Jeroboam: The King Who Made Israel Sin
Among the kings who reigned over Israel, few bear a legacy as profoundly destructive as Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. His name is etched into the biblical narrative not for great triumphs or righteous leadership, but as the archetypal figure of apostasy, perpetually linked to the phrase, "who made Israel to sin." His reign marked a pivotal and tragic turning point in the history of the Northern Kingdom, setting a trajectory of idolatry and spiritual decline that ultimately led to its downfall. To understand Jeroboam's impact is to grasp a foundational truth about the consequences of fear-driven compromise and man-made religion.
The Rise to Power and Divine Mandate
Jeroboam's ascent was, ironically, ordained by God Himself. Originally an Ephraimite, a mighty man of valour and a diligent servant under King Solomon, he was chosen by divine decree to lead ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. Solomon's heart had turned from the Lord in his latter days, embracing the idolatry of his many foreign wives, a direct violation of God's covenant with Israel. As a consequence, God determined to tear the kingdom from Solomon's son, Rehoboam, and give the majority to Jeroboam.
The prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam and, tearing his new garment into twelve pieces, gave ten to Jeroboam, declaring God's will:
And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
God promised Jeroboam a sure house, like David's, if he would obey His statutes and commandments (1 Kings 11:38). This was a clear, conditional promise of divine blessing and stability. Jeroboam fled to Egypt during Solomon's lifetime, returning after Solomon's death. When Rehoboam, Solomon's son, rejected the counsel of the elders and chose to oppress the people further, the predicted division occurred, and Jeroboam was made king over all Israel (the ten northern tribes).
The Devious Device: The Golden Calves
Despite receiving the kingdom by divine appointment and a conditional promise of enduring rule, Jeroboam's faith quickly wavered. His primary concern shifted from God's mandate to political stability and personal security. He feared that if his new subjects continued to go to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, their allegiance would eventually return to the house of David, leading to his overthrow.
And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Driven by this fear, Jeroboam devised a "solution" that was a direct and egregious affront to God's law. He created two golden calves, reminiscent of Aaron's sin at Mount Sinai, and placed one in Bethel, at the southern border of his kingdom, and the other in Dan, at the northern extreme. He then declared to the people:
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.
This was a calculated act of spiritual rebellion. Not only did he introduce idolatry, but he also:
- Instituted an illegitimate priesthood: He made priests "of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi" (1 Kings 12:31), violating God's specific command that only Levites from the family of Aaron could serve as priests.
- Established alternative worship sites: Dan and Bethel became rival centers of worship, usurping Jerusalem's unique role as the place where God had chosen to set His name.
- Ordained new feast days: He "ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah," inventing a new religious calendar to further separate his kingdom from the true worship in Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:32-33).
Jeroboam's actions were not born of ignorance but of deliberate political expediency, sacrificing spiritual truth for perceived stability. He created a religion of convenience, tailored to his own agenda rather than God's command, thereby leading an entire nation into grievous sin.
God's Swift and Stern Condemnation
God did not remain silent in the face of Jeroboam's apostasy. While Jeroboam was offering incense at the altar in Bethel, a man of God from Judah arrived, delivering a powerful prophecy against the altar and Jeroboam himself:
And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.
Immediately, the altar split apart, and the ashes were poured out. When Jeroboam stretched out his hand to seize the man of God, his hand withered, unable to draw it back. Humbled, Jeroboam pleaded with the man of God to intercede for his hand, and it was restored (1 Kings 13:4-6). This immediate judgment and restoration served as a stark warning, demonstrating God's power and His displeasure. Yet, even after this miraculous intervention, Jeroboam "returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places" (1 Kings 13:33).
Later, when Jeroboam's son Abijah fell ill, Jeroboam sent his wife disguised to the prophet Ahijah, the very prophet who had foretold his kingship. Though blind, Ahijah recognized her and delivered a devastating prophecy of judgment against Jeroboam's house, revealing the depth of God's anger:
Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: And yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
The prophecy foretold the utter destruction of Jeroboam's lineage, that not one male would survive, and that Israel would be uprooted from their good land and scattered beyond the Euphrates because of "the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin" (1 Kings 14:16). The death of Abijah upon his wife's return was the first fulfillment of this dire word.
The Enduring Sin and Its Legacy
The phrase "the sin of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin" becomes a haunting refrain throughout the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings. It is the measuring stick against which every subsequent king of Israel is judged, and tragically, almost all are found wanting. From Nadab, Jeroboam's own son, to Baasha, Omri, Ahab, Jehu, and ultimately to Hoshea, the last king of Israel, the pattern of idolatry established by Jeroboam persisted. The golden calves at Dan and Bethel remained, symbols of a spiritual rebellion that entrenched itself in the national consciousness.
The sin was multifaceted: it was a rejection of God's prescribed worship, a betrayal of His covenant, and a deliberate leading of His people into apostasy. Jeroboam's actions set a precedent for future kings to follow their own political and religious inclinations rather than divine revelation. This consistent disobedience, rooted in Jeroboam's original sin, eventually led to God's ultimate judgment: the Assyrian captivity of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC, as prophesied.
Lessons for Today
Jeroboam's story is not merely a historical account; it is a profound cautionary tale for believers today:
- Fear vs. Faith: Jeroboam allowed political fear to override his faith in God's promises. We must trust God's sovereignty and provision, even when circumstances seem threatening, rather than resorting to unbiblical compromises.
- The Danger of Man-Made Religion: Any worship system or spiritual practice that deviates from God's revealed Word, no matter how convenient or well-intentioned, is an abomination in His sight. True worship must be according to truth and spirit, as God has commanded (John 4:24).
- Leadership's Profound Impact: Leaders, whether in the church, family, or society, bear immense responsibility. Their choices can lead many to righteousness or to ruin. Jeroboam's leadership was a spiritual catastrophe for a nation.
- Compromise Leads to Corruption: Jeroboam's initial compromise opened the floodgates to deeper spiritual decay. Small deviations from God's path can lead to complete apostasy over time.
- God's Judgment is Sure: Despite His patience, God will not indefinitely tolerate sin and idolatry. His warnings are real, and His judgments are certain, both for individuals and for nations.
The legacy of Jeroboam is a somber reminder that obedience to God's Word is paramount. His story calls us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that our worship, our decisions, and our leadership are rooted in unwavering faith and adherence to the living God, rather than the deceptive conveniences of man-made religion.