Meaning of JEROBOAM

"the people become numerous."
(a) JEROBOAM I.

He was the son of Nebat, of the tribe of Ephraim, and the first king of the northern kingdom. He reigned twenty-two years (931-910 BC). He had been an official of Solomon, but the prophet Ahijah, finding him, tore his new cloak into twelve pieces, and keeping two for himself, gave him the other ten, announcing to him that he would be king over ten of the tribes (1 Kings 11: 29-39).

For this reason, Solomon sought to kill him, but he fled to Egypt, remaining there under the protection of Shishak until Solomon's death (1 Kings 11:40, see PHARAOH, SOLOMON). When the Israelites asked Rehoboam to relieve them of the burden of taxes and levies that had been imposed on them by his father, he responded with harsh arrogance, which gave rise to the national schism (1 Kings 12: 1-17; 2 Chron. 10: 1-17).

Jeroboam was made king over the ten tribes (1 Kings 12:20). Fearing that his subjects would be disloyal to him if they went to Jerusalem to worship, he set up two golden calves, one in Dan, the northernmost part of his dominions, and the other in Bethel, the southernmost point, promoting the worship of Jehovah under the symbolism of these two calves (1 Kings 12:25-33).

He expelled the Levites from the priesthood (1 Kings 12:31-33; 2 Chron. 11:13-15). But his so-called national worship of Jehovah, in the form of idolatry and schism with respect to the temple of Jerusalem, was considered by God as worship of demons and idols (2 Chron. 11:16).

This procedure caused the emigration of many Israelites faithful to God, Levites and other tribes, to the kingdom of Judah (2 Chron. 11:16-17). In this way Jeroboam's kingdom was weakened, and he fell into gross idolatry.

A man of God came from Judah to cry out against the altar of Bethel, and when the king's hand was stretched out against him, it immediately withered. When the prophet prayed for him, his hand was restored, but he did not repent of his idolatry (1 Kings 13: 1-6 et seq.).

It had been announced to him that if he followed the Lord as David had done, his house would be established, but because of his rebellion against the divine order his dynasty was extinguished in that of his son Nadab (1 Kings 14:7-11 et seq.). "The sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat" became a proverb in the mouths of the Israelites (cf. 1 Kings 16:31; 2 Kings 3:3; 10:29, 31; 13:11; 14:24; 15 :9, 18, 24, 28; 13:2, 6; 17:22).

During his reign wars with Rehoboam were constant (cf. 1 Chron. 12:15). Jeroboam is a clear example of a manipulator of religion for political purposes, and constitutes a universal warning against it, against idolatry and against human interference in the forms of worship, instead of a simple submission to the forms that God has given us. in His word (cf. 1 Kings 12:28-33).

(b) JEROBOAM II.

Son of Joash and his successor on the throne of Israel. He was made co-regent in the year 793 and reigned alone for thirty years (782-752). He managed to extend his territories by defeating the Syrians, and recovered Hamat and Damascus. The saying is used about him: "He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who made Israel sin."

Amos prophesied that he would die by the sword (2 Kings 13:13; 14:16-29; 15:1, 8; 1 Chron. 5:17; Hos. 1:1; Am. 1:1; 7:9- eleven).