Topical Encyclopedia The altars of Jeroboam at Bethel hold significant historical and theological importance in the narrative of the divided kingdom of Israel. These altars were central to the religious reforms initiated by Jeroboam I, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, following the division of the united monarchy after the reign of Solomon.Historical Context After the death of Solomon, the united kingdom of Israel was divided into two: the southern kingdom of Judah, ruled by Rehoboam, Solomon's son, and the northern kingdom of Israel, ruled by Jeroboam I. Concerned about the potential political and religious allegiance of his subjects to Jerusalem, where the Temple of the LORD was located, Jeroboam sought to establish alternative centers of worship within his own territory. Establishment of the Altars Jeroboam's solution was to set up two golden calves as objects of worship, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. Bethel, located near the southern border of his kingdom, was chosen for its historical and religious significance, as it was a site where the patriarch Jacob had encountered God (Genesis 28:19). Jeroboam's actions are recorded in 1 Kings 12:28-30 : "After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, 'Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.' One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves." Religious and Theological Implications Jeroboam's establishment of these altars represented a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh as prescribed in the Mosaic Law. By creating these alternative worship sites, Jeroboam not only violated the commandment against idolatry but also undermined the centrality of the Jerusalem Temple as the sole legitimate place of worship. This act of apostasy is condemned throughout the biblical narrative, as it led the people of Israel into sin and idolatry. The prophet Ahijah had previously warned Jeroboam of the consequences of disobedience to God's commands (1 Kings 11:29-39). Despite this, Jeroboam's actions set a precedent for future kings of Israel, who continued in the sin of idolatry, leading to the eventual downfall of the northern kingdom. Prophetic Condemnation The altars at Bethel became a focal point for prophetic condemnation. In 1 Kings 13, a man of God from Judah prophesied against the altar at Bethel, declaring that a future king, Josiah, would desecrate it by burning human bones on it (1 Kings 13:2): "And he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD: 'O altar, altar, this is what the LORD says: A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David, and he will sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones will be burned on you.'" This prophecy was fulfilled during the reign of King Josiah of Judah, who enacted religious reforms and destroyed the altar at Bethel as part of his efforts to purify the worship of Yahweh (2 Kings 23:15-16). Legacy The altars of Jeroboam at Bethel serve as a poignant reminder of the dangers of idolatry and the consequences of deviating from God's commandments. They illustrate the tension between political expediency and religious fidelity, a theme that resonates throughout the history of Israel and Judah. The narrative of Jeroboam's altars underscores the importance of maintaining true worship and the centrality of God's chosen place and means of worship as revealed in Scripture. Torrey's Topical Textbook 1 Kings 12:33So he offered on the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast to the children of Israel: and he offered on the altar, and burnt incense. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Concerning the Death of a Son of Jeroboam. How Jeroboam was Beaten ... The Book of the Law The Assyrian Captivity National Apostasy Kings Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ... The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire The Prophet Amos. On Reconciling Religious Dissensions among Christians The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus Resources Who are the Chemarim / Chemarims in Zephaniah 1:4? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the books of 1 and 2 Maccabees? | GotQuestions.org Who was Balaam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Altars for Idolatrous Worship, often Erected on Roofs of Houses Altars for Idolatrous Worship, to be Destroyed Altars of Brick, Hateful to God Altars of Reubenites East of Jordan Altars of the People of Israel Altars of the Temple of Solomon Altars were not to Have Steps up to Them Altars: Afforded No Protection to Murderers Altars: Designed for Sacrifice Altars: Idolaters Planted Groves Near Altars: Natural Rocks Sometimes Used As Altars: Probable Origin of Inscriptions On Altars: Protection Afforded By Altars: The Jews not to Plant Groves Near Altars: To be Made of Earth, or Unhewn Stone Related Terms |
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