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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_kings/12.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_kings/12.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_kings/12.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan—at either end of his kingdom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_kings/12.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_kings/12.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_kings/12.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_kings/12.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_kings/12.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_kings/12.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_kings/12.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_kings/12.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he set one in Bethel, and one he put in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_kings/12.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He set the one [golden calf] in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_kings/12.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He set up one in Bethel, and put the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_kings/12.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He set up one in Bethel, and put the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_kings/12.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_kings/12.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Then he put one of the gold calves in the town of Bethel and the other in the town of Dan. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_kings/12.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_kings/12.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He put one in Bethel and the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_kings/12.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He placed one of the gold bull-calves in Bethel and the other in Dan. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_kings/12.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He set one of them in Bethel and placed the other one in Dan. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_kings/12.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_kings/12.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He put one in Bethel and the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_kings/12.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_kings/12.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other he placed in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_kings/12.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He set the one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_kings/12.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he sets the one in Beth-El, and the other he has put in Dan,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_kings/12.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he setteth the one in Beth-El, and the other he hath put in Dan,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_kings/12.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will set up the one in the house of God, and the one he gave in Dan.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_kings/12.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he set the one in Bethel, and the other in Dan: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_kings/12.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he stationed one in Bethel, and the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_kings/12.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_kings/12.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_kings/12.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other he put in Dan.<CL>And the prophet took up the corpse of the prophet of God, and laid it upon the ass and brought it back to the city where the old prophet dwelt, to mourn over him and to bury him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_kings/12.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he put one in Bayth Eil and one he put in Dan.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_kings/12.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_kings/12.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he put one in Bethel, and he put the other in Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_kings/12-29.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xx9A0AxPaoQ?start=5044" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_kings/12.htm">Jeroboam's Idolatry</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">28</span>After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” <span class="reftext">29</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: hā·’e·ḥāḏ (Art:: Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">One calf</a> <a href="/hebrew/7760.htm" title="7760: way·yā·śem (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To put, place, set. Or siym; a primitive root; to put.">he set up</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1008.htm" title="1008: bə·ḇêṯ- (Prep) -- From bayith and 'el; house of God; Beth-El, a place in Palestine."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1008.htm" title="1008: ’êl (Prep:: N-proper-fs) -- From bayith and 'el; house of God; Beth-El, a place in Palestine.">in Bethel,</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: nā·ṯan (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: hā·’e·ḥāḏ (Art:: Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">the other</a> <a href="/hebrew/1835.htm" title="1835: bə·ḏān (Prep-b:: N-proper-ms) -- Judge, a son of Jacob, also his desc. and their territory, also a place in N. Isr. ">in Dan.</a> </span><span class="reftext">30</span>And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-4.htm">Exodus 32:4-8</a></span><br />He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” / When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and proclaimed: “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” / So the next day they arose, offered burnt offerings, and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/10-29.htm">2 Kings 10:29</a></span><br />but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/8-5.htm">Hosea 8:5-6</a></span><br />He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? / For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/8-14.htm">Amos 8:14</a></span><br />Those who swear by the guilt of Samaria and say, ‘As surely as your god lives, O Dan,’ or, ‘As surely as the way of Beersheba lives’—they will fall, never to rise again.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/11-15.htm">2 Chronicles 11:15</a></span><br />And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/17-16.htm">2 Kings 17:16</a></span><br />They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/13-2.htm">Hosea 13:2</a></span><br />Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/13-8.htm">2 Chronicles 13:8-9</a></span><br />And now you think you can resist the kingdom of the LORD, which is in the hands of David’s descendants. You are indeed a vast army, and you have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods. / But did you not drive out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites? And did you not make priests for yourselves as do the peoples of other lands? Now whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of things that are not gods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/12-5.htm">Deuteronomy 12:5-14</a></span><br />Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. / To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks. / There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/14-9.htm">1 Kings 14:9</a></span><br />You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me, and you have flung Me behind your back.