Understanding the sins of Jeroboam
The term the sins of Jeroboam is also referred to as the way of Jeroboam (1Ki 15:34; 1Ki 16:2; 1Ki 16:19; 1Ki 16:26; 1Ki 22:52). The term gives you a clear indication that it has something to do with King Jeroboam I also called Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Jeroboam was the first king of the Kingdom of Israel whose reign was marked by many sins. However, the “sin of Jeroboam” specifically refers to the idol worship that characterized his reign and the reigns of his successors. Jeroboam’s rise to power came after the death of King Solomon, and he was appointed as the ruler of the ten northern tribes of Israel. Despite his initial promise, Jeroboam’s reign was marked by a series of grave sins that ultimately led to his downfall.
One of Jeroboam’s most significant sins was the establishment of two golden calves at Bethel and Dan. These idols were erected as objects of divine adoration, replacing the worship of Jehovah with man-made images. This act of idolatry was a direct violation of God’s commandments, and it provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger. The golden calves were a deliberate echo of the Golden Calf built by the Israelites at Horeb in Exodus 32, marking a deliberate turning away from God towards false idols.
In addition to the establishment of the golden calves, Jeroboam built shrines on hilltops all over the land where people could give offerings to his gods; he also refused the Levitical priests and made priests of those who were not descendants of Levi and Aaron and made them serve at the high places; he also ordained an annual festival for his gods on the 15th day of the 8th month.
When King Jeroboam I was inaugurating his new religion to the people he particularly said, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” (1Ki 12:28). Jeroboam dishonored God so much; he stole God’s glory and bestowed it on his idols; he diverted the attention and devotion of the people from God and God’s ordained place of worship to his idols in Dan and Bethel; he misled an entire nation into idolatry and apostasy.
In short, Jeroboam established a state religion comprising the two golden calves, the high places, non-levitical priesthood, and an unholy festival; in a broad sense, this is what is referred to as the sins of Jeroboam. This religion, the sins of Jeroboam, is as old as the Kingdom of Israel itself for Jeroboam the first king of the Kingdom of Israel founded it. From Jeroboam I himself to King Hoshea, all the kings of the Kingdom of Israel were guilty of perpetuating this religion.
This religion, the sins of Jeroboam, angered God, made the people of Israel go out of favor with God, and eventually, incurred God’s wrath into captivity at the hands of the Assyrians. With time, a descendant of David called Josiah was born. He came to bring an end to this religion, the sins of Jeroboam. He defiled and destroyed the religion, defiling and destroying its shrines, altars, and high places. Josiah killed all the priests of the high places on the altars and burned human bones on them to desecrate them. Eventually, he ruined the religion.