Keraia
1 Kings 12

1 Kings 12:32

Jeroboam’s Idolatry · 1 Kings 12:25–33
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Translations

Modern
And Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.
Traditional
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth–el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth–el the priests of the high places which he had made.
Literal
And Jeroboam ordained a feast of the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. Thus he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made, and he caused to stand in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.
Latin
Constituitque diem solemnem in mense octavo, quintadecima die mensis, in similitudinem solemnitatis quæ celebrabatur in Juda. Et ascendens altare, similiter fecit in Bethel, ut immolaret vitulis quos fabricatus fuerat: constituitque in Bethel sacerdotes excelsorum quæ fecerat.

Original

Hebrew
English
And Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up.

Notes

1 Kings 12:32–33

  • Replacing the Feast of Tabernacles, Israel’s main ceremonial feast in the seventh month, with a festival in Bethel broke the law (Deuteronomy 16:13–15). Holding this imitation festival one month later in the eighth month might have matched the end of the Canaanite agricultural year. Jeroboam’s false religious practices led to Israel’s downfall (2 Kings 17:22).

  • Jeroboam’s offering of sacrifices on the altar at Bethel set a poor example in spiritual leadership.

1 Kings 12:25–33

Jeroboam's efforts to establish his kingdom are described in two parts. One part covers his construction projects (1 Kings 12:25), and the other discusses his false shrines and religious practices (1 Kings 12:26–33).

Events

People

Jeroboam: First king of the northern kingdom of Israel Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Bethel: Important city in Israel, associated with Abraham and Jacob

Glossary

Bethel (Place), Bethelite Cattle Golden Calf Idols, Idolatry Judaism Kings, Books of First and Second Monotheism

Topics

Altar used in Idolatrous Worship Beth-El: A City North of Jerusalem: Jeroboam Institutes Idolatrous Worship At Bul: Jeroboam Institutes an Idolatrous Feast In, to Correspond with the Feast of Tabernacles Calf: Images of, Set up in Beth-El and Dan by Jeroboam Calves of Jeroboam: Feasts Appointed For Calves of Jeroboam: Sacrifices offered To Church and State: State Superior to Religion: Jeroboam, in Subverting the Jewish Religion Feast of Tabernacles: Jeroboam Institutes an Idolatrous Feast to Correspond To, in the Eighth Month High Places: Priests Ordained For Idolatry: Annual Feasts Jeroboam: First King of Israel After the Revolt: Subverts the Religion of Moses Month: Bul (November): Jeroboam's Idolatrous Feast In National Sins: Often Caused and Encouraged by Rulers Rebellion Against God: Jeroboam Religion: National: Established by Jeroboam Religion: National: Subverted by Jeroboam Rulers: Wicked: Jeroboam, Perverting the True Worship Statecraft: Jeroboam