Who is…
Jeroboam

Meaning: increase of the people

This is the name of 2 wicked kings of Israel.

  1. King Jeroboam I

    King Jeroboam I is the son of Nebat (1 Kings 11:26-39). Jeroboam was “an Ephrathite” and “a mighty man of valour” (1 Kings 11:28). He became the first king of the 10 tribes of the Kingdom of Israel, over whom he reigned 22 years (B.C. 976-945).

    He was the son of a widow of Zereda/Zeredah, and while still young was promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent over all the labor force of the house of Joseph (forced laborers).

    Jeroboam.
    Artist’s impression of King Jeroboam I

    Influenced by the words of the prophet Ahijah, he began to form conspiracies with the view of becoming king of the 10 tribes; but these having been discovered, he fled to Egypt (1 Kings 11:29-40), where he remained for a length of time under the protection of Shishak I.

    On the death of Solomon, the 10 tribes, having revolted, sent to invite him to become their king. The conduct of Rehoboam favored the designs of Jeroboam, and he was accordingly proclaimed “king of Israel” (1 Kings 12: 1-20).

    King Jeroboam rebuilt and fortified the city of Shechem as the capital of his kingdom.

    Golden calves erected by Jeroboam.
    Golden calves erected by Jeroboam.

    He at once adopted means to perpetuate the division thus made between the two parts of the kingdom, and erected at Dan and Bethel, the two extremities of his kingdom, “golden calves,” which he set up as symbols of Jehovah, enjoining the people not any more to go up to worship at Jerusalem, but to bring their offerings to the shrines he had erected. Thus he became distinguished as the man “who made Israel to sin.” This policy was followed by all the succeeding kings of Israel.

    While he was engaged in offering incense at Bethel, a prophet from Judah appeared before him with a warning message from the Lord. Attempting to arrest the prophet for his bold words of defiance, his hand was “dried up,” and the altar before which he stood was torn asunder.

    At his urgent entreaty his “hand was restored him again” (1 Kings 13:1-6,9; compare 2 Kings 23:15); but the miracle made no abiding impression on him.

    His reign was one of constant war with the house of Judah. He died soon after his son Abijah (1 Kings 14:1-18).

    Ruins of Jeroboam's Temple. Photo © Deror Avi. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.
    Ruins of King Jeroboam’s Temple at Bethel.
    Photo © Deror Avi. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.

  2. King Jeroboam II

    King Jeroboam II is the son and successor of King Jehoash. He was the 14th king of the Kingdom of Israel, over which he ruled for 41 years, B.C. 825-784 (2 Kings 14:23).

    He followed the example of the first Jeroboam in keeping up the idolatrous worship of the golden calves (2 Kings 14:24).

    His reign was contemporary with those of Amaziah (2 Kings 14:23) and Uzziah (15:1), kings of Judah. He was victorious over the Syrians (13:4; 14:26,27), and extended Israel to its former limits, from “the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain” (14:25; Amos 6:14). His reign of forty-one years was the most prosperous that Israel had ever known as yet.

    With all this outward prosperity, however, iniquity widely prevailed in the land (Amos 2:6-8; 4:1; 6:6; Hos. 4:12-14). The prophets Hosea (1:1), Joel (Amos 1:1,2), Amos (1:1), and Jonah (2 Kings 14:25) lived during his reign.

    He died, and was buried with his ancestors (14:29). He was succeeded by his son Zachariah.

    His name occurs in Scripture only in 2 Kings 13:13; 14:16, 23, 27-29; 15:1, 8; 1 Chronicles 5:17; Hos. 1:1; Amos 1:1; 7:9-11. In all other passages, it is his father Jeroboam the son of Nebat that is meant.

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Article Version: July 17, 2019