Overview:
The month of Bul, corresponding to the modern month of November, holds significant historical and religious implications in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of the divided kingdom of Israel. It is during this month that King Jeroboam, the first ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel, instituted an idolatrous feast, diverging from the prescribed worship established by God.

Biblical Context:
Jeroboam, son of Nebat, became king over the ten northern tribes of Israel following the division of the united monarchy after Solomon's reign. Concerned about the potential political and religious allegiance of his people to the southern kingdom of Judah, where the temple in Jerusalem was located, Jeroboam sought to establish an alternative religious system.

In 1 Kings 12:32-33 , it is recorded: "And Jeroboam instituted a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And he installed priests of the high places he had made. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had set up in Bethel. So he instituted the feast for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings."

Significance of the Feast:
Jeroboam's feast in the month of Bul was a deliberate attempt to create a parallel religious system to that of Judah, which celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in the seventh month. By choosing the eighth month, Jeroboam not only altered the timing but also introduced idolatrous practices, including the worship of golden calves, which he set up in Bethel and Dan. This act of idolatry was a direct violation of the first and second commandments, which prohibit the worship of other gods and the making of graven images (Exodus 20:3-4).

Theological Implications:
Jeroboam's actions had profound theological implications. By establishing a feast and a priesthood of his own making, he led the northern kingdom into sin, setting a precedent for future kings and contributing to the spiritual decline of Israel. This idolatrous worship was condemned by the prophets and ultimately led to the downfall and exile of the northern kingdom.

The narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of deviating from God's prescribed worship and the consequences of idolatry. It underscores the importance of fidelity to God's commandments and the centrality of Jerusalem as the chosen place of worship during that period.

Conclusion:
The month of Bul, marked by Jeroboam's idolatrous feast, is a significant reminder of the challenges of maintaining true worship amidst political and cultural pressures. It highlights the enduring struggle between faithfulness to God's commands and the temptation to conform to alternative religious practices. This episode in Israel's history calls believers to examine their own worship practices and to remain steadfast in their devotion to God.1 Kings 12:32,33
And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like to the feast that is in Judah, and he offered on the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
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1 Chronicles 27:11
The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.
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