Topical Bible: Idolatry: Example of the Kings Encouraged Israel In

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Topical Encyclopedia

Idolatry, the worship of idols or false gods, is a recurring theme in the history of Israel, often leading the nation away from the worship of Yahweh, the one true God. Throughout the Old Testament, various kings of Israel and Judah played significant roles in either promoting or combating idolatry. This entry focuses on the kings who encouraged idolatry, leading the people into spiritual apostasy and provoking the judgment of God.

Jeroboam I

Jeroboam I, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy, is a prominent example of a king who led Israel into idolatry. To prevent the people from returning to Jerusalem to worship at the temple, Jeroboam established alternative centers of worship in Bethel and Dan. He set up golden calves and declared, "Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt" (1 Kings 12:28). This act of idolatry became a sin for Israel, as the people went to worship before the calves.

Ahab

King Ahab, another ruler of the northern kingdom, further entrenched idolatry in Israel. Influenced by his wife Jezebel, Ahab introduced the worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity, and erected an altar for Baal in Samaria. The Bible records, "Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him" (1 Kings 16:33). Ahab's reign marked a period of significant spiritual decline, as the worship of Baal and Asherah became widespread.

Manasseh

In the southern kingdom of Judah, King Manasseh is noted for his extensive promotion of idolatry. He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, erected altars for Baal, and made an Asherah pole. Manasseh even placed a carved image in the temple of the LORD, defiling the sacred space. The Scriptures state, "Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites" (2 Kings 21:9). His actions had long-lasting consequences, contributing to Judah's eventual downfall.

Ahaz

King Ahaz of Judah also encouraged idolatry by adopting the religious practices of surrounding nations. He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him, reasoning that these gods might help him as well. Ahaz's reign was marked by the construction of altars throughout Jerusalem and the offering of sacrifices on high places, under every green tree (2 Kings 16:3-4). His unfaithfulness to the LORD led to increased instability and suffering for Judah.

Summary

The encouragement of idolatry by these kings had devastating effects on the spiritual and political life of Israel and Judah. Their actions not only led the people away from the covenant relationship with God but also brought about divine judgment. The prophets repeatedly warned against idolatry, calling the people to repentance and a return to the worship of Yahweh alone. Despite these warnings, the legacy of idolatry persisted, ultimately contributing to the exile and dispersion of both kingdoms.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 12:30
And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even to Dan.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 21:11
Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, and has done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and has made Judah also to sin with his idols:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 33:9
So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Israel's Hope Encouraged;
... Israel's Hope Encouraged; ... to wait for the accomplishment of it, as by his own example
he did ... to Solomon in the view of all the thousands of Israel (1 Kings 8:22 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/israels hope encouraged.htm

National Apostasy
... others connected with this seductive form of idolatry exerted their ... idol worship,
the people followed the example of the ... prophets of the groves." 1 Kings 18:19 ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 8 national apostasy.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... the Temple at Jerusalem; and the kings, though obedient ... his dominion, he followed
the example of the ... brethren; and he permitted and encouraged idolatry in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

Jehoshaphat's Reform
... But it is not only in kings' houses that that ... This king recoiled from the example
of the neighbouring monarchy ... by side with the removal of idolatry, this king ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/jehoshaphats reform.htm

Jeroboam
... the solid sense of the Cavendishes, for example, are simply a ... he shall stand before
kings, he shall not stand ... so gross and demoralising as the idolatry of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/jeroboam.htm

The Twenty-First Article they Absolutely Condemn, Because we do ...
... of the common people [how manifest idolatry is practiced at ... strengthening faith and
toward following their example in the ... it is narrated of the kings of Israel ...
/.../the apology of the augsburg confession/part 26 the twenty-first article.htm

The Career of the Antichrist
... disseminator of every kind of confusion, idolatry, impiety " a ... might be suggested,
such, for example, as heading a ... Thus as King of kings he will dictate the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/the career of the antichrist.htm

"In the Volume of the Book it is Written of Me" (Heb. . .
... 9:8, 9), as well as the example and "shadow ... it was at this point that idolatry was
introduced ... Nebuchadnezzar, king of kings, who demanded universal worship, who ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the antichrist/in the volume of the.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... a prophet's permission for being partaker in idolatry itself, out ... the other be true,
we have not one such example. ... of Jeroboam, the son of Joash," 2 Kings 14:27 ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
... schism had come to its end; the kings of the ... whole extent of the promised land; idolatry
was destroyed ... for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ix jeremiah a lesson.htm