporary deliverance for Israel during a time of intense prophetic warning. The name is therefore inextricably linked to the spiritual decline of Israel and the consequences that follow when a people and their leaders contend with God.
TRV