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What was Jeroboam known for?
Jeroboam I of Israel (reigned 922–901 bce) attempted to bring about religious and political reforms. Establishing his capital at Shechem, he set aside two pilgrimage sites (Dan in the north and Bethel in the south) as shrine centres.
Was Jeroboam the second a good king?
composed during the age of Jeroboam II, king of Israel from 786 to 746 bce. His reign was marked by great economic prosperity, but the rich were getting richer and the poor poorer. Social injustice ran rampant in the land.
What happened to king Jeroboam in the Bible?
Jeroboam was crippled by this severe defeat to Abijah and posed little threat to the Kingdom of Judah for the rest of his reign. He also lost the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, with their surrounding villages.
What was the relationship between Solomon and Jeroboam?
Jeroboam I (10th century bce), son of Nebat, was a corvée overseer under Solomon, who incurred the suspicion of the king as an instrument of the popular democratic and prophetic parties.
What does Jeroboam mean in Hebrew?
In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Jeroboam is: He that opposes the people.
What is the meaning of Jeroboam?
Definition of jeroboam : an oversize wine bottle holding about three liters.
What did Jeroboam fear?
Fearing that pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem prescribed by the Torah might be an occasion for his people to go back to their old allegiance, he built two state temples, with golden calves, one in Bethel and the other in Dan.
What is Jeroboam afraid will happen and what does he do to solve this problem?
Why was Jeroboam fearful of the people going up to Jerusalem to worship? He was afraid if his subjects and Israel went to Jerusalem in Judah to offer sacrifices in the temple they would turn their hearts to true worship the Lord and their allegiance to Rehoboam , David's grandson and would want to kill Jeroboam.
Why did Jeroboam make golden calves?
Jeroboam's "sin" was creating two calves of gold, and sending one to Bethel as a worship site in the south of the Kingdom, and the other to Dan as a worship site in the north, so that the people of the northern kingdom would not have to continue to go to Jerusalem to worship (see 1 Kings 12:26–30).
Who were the good kings of Israel?
The Good Kings of Judah in 2 ChroniclesKing Abijah. This guy defeated Israel in battle and was described as a ruler who "grew strong" (13:21).King Jehoshaphat. He was one of the first major kings after Solomon. ... King Jotham. ... King Hezekiah. ... King Josiah. ... And…
How did Jeroboam try to keep the tribes under his control from turning back to Jerusalem?
How did Jeroboam try to keep the tribes under his control from turning back to Jerusalem? He set up 2 golden calves for the people to worship.
Why did God punish Solomon?
In the biblical account of his reign, God tells Solomon he will punish him for his apostasy by breaking up his kingdom after his death.
Who was Jeroboam the 2nd?
Jeroboam II (Hebrew: יָרָבְעָם, Yāroḇə'ām; Greek: Ἱεροβοάμ; Latin: Hieroboam/Jeroboam) was the son and successor of Jehoash (alternatively spelled Joash) and the thirteenth king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, over which he ruled for forty-one years in the eighth century BC.
Who were the good kings of Israel?
The Good Kings of Judah in 2 ChroniclesKing Abijah. This guy defeated Israel in battle and was described as a ruler who "grew strong" (13:21).King Jehoshaphat. He was one of the first major kings after Solomon. ... King Jotham. ... King Hezekiah. ... King Josiah. ... And…
Why did Jeroboam make golden calves?
Jeroboam's "sin" was creating two calves of gold, and sending one to Bethel as a worship site in the south of the Kingdom, and the other to Dan as a worship site in the north, so that the people of the northern kingdom would not have to continue to go to Jerusalem to worship (see 1 Kings 12:26–30).
What did ahijah say to Jeroboam?
So when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why this pretense? I have been sent to you with bad news. Go, tell Jeroboam that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `I raised you up from among the people and made you a leader over my people Israel.
Why did God make Jeroboam king?
As the new king, Jeroboam had some problems threatening his ability to rule: God made him king in order to draw the Israelites back to himself, but God’s dwelling place was in Jerusalem, and the Israelites were accustomed to offering sacrifices there. Israel’s identity and faith was tied to a city which was no longer part of their nation.
Who was Jeroboam in the Bible?
Who Was Jeroboam? The Beginner’s Guide. by Ryan Nelson | Jul 20, 2020 | Bible characters. Jeroboam I was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, which included ten (ish) of Israel’s twelve tribes. The Bible records his rise to power in 1 Kings 11:26–14:20. He reigned for 22 years, from 930–909 BC.
What did Jeroboam bring back to the temple?
Jeroboam worried that if the northern Israelites continued making sacrifices at the temple in Jerusalem, they would turn against him ( 1 Kings 12:26-27 ). So after seeking advice, he brought back a familiar form of worship: the good ol’ golden calf. (Because that went so well the first time, right? Exodus 32, anyone?)
