26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem,(A) they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam.”

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves.(B) He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”(C) 29 One he set up in Bethel,(D) and the other in Dan.(E) 30 And this thing became a sin;(F) the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.[a]

31 Jeroboam built shrines(G) on high places and appointed priests(H) from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 12:30 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text people went to the one as far as Dan

26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David: 27 if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said unto them, [a]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. 29 And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; for the people went to worship before [b]the one, even unto Dan. 31 And he made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, that were not of the sons of Levi.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 12:28 Or, Ye have gone up long enough
  2. 1 Kings 12:30 Or, each of them