Jeroboam Makes Golden Calves

12:25 37 Jeroboam built up Shechem in the Ephraimite hill country and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel. 12:26 Jeroboam then thought to himself:38 “Now the Davidic dynasty could regain the kingdom.39 12:27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem,40 their loyalty could shift to their former master,41 King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.” 12:28 After the king had consulted with his advisers,42 he made two golden calves. Then he said to the people,43 “It is too much trouble for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 12:29 He put one in Bethel44 and the other in Dan. 12:30 This caused Israel to sin;45 the people went to Bethel and Dan to worship the calves.46

12:31 He built temples47 on the high places and appointed as priests people who were not Levites. 12:32 Jeroboam inaugurated a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month,48 like the festival celebrated in Judah.49 On the altar in Bethel he offered sacrifices to the calves he had made.50 In Bethel he also appointed priests for the high places he had made.