What is the meaning of 1 Kings 12:30? And this thing became a sin “1 Kings 12:30: And this thing became a sin…” • The “thing” is Jeroboam’s installation of golden calves at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-29). • Scripture repeatedly labels it sin, not mere error (1 Kings 13:33-34; 2 Kings 17:21-22). God’s first two commandments forbid other gods and images (Exodus 20:3-4). • By calling it sin, the text underlines that idolatry breaks covenant fellowship just as surely as murder or adultery (Deuteronomy 29:25-27; Hosea 8:4). • Later prophets trace Israel’s fall directly to this “sin of Jeroboam” (2 Kings 15:28-30; Amos 7:9). the people walked “…the people walked…” • Idolatry spread beyond the king’s personal choice; the nation followed their leader (Proverbs 14:34; Isaiah 3:12). • Walking implies ongoing practice, not a one-time lapse (Psalm 1:1; Micah 4:5). • Responsibility is shared: leaders initiate, but individuals still choose (Hosea 4:9; Romans 1:24-25). as far as Dan “…as far as Dan…” • Dan sat at Israel’s northern border (Judges 20:1). Traveling there shows deliberate effort, not casual drift (Jeremiah 2:23). • Distance did not deter them; convenience over true worship can become its own snare (1 Kings 12:27; John 4:21-23). • Dan already had a history of idolatry (Judges 18:30-31), making it fertile ground for Jeroboam’s scheme. to worship before one of the calves “…to worship before one of the calves.” • The calves were presented as representations of the LORD who brought Israel from Egypt (1 Kings 12:28), echoing Aaron’s calf at Sinai (Exodus 32:4-6). • Bowing “before” an image violates the second commandment even if God’s name is invoked (Deuteronomy 4:15-19; 2 Kings 17:16). • False worship distorts God’s character and leads to deeper corruption (Psalm 106:19-20; Romans 1:23-25). • God later removes the northern kingdom for this very practice (2 Kings 17:7-18). summary 1 Kings 12:30 warns that Jeroboam’s calf worship was not a harmless tradition but a national sin. The people actively embraced it, traveling the length of the land to practice a forbidden form of worship. Idolatry—however religious it appears—breaks God’s law, misleads His people, and invites judgment. |
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