1 Kings 12:28

Arabic 2018 (الترجمة الكاثوليكيّة (اليسوعيّة))

فٱستشَارَ المَلِكُ وعَمِلَ عِجلَينِ مِنَ الذَّهَب وقالَ لَهم: «كثيرٌ علَيكم أَن تَصعَدوا إِلى أُورَشَليم. هٰذه آلِهَتُكَ، يا إِسْرائيلُ، الَّتي أَصعَدَتكَ مِن مِصْر».

What Does This Mean?

King Jeroboam, who ruled the northern kingdom of Israel, made two golden calves and told the people they shouldn't have to go to Jerusalem to worship. He claimed these calves were their gods who had led them out of Egypt.

Explained for Children

Imagine if your friend said, 'We don't need to go to grandma's house for dinner. We can just have pizza here instead.' That's kind of what King Jeroboam did, but instead of pizza, he made some statues and told the people they didn't need to go to Jerusalem to pray.

Historical Background

This verse is from the Old Testament, written by multiple authors, likely including the prophet Jeremiah. It describes events around 930 BC, when Israel split into two kingdoms. The audience was the people of the northern kingdom, and the cultural setting was heavily influenced by polytheistic practices.

Living It Out Today

In today's context, this verse reminds us not to replace God with other things, like money or fame. For example, a business leader might say, 'We don't need to focus on ethical practices; let's just focus on making more money.' This is a modern equivalent of replacing the true God with false gods.

Topics

• idolatry
• worship
• leadership
• false gods
• rebellion
• divided kingdom

Related Verses

• Exodus 32:4
• Deuteronomy 9:16
• 1 Kings 18:21
• Psalms 115:4-8
• 1 John 5:21

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Jeroboam make the golden calves?

Jeroboam made the golden calves to prevent the people from going to Jerusalem for worship, fearing it would lead to reunification with the southern kingdom and loss of his power.

What was the reaction of the people to the golden calves?

The people accepted the calves as their gods, showing they were willing to follow Jeroboam's command rather than the true God, highlighting their tendency towards idolatry.

How does this verse relate to the concept of idolatry?

This verse illustrates how people replace the true God with false idols, which can be anything from material possessions to other gods, leading to spiritual downfall.

What can we learn about leadership from Jeroboam?

Jeroboam's actions teach us that leaders should not manipulate or deceive their followers for personal gain but should lead with integrity and true faith.