17:21 When he had torn Israel from the house of David. The creation of the northern kingdom was a punishment against Solomon (1 Kin. 11:11–13), but it also was a promising beginning for the northern tribes (1 Kin. 11:29–39).

made them commit great sin. The reference is to Jeroboam’s fashioning of two calves at Bethel and Dan (1 Kin. 12:25–33; 14:7–16 and notes).