1 Kings 12:25-28

New King James Version

Jeroboam’s Gold Calves

²⁵ Then Jeroboam ^(A)built^[a] Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built ^(B)Penuel. ²⁶ And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: ²⁷ If these people ^(C)go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

²⁸ Therefore the king asked advice, ^(D)made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. ^(E)Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!”