Proclamation as king The reign of Jehu's predecessor, Jehoram, was marked by the Battle of Ramoth-Gilead against the army of the Arameans. These ostraca, while unremarkable in themselves, contain valuable information about the script, language, religion and administrative system of the period. "The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel", likely compiled by or derived from these kings' own scribes, is likely the source for the basic facts of Jeroboam's life and reign, though the compiler(s) of the extant Book of Kings clearly made selective use of it and added hostile commentaries. Yet, God has gra [5] Although criticised for his cultic activities in 1 Kings,[9] calf worship was not new in Israelite ritual, but a reintroduction of earlier ritual. [13] The prophecy is fulfilled in 2 Kings. [10], During Rehoboam's 17-year reign,[11] he retained Jerusalem as Judah's capital but. in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam became king, and Jeroboam went with representatives of the northern tribes to ask Rehoboam to lighten the load of their labor, claiming Solomon had placed a heavy yoke on them. Jeroboam I of Israel (reigned 922-901 bce) attempted to bring about religious and political reforms. Occasionally, like Ephraim itself, "Joseph" is used to refer to the area and people of the northern kingdom generally. From the beginning, this king compromised the commandments of God and plunged his nation into disobedience and spiritual apostasy. The number of settlements devoted to olive production, identified by olive persses and other installations, increased dramatically in the 8th century BC. Exodus 32, anyone?). God's grace is the only reason why His kingdom continues at all. 19), as Naamah was to descend from them. (8th century bce), son of Joash, was the last of the great kings of Israel, after whose death the country fell into confusion and ultimate servitude. 108b). The Kings of Judah were the monarchs who ruled over the ancient Kingdom of Judah. Rehoboam went back to the people and told them that not only would he not lighten. Wait There Were How Many Herods?! [10], According to 1 Kings,[11] while Jeroboam was engaged in offering incense at Bethel, a "man of God" warned him that "a son named Josiah will be born to the house of David", who would destroy the altar (referring to King Josiah of Judah who would rule approximately three hundred years later). He expelled the priestly Levites, who were loyal to the kingdom of Judah, and recruited in their stead priests from the common people, whom he personally appointed and ordained. [16] Judah became a vassal state of Egypt. [3] He had at least two sons, Abijah[4] and Nadab, who succeeded him on the throne. Jeroboams legacy is that he was the one who caused Israel to sin. And perhaps more than any other king, Jeroboams life demonstrated why God couldnt trust humans to save humanity. In fact, Jeroboam is remembered throughout the books of Kings as the one who made Israel sin (2 Kings 17:22). Some scholars suggest that a later success by Asa, obtained with the help of Ben-Hadad of Syria (1 Kings 15:20) may be the basis for the report in Chronicles. Recognizing the need for religious independence from Jerusalem, he set up official sanctuaries at Dan and Bethel, at the, Jeroboam I of Israel (reigned 922901 bce) attempted to bring about religious and political reforms. Jeroboam I was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, which included ten (ish) of Israel's twelve tribes. Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines. Jeroboam died after reigning for 22 years and was succeeded by his son Nadab, who was overthrown and killed by Baasha two years later. Accession to the throne Conventional biblical chronology dates the start of Rehoboam's reign to the mid-10th century BC. His mother, [10] named Zeruah ( "lepros") was a widow. [2] Jeroboam fled to Egypt (1 Kings 11:29-40), where he remained for a length of time under the protection of Shashak, usually identified with Shoshenq I of Egypt. Although the Temple of Jerusalem itself had bronze bulls in its courtyard and golden cherubim both inside and out, these "golden calves" became infamous in southern literature denigrating Jeroboam as an idolater. Distraught, the king asked the prophet to pray to God to heal his arm. For they also built for themselves high places and pillars, and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, and there were also male cult prostitutes in the land. [12] Jeroboam offered hospitality to the man of God but this was declined, not out of contempt but in obedience to the command of God. Nevertheless, I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. The new king resided at first in Shechem; then for a period in Penuel, across the Jordan River; and finally in Tirzah, a town about 12 kilometers northeast of Shechem, which became his capital. Rehoboam was stricken with a running sore as a punishment for the curse which David had invoked upon Joab (II Sam. Others suggest he wouldve had to appoint his own priests because the Levite priests wouldve remained loyal to Rehoboam, who ruled over Jerusalem, which housed the templethe central hub of the priesthood. