Divided kingdom · around 931–910 BC
Jeroboam I in the Bible
The king who made Israel sin. Name meaning: “May the people multiply” (probable meaning of the Hebrew Yarobam); the Bible does not explain it
A servant of Solomon, Jeroboam receives a promise from the prophet Ahijah that he will rule over ten tribes. After the split, he becomes the first king of the northern kingdom, but he is afraid of losing his people and makes two golden calves, at Bethel and at Dan: “Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kgs 12:28). His name becomes a refrain, “the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin,” all the way to the kingdom’s fall.
Key moments
- Ahijah gives him ten pieces of the cloak 1 Kings 11:31
- He flees to Egypt, to Shishak 1 Kings 11:40
- All Israel makes him king 1 Kings 12:20
- He makes two golden calves, at Bethel and at Dan 1 Kings 12:28–29
- His hand dries up before the altar at Bethel 1 Kings 13:4
- He does not turn from his evil way 1 Kings 13:33
- His sick son dies at Tirzah 1 Kings 14:17
- He is defeated by Abijah and struck down by the LORD 2 Chronicles 13:15
Strengths
- Ambition
- Political savvy
- Fear
- Idolatry
Weaknesses
God had promised Jeroboam a lasting house if he followed David’s example, but he lets the fear of losing his people win out over trust in the LORD (1 Kgs 11:38; 12:26-27). He invents a religion that serves his own interests: golden calves, high places, non-Levite priests, a feast chosen “of his own heart” (12:28-33). Even after the sign at Bethel, he does not turn from his evil way (13:33).
Lessons for today
- God’s promises are not kept by human scheming: Jeroboam had been given the kingdom, but the fear of losing it drove him to sin (1 Kgs 11:37-38; 12:26-28).
- Worship invented for political reasons leads away from God and drags a whole people along: “the sins of Jeroboam” become a refrain (1 Kgs 12:30; 2 Kgs 17:21-22).
- A sign from God cannot convert a heart that refuses to turn: his hand was healed and the altar was split, yet nothing changed (1 Kgs 13:4-6, 33).
- Our choices shape other people’s lives: Jeroboam will be remembered as the one who “made Israel to sin” (1 Kgs 14:16).
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:
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.
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.
People around Jeroboam I
- Rehoboam — Rival, son of Solomon and king of Judah
- Solomon — The master who promotes him, then tries to kill him
- Ahijah — Prophet of Shiloh who announces the kingdom to him
- Abijah — King of Judah, son of Rehoboam, who defeats him
- Nadab — Son and successor, killed by Baasha
- Josiah — King of Judah, named in advance, who destroys the altar at Bethel
Stories with Jeroboam I
Quiz: how well do you know Jeroboam I?
Which prophet told Jeroboam that he would rule over ten tribes?
Ahijah of Shiloh tore his new cloak into twelve pieces and said to Jeroboam, “Take thee ten pieces!” 1 Kings 11:29–31
To which country did Jeroboam flee to escape Solomon?
Solomon sought to kill him, so Jeroboam fled “unto Shishak king of Egypt” and stayed there until Solomon’s death. 1 Kings 11:40
In which cities did Jeroboam set his two golden calves?
“He set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.” Shechem and Penuel are the cities he built. 1 Kings 12:28–29
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