The "Calves of Jeroboam" refer to the golden calves that King Jeroboam I of Israel established as objects of worship in the cities of Bethel and Dan. This act was a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh in Jerusalem and was intended to prevent the people of Israel from returning to the house of David by worshiping in the Jerusalem temple (1 Kings 12:26-30). Jeroboam's introduction of these idols is seen as a grave sin, leading Israel into idolatry and away from the covenantal worship of the Lord.

The prophetic literature of the Old Testament contains several predictions concerning the destruction of these calves, symbolizing the judgment of God against idolatry and the apostasy of Israel. The prophets Hosea and Amos, in particular, speak to the impending doom of these idols and the consequences for the nation.

Hosea's Prophecies:

Hosea, a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel, explicitly condemns the worship of the calves and predicts their destruction. In Hosea 8:5-6 , the prophet declares, "Your calf-idol is rejected, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria." Here, Hosea emphasizes the man-made nature of the idol and foretells its destruction as a consequence of divine judgment.

Further, in Hosea 10:5-6 , the prophet warns, "The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn for it, and its idolatrous priests will cry out over it, because its glory has departed from it. It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols." This passage predicts not only the destruction but also the humiliation and shame that will accompany the loss of the idol, as it is taken away by foreign powers.

Amos' Prophecies:

Amos, another prophet to the northern kingdom, also speaks against the idolatry of Israel and the fate of the calves. In Amos 3:14 , the Lord declares, "On the day I punish Israel for their transgressions, I will visit the altars of Bethel; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground." This prophecy indicates that the places of false worship, including the altars associated with the golden calves, will be destroyed as part of God's judgment.

Significance:

The predictions concerning the destruction of the calves of Jeroboam serve as a powerful reminder of the consequences of idolatry and the importance of faithfulness to the covenant with Yahweh. The prophetic messages underscore the futility of worshiping man-made objects and the inevitable judgment that follows such apostasy. These prophecies were fulfilled when the Assyrian empire conquered the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the destruction and desecration of its idolatrous sites.Hosea 8:6
For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hosea 10:8
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... Among these predictions, those in Isaiah 29:1-8, appear to me ... the lambs out of the
flock, and the calves out of ... of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, son of ...
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