His Story

An Ephraimite official of Solomon’s, chosen by the prophet Ahijah — who tore a new garment into twelve pieces — to receive ten tribes, with God’s own promise of a sure house if he would walk in His ways. He became the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel.

His Sin — How He Displeased the LORD

His name is Scripture’s byword for corrupting a nation: fearing that worship at Jerusalem would win his people back to David’s house, he made two golden calves — at Bethel and Dan — appointed priests from any tribe, invented a feast in the eighth month, and offered on his own altar. “Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin” is repeated of him some twenty times, and nearly every northern king is measured against his sin.

The Good He Did

Scripture records no good deed of his reign; the tragedy is sharpened by what he was given — a direct promise from God (1 Kings 11:38) that he refused to trust. God even sent a prophet to cry against his altar, and healed his withered hand when he cried for mercy (1 Kings 13:6) — mercy he received and then ignored.

The LORD’s verdict

“And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.”1 Kings 14:16 (KJV)

How His Reign Ended

Warned by Ahijah that his house would be cut off and his sick son would die — the only one of his house to come to the grave in peace, “because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD” — Jeroboam reigned 22 years and died; his house was extinguished under his son Nadab.

Lessons for Believers Today

• Religion invented to serve our interests is idolatry, however golden the calf. God’s promise trusted would have given Jeroboam what his scheming could not.
• The sins of leaders multiply in their followers: “he made Israel to sin” is the heaviest charge a ruler can carry.

← SolomonAll 43 KingsNadab →