1 Kings 12:25 Explained in Context

Verse 25. ²⁵ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

Verse 26. ²⁶ And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

Verse 27. 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 king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

Verse 28. ²⁸ Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

Verse 29. ²⁹ And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.

Verse 30. ³⁰ And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

Verse 31. ³¹ And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

Verse 32. ³² And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places which he had made.

Verse 33. ³³ So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.