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Jeroboam_I&oldid=1115370, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. As the first king and founder of the independent northern kingdom of Israel, he became the paradigmatic wicked king. Thus, Solomon's empire was lost beyond recall, and even the homeland was split into Judah had just been conquered and turned into a vassal of Egypt, while Israel stood between the Egyptian and Mesopotamian empires. His reign is described in 1 Kings 12 and 1 Kings 14:2131[7] and in 2 Chronicles[8] in the Hebrew Bible. Jeroboam was the son of Nebat, a member of the Tribe of Ephraim of Zareda. And the Lord struck him down and he died.". 2 Chronicles 13 details a major battle between Jeroboam's army and Abijah's. According to the Hebrew Bible, Jeroboam was in "constant war with the house of Judah". This left the descendants of Solomon with the southern kingdom of Judah. [19] While the southern kingdom made no serious effort militarily to regain power over the north, there was a long-lasting boundary dispute, fighting over which lasted during the reigns of several kings on both sides before being finally settled. His arrogance brought about his doom (Sanh. But thats not what happened. Aided, perhaps, by Assyrian pressure from the east, he brought to an end the long struggle between Read More biblical literature Abijah then rallied his own troops with a phrase which has since become famous: "God is with us as our leader". Speaking to Jeroboams wife, the prophet Ahijah relays a sharp rebuke from God: I tore the kingdom away from the house of David and gave it to you, but you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commands and followed me with all his heart, doing only what was right in my eyes. Thus he became distinguished as the man "who made Israel to sin." At the very least, its obvious that the author of Kings is uh, not a fan of Jeroboam. [15] Shishak's armies captured all of the fortified towns leading to Jerusalem between Gezer and Gibeon. "[9], Jeroboam and the people rebelled, with the ten northern tribes breaking away and forming a separate kingdom. Reprinted with permission from Whos Who in the Hebrew Bible (The Jewish Publication Society). It is likely that the story of the golden calf in the wilderness[30] was composed as a polemic against Jeroboam's cultic restoration by claiming that its origins were inconsistent with worship of YHWH.[7]. When Solomon died, the people sent word to Jeroboam and he returned. The first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. [7], Archaeological evidence confirms the biblical account of his reign as the most prosperous that the northern kingdom of Israel had yet known. The prophecies of doom concerning the fall of both the House of Jeroboam and the northern kingdom as a whole ("For the Lord shall smite Israel, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river",[29] might have been composed retroactively, after the events described had already come to pass. ), first king of post-Solomonic Israel; son of Nebat and Zeruah, from the town of Zeredah in Ephraim (i Kings 11:26). And he immediately fought God's enemies by besieging Jezreel. Historically, Jeroboam I was thus the successful founder of the northern Kingdom of Israel, a nation which lasted for two centuries in a hostile environment until it was finally destroyed by the mighty Assyrian Empire in 722 B.C.E. Naamah is praised, in B. . Rehoboam (/ribo.m/; Hebrew: , Ram; Greek: , Rovoam; Latin: Roboam, transl. x. Years later, Jeroboams son Nadab became king, and Baasha (son of a different man named Ahijah) killed him, claimed the throne, and wiped out Jeroboams entire family (1 Kings 15:29). golden calf, idol worshipped by the Hebrews during the period of the Exodus from Egypt in the 13th century bc and during the age of Jeroboam I, king of Israel, in the 10th century bc. Jeroboam I was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, which included ten(ish) of. Jeroboam did not regain power during the time of Abijah. I will cut off from Jeroboam every last male in Israelslave or free. Angered that Solomon chose to follow other gods, Yahweh told him, Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates (1 Kings 11:11). Everything we know about Jeroboam comes from 1 Kings 11:2614:20 and 2 Chronicles 9:2913:20. - New American Standard Version (1995) And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years. Jeroboam II (Hebrew: , Yrom; Greek: ; Latin: Hieroboam/Jeroboam) was the son and successor of Jehoash (alternatively spelled Joash) and the thirteenth king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel, over which he ruled for forty-one years in the eighth century BC. If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. The ten northern tribes assembled at Shechem to proclaim Rehoboam King of Israel. Distraught, the king asked the prophet to pray to God to heal his arm. The city apparently escaped destruction by the Assyrians at the time of the fall of Samaria (721 Read More Israel Later, the prophets sometimes referred to the entire kingdom as Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:9, Hosea 5:3). Jeroboam was from the tribe of Ephraim, a servant of King Solomon's, and the son of a widow. Although Jeroboam's lineage was thus wiped out, he remained a respected figure in the northern kingdom, so much so that two centuries later another