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/13-33.htm">1 Kings 13:33-34</a></span><br />Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places. / And this was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its extermination and destruction from the face of the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/23-15.htm">2 Kings 23:15</a></span><br />He even pulled down the altar at Bethel, the high place set up by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. Then he burned the high place, ground it to powder, and burned the Asherah pole.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/4-20.htm">John 4:20-24</a></span><br />Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.” / “Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. / You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-41.htm">Acts 7:41-43</a></span><br />At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands. / But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring Me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? / You have taken along the tabernacle of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Babylon.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-7.htm">1 Corinthians 10:7</a></span><br />Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.</p><p class="hdg">Beth-el</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-8.htm">Genesis 12:8</a></b></br> And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, <i>having</i> Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/28-19.htm">Genesis 28:19</a></b></br> And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city <i>was called</i> Luz at the first.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/35-1.htm">Genesis 35:1</a></b></br> And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.</p><p class="hdg">Dan</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/14-14.htm">Genesis 14:14</a></b></br> And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained <i>servants</i>, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued <i>them</i> unto Dan.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/34-1.htm">Deuteronomy 34:1</a></b></br> And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that <i>is</i> over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/judges/18-29.htm">Judges 18:29-31</a></b></br> And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city <i>was</i> Laish at the first… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/30-27.htm">Bethel</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-27.htm">Beth-El</a> <a href="/1_kings/4-25.htm">Dan</a> <a href="/1_kings/10-26.htm">Placed</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_kings/12-30.htm">Bethel</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-30.htm">Beth-El</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-30.htm">Dan</a> <a href="/1_kings/12-32.htm">Placed</a><div class="vheading2">1 Kings 12</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/12-1.htm">The Israelites, assembled at Shechem to crown Rehoboam, </a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/12-4.htm">by Jeroboam make a suit of relaxation unto him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/12-6.htm">Rehoboam, refusing the old men's counsel, answers them roughly</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/12-16.htm">Ten tribes revolting, kill Adoram, and make Rehoboam flee</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/12-21.htm">Rehoboam, raising an army, is forbidden by Shemaiah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/12-25.htm">Jeroboam strengthens himself by cities</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_kings/12-26.htm">and by idolatry of the two calves</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_kings/12.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/1_kings/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/1_kings/12.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>One calf he set up in Bethel</b><br>Bethel, meaning "house of God," was a significant location in Israel's history. It was where Jacob had his vision of the ladder reaching to heaven (<a href="/genesis/28-10.htm">Genesis 28:10-19</a>). By setting up a golden calf here, Jeroboam was attempting to establish a rival religious center to Jerusalem, which was in the southern kingdom of Judah. This act was a direct violation of the first two commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a>) and echoed the sin of the golden calf at Mount Sinai (Exodus 32). The choice of Bethel was strategic, as it was close to the border of the northern and southern kingdoms, making it accessible for the people of Israel. This act of idolatry was a significant turning point, leading Israel into sin and away from the worship of Yahweh.<p><b>and the other in Dan</b><br>Dan was located in the northernmost part of Israel, making it a convenient location for those living far from Jerusalem. The city of Dan had a history of idolatry, as seen in <a href="/judges/18.htm">Judges 18</a>, where the tribe of Dan set up a carved image. By placing a golden calf here, Jeroboam was ensuring that his subjects would not travel to Jerusalem to worship, thus consolidating his political power. This action fulfilled the prophecy given to Jeroboam by the prophet Ahijah (<a href="/1_kings/11-29.htm">1 Kings 11:29-39</a>), which warned of the division of the kingdom due to Solomon's idolatry. The establishment of these calves in Bethel and Dan was a significant factor in the spiritual decline of the northern kingdom, leading to its eventual downfall and exile.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeroboam.htm">Jeroboam</a></b><br>The first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy. He is responsible for setting up the golden calves in Bethel and Dan as alternative worship sites to Jerusalem.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/b/bethel.htm">Bethel</a></b><br>A significant religious site in the northern kingdom, historically associated with the patriarch Jacob. Jeroboam established one of the golden calves here to prevent his people from traveling to Jerusalem for worship.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/dan.htm">Dan</a></b><br>The northernmost city of the kingdom of Israel, where Jeroboam placed the second golden calf. This location was chosen to make worship convenient for those living far from Jerusalem.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/golden_calves.htm">Golden Calves</a></b><br>Idols made by Jeroboam to represent God, intended to prevent the Israelites from returning to Jerusalem for worship. This act was a direct violation of the commandments against idolatry.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/d/division_of_the_kingdom.htm">Division of the Kingdom</a></b><br>The event where the united kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern kingdom (Israel) under Jeroboam and the southern kingdom (Judah) under Rehoboam.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_convenience_in_worship.htm">The Danger of Convenience in Worship</a></b><br>Jeroboam's decision to set up alternative worship sites was driven by political convenience rather than obedience to God. This teaches us to prioritize God's commands over convenience in our worship practices.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_idolatry.htm">The Consequences of Idolatry</a></b><br>The establishment of the golden calves led Israel into sin and ultimately contributed to their downfall. We must guard against modern forms of idolatry that can lead us away from true worship.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_responsibility.htm">Leadership and Responsibility</a></b><br>As a leader, Jeroboam's actions had a profound impact on the spiritual direction of his people. This reminds us of the responsibility leaders have to guide others in accordance with God's will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_to_god's_commands.htm">Faithfulness to God's Commands</a></b><br>Despite political pressures, we are called to remain faithful to God's instructions. This includes worshiping Him in the manner He has prescribed.