And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
Jeroboam said in his heart that the kingdom would return to the house of David if his people continued going up to Jerusalem to worship at the temple and there renewed their allegiance to the ruler in Jerusalem. He reasoned that frequent visits to Jerusalem for worship might lead the ten tribes to return to David's government and reunite the kingdom under David's house, and his concern about that political unity moved him to act. That fear sprang from a selfish, rebellious heart that was determined to keep the kingdom for himself. To block the reunion he sought to prevent the journeys to Jerusalem by establishing rival worship centers at Bethel and Dan and setting up the calves there to keep the people from worshipping at Jerusalem. When his plans were put into operation they led the children of Israel away from God into idolatry, causing them to perform and permit terrible evils. The Judge of all the earth lays the awful results of that course to Jeroboam's charge, and men today who manifest the same spirit and do a work of the same character in leading others away from God will likewise have the results of their wrong course laid to their charge.
Jeroboam said in his heart that the kingdom would return to the house of David if his people continued going up to Jerusalem to worship at the temple and there renewed their allegiance to the ruler in Jerusalem. He reasoned that frequent visits to Jerusalem for worship might lead the ten tribes to return to David's government and reunite the kingdom under David's house, and his concern about that political unity moved him to act. That fear sprang from a selfish, rebellious heart that was determined to keep the kingdom for himself. To block the reunion he sought to prevent the journeys to Jerusalem by establishing rival worship centers at Bethel and Dan and setting up the calves there to keep the people from worshipping at Jerusalem. When his plans were put into operation they led the children of Israel away from God into idolatry, causing them to perform and permit terrible evils. The Judge of all the earth lays the awful results of that course to Jeroboam's charge, and men today who manifest the same spirit and do a work of the same character in leading others away from God will likewise have the results of their wrong course laid to their charge.