Why did Jeroboam appoint his own priests?
1 Kings 12:31 and 2 Chronicles 11:13–17 tell us that as part of his plan to reduce dependence on Jerusalem, Jeroboam appointed his own priests, who weren’t Levites. (This would’ve been a big no-no.) Some scholars dispute this assertion as propaganda designed to discredit the Northern Kingdom. Others suggest he would’ve had to appoint his own priests because the Levite priests would’ve remained loyal to Rehoboam, who ruled over Jerusalem, which housed the temple —the central hub of the priesthood.
How long did Jeroboam reign?
He reigned for 22 years, from 930–909 BC. Jeroboam I was not from the line of David. He was one of Solomon ’s administrators, but through the prophet Ahijah, God compelled him to rebel, promising to give him a dynasty as lasting as David’s—so long as he obeyed God.
What does God say about Jeroboam?
Near the end of Jeroboam’s rule, God spoke to him through Ahijah again, but this time, he delivered one of the strongest rebukes in the Bible: “You have done more evil than all who lived before you.” — 1 Kings 14:9. Between 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, there’s a lot we can gather about Jeroboam I.
Where did Jeroboam establish his capital?
Being from the tribe of Ephraim, Jeroboam naturally sought to rule his kingdom from there. He fortified the city of Tirzah in Shechem and lived there, then built up the city of Peniel, which was in the territory belonging to the tribe of Manasseh.
How long did Jeroboam reign?
Jeroboam reigned for 22 years. William F. Albright has dated his reign from 922 to 901 BC, while Edwin R. Thiele offers the dates 931 to 910 BC.
Who was Jeroboam's mother?
Jeroboam was the son of Nebat, a member of the Tribe of Ephraim of Zereda. His mother, named Zeruah (צרוע "leprous") was a widow ( 1 Kings 11:26 ). He had at least two sons, Abijah ( 1 Kings 14:1) and Nadab, who succeeded him on the throne.
What did Jeroboam lose?
He also lost the towns of Bethel, Jeshanah, and Ephron, with their surrounding villages. Bethel was an important centre for Jeroboam's Golden Calf cult (which used non-Levites as priests), located on Israel's southern border, which had been allocated to the Tribe of Benjamin by Joshua, as was Ephron, which is believed to be the Ophrah that was allocated to the Tribe of Benjamin by Joshua.
How long did Abijah rule?
During his short reign of three years, Abijah went to considerable lengths to bring the Kingdom of Israel back under his control. He waged a major battle against Jeroboam in the mountains of Ephraim. According to the Book of Chronicles Abijah had a force of 400,000 and Jeroboam 800,000.
What does the name Jeroboam mean?
Etymology. The name Jeroboam יָרָבְעָם is commonly held to have been derived from riyb רִיב and ʿam עַם , signifying "the people contend" or "he pleads the people's cause". It is alternatively translated to mean "his people are many " or "he increases the people" (from רבב rbb, meaning "to increase"), or even "he that opposes the people".
What did Gehazi do to the idol?
According to Rabbanic Literature Gehazi possessed a magnet by which he lifted up the idol made by Jeroboam, so that it was seen between heaven and earth; he had "Yhwh" engraved on it, and in consequence the idol (a calf) pronounced the first two words of the Decalogue (ib.).
Where did Jeroboam build the temple?
Jeroboam rebuilt and fortified Shechem as the capital of the northern kingdom, and fearing that pilgrimages to the temple in Jerusalem prescribed by the Law might be an occasion for his people to go back to their old allegiance, he built two state temples with golden calves, one in Bethel and the other in Dan.
What was Jeroboam's greatest failure as king?
3. Leaders Set the Example Others Will Follow. Perhaps Jeroboam’s greatest failure as king was his establishment of the high places of worship at Dan and Bethel. Idolatry in any form is sin and a violation of both the first and second commandments. Later kings would implement far worse forms of pagan worship than even Jeroboam. However, precedent had already been set. Jeroboam was not the spiritual leader Israel needed, and as the kings of Israel and Judah went, so went the nation.
Who Was Jeroboam in the Bible?
Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim, was the first king of Northern Israel following the ten northern tribes’ revolt against Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. Disillusioned by Rehoboam’s ineptitude and insensitivity, the northern tribes broke from the house of David and declared Jeroboam their king, effectively splitting Israel into two nations, Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom).
What did Jeroboam fear?
Once king, Jeroboam feared that the northern tribes might grow nostalgic and eventually seek to return to the house of David. Knowing that the Temple of Solomon was located in Jerusalem in the south, Jeroboam worried that frequent trips to Jerusalem might foster this desire even further ( 1 Kings 12:26-27 ).