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_1_kings_12.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 1 Kings 12</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_jeroboam's_golden_calves.htm">What archaeological evidence supports or questions the existence of Jeroboam’s golden calves in 1 Kings 12:28? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_weren't_bethel_and_dan_condemned_more.htm">Why would Jeroboam’s new worship centers in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:29) escape major condemnation in other ancient accounts if they were such a significant religious shift?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_laish's_isolation_in_judges_18_7_accurate.htm">Does archaeological evidence confirm a city like Laish (Judges 18:7) existing so isolated and unfortified, or does the narrative conflict with external data? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_ephraim's_claims.htm">1 Chronicles 7:20–29 – Are there historical or archaeological records supporting Ephraim’s vast numbers and territorial claims listed here? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_kings/12.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(29) <span class= "bld">Bethel and Dan, </span>chosen as the frontier towns of the kingdom, had, however, associations of their own, which lent themselves naturally to Jeroboam's design. Bethel--preserving in its name the memory of Jacob's vision, and of his consecration of the place as a sanctuary (<a href="/genesis/28-19.htm" title="And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.">Genesis 28:19</a>; <a href="/context/genesis/35-14.htm" title="And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.">Genesis 35:14-15</a>)--had been (see <a href="/judges/20-18.htm" title="And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.">Judges 20:18</a>; <a href="/judges/20-26.htm" title="Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.">Judges 20:26</a>; <a href="/judges/20-31.htm" title="And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goes up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.">Judges 20:31</a>; <a href="/judges/21-2.htm" title="And the people came to the house of God, and stayed there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;">Judges 21:2</a>; <a href="/1_samuel/7-16.htm" title="And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.">1Samuel 7:16</a>) a place of religious assembly, and, possibly, of occasional sojourn of the Ark. At Dan, it is not unlikely that the use of the local sanctuary, set up at the conquest of the city by the Danites, still lingered; and from the notice in <a href="/judges/18-30.htm" title="And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.">Judges 18:30</a>, that the posterity of Jonathan, the grandson of Moses, were priests till "the day of the captivity of the land," it seems as if these priests of this old worship became naturally the appointed ministers of the new. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_kings/12.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 29.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Daniel</span> [Two considerations seem to have influenced Jeroboam in his choice of these sites. First, both these places were in some sort sanctuaries already. Bethel was already a <span class="accented">makom</span>, or holy place, in the days of Abraham; was consecrated by the visions and altar of Jacob (<a href="/genesis/28-11.htm">Genesis 28:11-19</a>; <a href="/genesis/31-13.htm">Genesis 31:13</a>; <a href="/genesis/35-1.htm">Genesis 35:1, 7, 15</a>), and by the ark having been there (<a href="/judges/20-26.htm">Judges 20:26-28</a>, Hebrews; cf. Jos., Ant., 5:02.10). And though Dan (<a href="/joshua/19-47.htm">Joshua 19:47</a>; <a href="/judges/18-29.htm">Judges 18:29</a>; <a href="/judges/20-1.htm">Judges 20:1</a>) can hardly have had as sacred a character as the "house of God and the gate of heaven" (<a href="/genesis/28-17.htm">Genesis 28:17</a>) had, still it had its shrine and its schismatic priesthood. A grandson of Moses (<a href="/judges/18-13.htm">Judges 18:13</a>, true reading) had ministered there, and his sons were the priests of Dan still. Secondly, these localities would suit the convenience of his subjects, being respectively at the southern and northern extremities of the kingdom. And this, no doubt, was one reason why Dan was chosen in preference to other places, such as Shiloh, which, though more sacred, were less conveniently situated. A sanctuary at Dan would save the northern tribes many tedious journeys. It should be remarked that Bethel properly belonged to Benjamin (<a href="/joshua/18-13.htm">Joshua 18:13, 22</a>), though it was also on the border of Ephraim; and it has been suggested that it was Jeroboam's selection of this place as a seat of the calf worship decided the tribe of Benjamin to follow the lead of Judah. But the narrative seems to imply that their choice had been made at an earlier period (ver. 21), and the city would seem to have been long in the possession of the house of Joseph (<a href="/judges/1-22.htm">Judges 1:22</a>). It is now known as <span class="accented">Beitin</span>, and is one of the most naked and dreary spots in Palestine. "The place seems, as it were, turned to stone; and we can well imagine that the patriarch found nothing softer than a stone for his pillow." Conder, p. 252, who suggests that from the time of Abraham Bethel was a <span class="hebrew">מָקום</span>, a sacred place merely (<a href="/genesis/28-11.htm">Genesis 28:11</a>), and distinct from the adjoining <span class="accented">city</span> of Luz (ver. 19).] <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_kings/12-29.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">One [calf]</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֶחָ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’e·ḥāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he set up</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיָּ֥שֶׂם</span> <span class="translit">(way·yā·śem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7760.htm">Strong's 7760: </a> </span><span class="str2">Put -- to put, place, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in Bethel,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1008.htm">Strong's 1008: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bethel -- 'house of God', a city in Ephraim, also a place in southern Judah</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[and]</span><br /><span class="heb">נָתַ֥ן</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ṯan)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the other</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֶחָ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’e·ḥāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in Dan.</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּדָֽן׃</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḏān)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1835.htm">Strong's 1835: </a> </span><span class="str2">Dan -- 'judge', a son of Jacob, also a place in Northern Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_kings/12-29.htm">1 Kings 12:29 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_kings/12-29.htm">OT History: 1 Kings 12:29 He set the one in Bethel (1Ki iKi i Ki 1 Kg 1kg) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_kings/12-28.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Kings 12:28"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Kings 12:28" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_kings/12-30.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Kings 12:30"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Kings 12:30" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>