King
Jeroboam I
1st King of Israel (Northern Kingdom)
930–909 BC
Biography
Jeroboam was an Ephraimite official under Solomon who was told by the prophet Ahijah that he would rule ten tribes of Israel. When Solomon tried to kill him he fled to Egypt, returning after Solomon's death to lead the northern tribes' demand for lighter burdens. When Rehoboam harshly refused, the ten tribes revolted and made Jeroboam king.
His first and defining act of kingship was religious: fearing that his people would return to Jerusalem for worship and transfer their loyalty to Rehoboam, he made two golden calves and set one at Bethel and one at Dan, saying "Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." He appointed non-Levitical priests, created new feasts, and burned incense himself on the altar at Bethel.
A man of God from Judah came and prophesied against the Bethel altar, and it split and the ashes poured out as a sign. Jeroboam's religious system became the template of sin that every subsequent king of Israel was condemned for following.
And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned and who made Israel to sin.
Key Events
- 1Prophesied to by Ahijah1 Kings 11:29-39→
The prophet Ahijah tore his garment into 12 pieces and gave Jeroboam 10, prophesying he would rule 10 tribes
Read the verse here
1 Kings 11:29-39During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.
- 2Led the revolt against Rehoboam1 Kings 12:1-20→
Presented the northern tribes' petition for relief; when refused, led the revolt that split the united kingdom
Read the verse here
1 Kings 12:1-20Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.
- 3Set up golden calves1 Kings 12:28-29→
Made two golden calves and placed one at Bethel and one at Dan saying 'Here are your gods, O Israel'
Read the verse here
1 Kings 12:28-29After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
- 4Non-Levitical priests appointed1 Kings 12:31→
Appointed priests from all the people who were not Levites, replacing the divinely ordained priesthood
Read the verse here
1 Kings 12:31Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites.
- 5The man of God from Judah1 Kings 13:1-5→
A prophet from Judah came and prophesied against Bethel's altar; it split and ashes poured out as a sign
Read the verse here
1 Kings 13:1-5Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD.
- 6Son Abijah dies — prophetic judgment1 Kings 14:1-18→
Jeroboam sent his wife in disguise to Ahijah; the prophet pronounced judgment on his house and predicted his dynasty's end
Read the verse here
1 Kings 14:1-18At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill,
Jeroboam I in Scripture
99 verses use this name, in 6 books. Open a book to read its mentions here. Text: Berean Standard Bible. Names repeat in Scripture — some of these verses may speak of another person called Jeroboam I.
Old Testament6 books · 99 mentions
1 Kings50 mentions
- 1 Kings 11:26Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon, but he rebelled against the king,
- 1 Kings 11:28Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.
- 1 Kings 11:29During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.
- 1 Kings 11:31and said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and I will give you ten tribes.
- 1 Kings 11:40Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, where he remained until the death of Solomon.
45 further mentions in 1 Kings — read them in the book.
2 Kings24 mentions
- 2 Kings 3:3Nevertheless, he clung to the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
- 2 Kings 9:9I will make the house of Ahab like the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah.
- 2 Kings 10:29but 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.
- 2 Kings 10:31Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
- 2 Kings 13:2And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them.
19 further mentions in 2 Kings — read them in the book.
1 Chronicles1 mention
2 Chronicles19 mentions
- 2 Chronicles 9:29As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?
- 2 Chronicles 10:2When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about this, he returned from Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon.
- 2 Chronicles 10:3So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel came to Rehoboam and said,
- 2 Chronicles 10:12After three days, Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, since the king had said, “Come back to me on the third day.”
- 2 Chronicles 10:15So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.
14 further mentions in 2 Chronicles — read them in the book.
Hosea1 mention
Amos4 mentions
- Amos 1:1These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
- Amos 7:9The high places of Isaac will be deserted, and the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste; and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with My sword.”
- Amos 7:10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words,
- Amos 7:11for this is what Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”
Spiritual Significance
Jeroboam I is one of Scripture's most consequential negative examples. His religious innovations were not atheism but a calculated religious substitute — worship of YHWH through the wrong means for political reasons. It teaches that pragmatic religion that compromises God's standards, even with good intentions, leads to catastrophic spiritual consequences.
Character Profile
- Strengths
- Leadership ability, recognized charisma that led the northern tribes, initial boldness
- Weaknesses
- Idolatry, religious manipulation for political ends, appointment of illegitimate priests, setting the sin-pattern for 19 kings
- Lessons
- Religious compromise for political stability destroys both. Jeroboam's golden calves were a calculated political move that became a generational spiritual catastrophe. Leaders who design religion to serve their agenda will corrupt both the religion and the people.
Related Characters
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