How did Solomon achieve prosperity?
However, Solomon had achieved prosperity through forced labor and high taxes. Toward the end of his life, discontent was already beginning to brew amongst the people. Israel was a powder keg ready to explode… or be exploited.
What is Jeroboam's alternate site of worship called?
From then on, Jeroboam’s alternate sites of worship would be referred to as the “high places”, which no subsequent king had the spiritual sense to eliminate, to their peril.
Who was the king after Solomon died?
After Solomon’s death, his son Rehoboam became king. At this time, Jeroboam returned to Israel and appeared before Rehoboam on behalf of the people, asking the new king to alleviate some of the high taxes and heavy labor placed upon them during his father’s reign ( 1 Kings 12:1-5 ). Rather than listen to the cries of his people and heed the wisdom of his father’s advisors, Rehoboam instead turned to the council of his inexperienced companions. He decided to flex his political muscles, declaring, “whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” ( 1 Kings 12:14)
Was Jeroboam a servant of Solomon?
Prior to becoming the king of the north, Jeroboam was a servant of King Solomon, a skilled worker, and a “valiant warrior.” As a labor secretary of sorts, Jeroboam would have had an ear to the ground and been well-acquainted with and even sympathetic to the growing discontent amongst Israel’s workforce.
Why was King Jeroboam important?
King Jeroboam’s role in the history of ancient Israel is very important because his rule took place as a result of King Solomon ‘s disobedience. Jeroboam made some significant changes to the worship and lifestyle of Israel during his reign. His actions set off a chain of events that had made God angry with the people ...
Why did God send Jeroboam to become the next king of Israel?
He informed Jeroboam that he was sent from God to let him know that he would become the next king of Israel. God would prosper his royal line as long as he kept the Lord’s commandments and walked in his ways.
Why did Jeroboam come back to Israel?
He led some of the people of Israel to Rehoboam’s palace and asked him to be a kinder ruler than King Solomon. Rehoboam denied their request after he consulted with a group of advisors who were his age. Then ten of the twelve tribes of Israel rebelled against him. The Bible says they did this because God initiated Rehoboam’s negative response (see 1 Kings 12: 15 – 16)
What is the name of the king of Israel in 1 Kings 11?
1 Kings 11: 26 Jeroboam is born to Nabat. 1 Kings 11: 27, 28 Jeroboam recognized as a leader by the people and promoted by King Solomon. 1 Kings 11: 29 – 39 The prophet Abijah tell Jeroboam that he will be the king of Israel. 1 Kings 11: 40 Jeroboam escapes to Egypt to save his life from King Solomon.
Why did Jeroboam decide to start another religion in Israel?
King Jeroboam then decided to start another religion in Israel. He did this to stop his people from going up to Solomon’s Temple to offer sacrifices to the Lord. He believed that if the people performed sacrifices to God they would turn their allegiance back to God and reunite with Rehoboam. To retain his power he created the worship of the Golden Calf Cult.
What does Jeroboam's name mean?
Find out more now! >. Jeroboam was born to Nabat, and he grew up to become a respected and well-liked member of his community. His name means “the people contend” or “he pleads the people cause” and his name perfectly defined the course of his life.
Who did God use against Solomon?
God uses Jeroboam against King Solomon. There was a prophet in Israel during the time of King Solomon and Jeroboam, and his name was Ahijah. One day Jeroboam was on his way to Jerusalem, and Ahijah met up with him during his journey. The Prophet and King were alone.
Why did the people send Jeroboam to the new king?
The people sent Jeroboam to the new king to ask him to lighten the heavy load of labor and taxes that Solomon had laid on them ( 1 Kings 12:1–4; 2 Chronicles 10:3–4 ). The older advisers gave King Rehoboam the wise counsel to honor the people’s request and thus win their loyalty ( 1 Kings 12:6–7; 2 Chronicles 10:6–7 ).
What did King Asa learn from King Rehoboam?
From King Rehoboam we learn the importance of wise counselors and maintaining faithfulness to God. When Rehoboam went his own way, things did not go well for his kingdom. When he listened to God, Judah was secure.
How long did Rehoboam and Solomon walk in the way of David and Solomon?
Second Chronicles 11:17 says, “They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam the son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.”.
Where did Rehoboam take the young men?
Rehoboam took the young men’s advice, and the people rebelled, abandoning the house of David and ultimately making Jeroboam their king ( 1 Kings 12:8–20; 2 Chronicles 10:8–19 ). Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem ( 1 Kings 12:18; 2 Chronicles 10:18 ), where he mustered 180,000 warriors from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to mount an attack.
What did God tell Solomon?
