JEROBOAM’S IDOLATRY

25 Jeroboam built Shechemb in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built Penuel.c 26 Jeroboam said to himself, “The kingdom might now return to the house of David.d 27 If these people regularly go to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem,e the heart of these people will return to their lord, King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and go back to the king of Judah.” 28 So the king sought advice.

Then he made two golden calves, and he said to the people, “Going to Jerusalem is too difficult for you. Israel, here are your godsA who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”f 29 He set up one in Bethel,g and put the other in Dan.h