Israelite king was named for him, Jeroboam II. However, modern scholars believe the author of 1 Kings put words in Ahijahs mouth. Specifically named are the gods Molech of Ammon, and Chemosh of Moab, and the goddess Ashtoreth (Astarte) of Sidon. The elders recommended that he reach a compromise with his northern subjects concerning their justified complaints. However, there are indications that another possible factor in Rehoboam's change of plans may have been an attack by Jeroboam's former protector, Shishak of Egypt. Stephen De Young Though he is far from a household name, Jeroboam, son of Nebat is one of the most important figures in Biblical history. "an enlarged people") was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the first monarch of the Kingdom of Judah after the split of the united Kingdom of Israel. Hosea and Amos share prophetic concern for a nation in turmoil. Attempting to arrest the prophet for his bold words of defiance, Jeroboam's hand was "dried up," and the altar before which he stood was rent asunder. His reign was a pivotal moment that set Israels trajectory for centuries to come. Jeroboam ("increase of the people"), the son of Nebat, (1 Kings 11:26-39), was the first king of the break-away ten tribes or Kingdom of Israel, over whom he reigned for 22 years.As such, he was the founder of the northern Kingdom of Israel, which lasted until the Assyrian invasions and the exile of the Israelites in 722 B.C.E. Rehoboam promised to give his answer in three days, after consultations with his advisers. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam . He was a son of and the successor to Solomon and a grandson of David. The prophet refused and left Beth-el. main reference In Jeroboam: Jeroboam II (8th century bce ), son of Joash, was the last of the great kings of Israel, after whose death the country fell into confusion and ultimate servitude. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The northerners, discontented and rebellious, declared that they were seceding and stoned to death Adoram, the official in charge of the forced labor. Jeroboam (also known as Jeroboam son of Nebat, or Jeroboam I) was the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.Jeroboam's life is biblically documented in the First Book of Kings and briefly in Second Chronicles.Originally, Jeroboam managed the entire labor force of the Tribe of Joseph for King Solomon, before being promised by God to become King over ten of Israel's tribes. [23], Jeroboam was crippled by this severe defeat to Abijah and posed little threat to the Kingdom of Judah for the rest of his reign. In Solomon: Decline of the kingdom Solomon's son and successor, Rehoboam, ill-advisedly adopted a harsh policy toward the northern tribes, which seceded and formed their own kingdom of Israel. (8th century bce ), son of Joash, was the last of the great kings of Israel, after whose death the country fell into confusion and ultimate servitude. Initially, only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained to form the new kingdom of Judah, loyal to Rehoboam. Even David sinned. It summarizes Jeroboam's story by stating: Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. God intended to use King Jeroboam to save his people and lead them back to himself. Aided, perhaps, by Assyrian pressure from the east, he brought to an end the long struggle between Syria and Israel and definitely established the superiority of the latter over Damascus. Religious considerations were also operative. According to the Book of Kings, while Jeroboam was engaged in offering incense at Bethel, a prophet from Judah appeared before him with a warning message denouncing the unauthorized altar. The prophet said that God was giving Jeroboam ten tribes and leaving only two to the descendants of King David. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have aroused my anger and turned your back on me. Jeroboam's denunciation in both Kings and Chronicles is a manifestation of their pro-Jerusalem bias, and the accusation of his supposed idolatry is specious. While Jeroboam may have seen his choices as a return to ancient Jewish traditions, they were at least in part motivated by his desire to retain power, and they amounted to a deviation from Gods commands. 6 Things to know about Ahab in the Bible Clarence L. Haynes Jr. After Solomon died, Rehoboam, his son and successor, went to Shechem to be confirmed as king by the ten northern tribes. He fortified the city of Tirzah in Shechem and lived there, then built up the city of Peniel, which was in the territory belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. While there are a range of theories about who Jeroboam wouldve selected for the priesthood based on his intent to return Israel to older traditions, the chronicler claims he appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. This life-giving Spirit is the very God who became a man, lived on earth in humanity for thirty-three and a half years, died on the cross, and entered into resurrection . When Rehoboam sent someone to enforce this new, heavier burden, the Israelites stoned him to death. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you" (I Kings 11:38). Critical scholars point out that the Jerusalem Temple itself held far more "graven images" than Bethel and Dan did, including bronze bulls and golden cherubim. Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord . Corrections? "The sins of Jeroboam ben-Nebat, which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger". The tribe of Ephraim descended from Josephs son by the same name. 2131); but it was adduced as an illustration of divine Providence which selected the "two doves," Ruth, the Moabite, and Naamah, the Ammonitess, for honourable distinction (B. . Solomon then saw him as a threat, and Jeroboam fled to the protection of the Egyptian king until Solomon's death. The new breakaway kingdom continued to be called Kingdom of Israel, and was also known as Samaria, or Ephraim or the northern kingdom. In the eighteenth year of Jeroboam's reign, Abijah (also known as Abijam), Rehoboam's son, became king of Judah. Because of this, I am going to bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam. But, he went to Egypt and stayed there until Solomon died. [8] This prosperity was built on trade in olive oil, wine, and possibly horses, with Egypt and especially Assyria providing the markets. 14). [25] Bethel was an important centre for Jeroboam's Golden Calf cult (which used non-Levites as priests),[26] located on Israel's southern border, which had been allocated to the Tribe of Benjamin by Joshua, as was Ephron, which is believed to be the Ophrah that was allocated to the Tribe of Benjamin by Joshua. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. [7], Jeroboam rebuilt and fortified Shechem as the capital of the northern kingdom, and fearing that pilgrimages to the temple in Jerusalem prescribed by the Law might be an occasion for his people to go back to their old allegiance, he built two state temples [8] with golden calves, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. [6], In 1910, G. A. Reisner found sixty-three inscribed potsherds while excavating the royal palace at Samaria, which were later dated to the reign of Jeroboam II and mention regnal years extending from the ninth to the 17th of his reign. The events of their reigns are recorded chiefly in 1 and 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. According to Joshua, son of Nadav, the mention in 2 Chronicles 11, 6 sqq., that Rehoboam built fifteen fortified cities, indicates that the attack was not unexpected. [15] Similarly, David Ussishkin arrives at the same date based on the "sudden destruction" level at Lachish. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary argues that: The account in its present form, however, has been reworked and expanded by the Deuteronomistic historian, who uses the prophets denunciation as the occasion to introduce the notion that because of Jeroboams great sins which he led Israel to commit Yahweh would bring an end to the nation and scatter its people beyond the Euphrates . By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Despite his blindness and the queens disguise, the old prophet recognized her and told her that the child would die as soon as she returned to Tirzah, as Gods punishment for having sinned and worshiped idols. 25, 26) took them from Rehoboam (Pes. God pledged to support Jeroboam and promised him a lasting dynasty, saying: "If you do whatever I command you and walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. xii. Iddo, the seer, also had visions about Jeroboam, which he wrote in a book that has not survived to modern times. The reign of Jeroboam II saw the greatest success and outward prosperity that Israel had known since the days of Solomon, though the social conditions depicted by Amos meant a national corruption that could end only in disaster. In Bethel After the division of Israel, Jeroboam I (10th century bc) made Bethel the chief sanctuary of the northern kingdom (Israel), and the city was later the centre for the prophetic ministry of Amos. Ahijah tore his own cloak into 12 pieces to represent the 12 tribes of Israel, and told Jeroboam to take 10 of the pieces, signifying that he would rule over 10 of the tribes. They are depicted in the first of the Books of Kings. Although the ostensible reason was the heavy burden laid upon Israel because of Solomon's great outlay for buildings and for the luxury of all kinds, the other reasons include the historical opposition between the north and the south. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Jeroboam I was not from the line of David. His father's name, Nebat, is construed as implying a defect in Jeroboam's lineage. His work gave him the opportunity to realize that the tribes in the north, jealous of Judahs dominant position, were restless and unhappy with the Jerusalem royal court because of Solomons heavy taxes and the compulsory labor burdens, which were imposed to carry out the kings ambitious building projects. appears to be the largest yet documented on the Dead Sea transform fault zone during the last four millennia."[16]. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 2002-2023 My Jewish Learning. New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article The Septuagint contains some additional details (such as the claim that his mother was a prostitute), but scholars question or outright dismiss the reliability of these additions.
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