Solomon had turned away from God, and God told Solomon that He would tear the kingdom from him yet leave him one tribe. God also promised, for the sake of David, not to tear the kingdom away during Solomon’s lifetime but during that of his son ( 1 Kings 11:9–13 ). Shortly after Rehoboam became king, a rebellion placed the ten northern tribes ...
Who abandoned the ways of God?
Unfortunately, after King Rehoboam became established in the southern kingdom, he abandoned the ways of God ( 2 Chronicles 12:1 ). In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Shishak king of Egypt captured the fortified cities in Judah and set out against Jerusalem. Shemaiah the prophet told Rehoboam, “This is what the Lord says, ...
Was there good in Judah?
Indeed, there was some good in Judah.” “Some good in Judah” seems a fitting way to characterize the reign of Rehoboam. He was unwise and perhaps brash in his treatment of the forced laborers, thus leading to his loss of the kingdom. However, that loss was God-ordained, and Rehoboam proceeded to follow the ways of the Lord for some time.
What did Jeroboam do?
Jeroboam made shrines on the high places, installed priests who were not of the tribe of Levi, appointed a festival, and sacrificed at the altars ( 1 Kings 12:31–33 ). In spite of God’s offer to establish his dynasty in Israel, Jeroboam chose idolatry, and the prophet Ahijah told Jeroboam that his family would not endure ( 1 Kings 14 ). ...
Where did Jeroboam reign?
Jeroboam reigned from Shechem and later from Tirzah in Israel. Once established in the northern kingdom, King Jeroboam feared that, if the people traveled to the temple in Jerusalem to worship, they would return to Rehoboam. So he set up centers of worship in Bethel and Dan, building golden calves and telling the people, ...
How many warriors did King Rehoboam gather?
King Rehoboam gathered 180,000 warriors in an attempt to take back the ten tribes, but God prevented it, saying, “This is my doing” ( 1 Kings 12:24 ). So King Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. Jeroboam reigned from Shechem and later from Tirzah in Israel.
How did the people respond to Rehoboam's harshness?
The people responded to Rehoboam’s harshness by rebelling against the new king and making Jeroboam king over Israel ( 1 Kings 12:16–20 ). Only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin followed Rehoboam, son of Solomon. The other ten tribes sided with Jeroboam.
What was the schism between Rehoboam and Jeroboam?
The schism that occurred during the days of Rehoboam and Jeroboam was the end of a united Israel. This division continued during their reigns: “There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam” ( 2 Chronicles 12:15) and for centuries afterward. Return to: Questions about 1 Kings.
Who was the prophet that told Jeroboam that God would take ten of the twelve tribes of Israel away from?
While Solomon was still alive and Jeroboam was working for him, a prophet named Ahijah told Jeroboam that God would take ten of the twelve tribes of Israel away from Solomon’s son Rehoboam and give them to Jeroboam ( 1 Kings 11:29–31 ).
Who were the two kings of Israel?
Answer. Rehoboam and Jeroboam were both kings reigning in Israel’s divided kingdom. Rehoboam was one of Solomon’s sons and king of Judah in the south ( 1 Kings 11:43 ). Jeroboam was one of Solomon’s former officials, an Ephraimite, and king of Israel in the north ( 1 Kings 11:26 ).
Overview
Biblical background
Jeroboam was the son of Nebat, a member of the Tribe of Ephraim of Zereda. His mother, named Zeruah (צרוע "leprous") was a widow. He had at least two sons, Abijah and Nadab, who succeeded him on the throne.
While still a young man, King Solomon made him superintendent over his tribesmen in the building of the fortress Millo in Jerusalem and of other public w…
Etymology
The name Jeroboam יָרָבְעָם is commonly held to have been derived from riyb רִיב and ʿam עַם, signifying "the people contend" or "he pleads the people's cause". It is alternatively translated to mean "his people are many" or "he increases the people" (from רבב rbb, meaning "to increase"), or even "he that opposes the people". In the Septuagint he is called Hieroboam (Ἱεροβοάμ).
War with Judah
According to the Hebrew Bible, Jeroboam was in "constant war with the house of Judah". While the southern kingdom made no serious effort militarily to regain power over the north, there was a long-lasting boundary dispute, fighting over which lasted during the reigns of several kings on both sides before being finally settled.
Commentary on sources
The account of Jeroboam's life, like that of all his successors, ends with the formula "And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel".
"The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel", likely compiled by or derived from these kings' own scribes, is likely the source for the basic facts of Jeroboam's life and reign, though the compiler(s) of th…
In popular culture
Jeroboam is portrayed by Nickolas Grace in Solomon & Sheba (1995) and by Richard Dillane in Solomon (1997). Both of these are television films.