{"id":13367,"date":"2024-01-29T04:52:01","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T03:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theholyscript.com\/?p=13367"},"modified":"2024-01-29T04:52:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T03:52:02","slug":"who-was-jeroboam-in-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theholyscript.com\/who-was-jeroboam-in-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Was Jeroboam In The Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Jeroboam’s Kingdom<\/h2>\n

Jeroboam was a King of ancient Israel in the latter half of the 10th century BCE, in a era symbolized by significant religious, social, and political upheaval. He likely was born as a Shemite slave in the Egyptian court of Pharaoh Shishak, but ultimately escaped and joined the Israelites in their journey home. This new addition was not welcome though, and Jeroboam was degraded and exiled. During his exile, the prophet Ahijah addressed him and anointed him as king.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, in the wake of the death of Solomon, Israel erupted in a civil war. In the end, Jeroboam and the northern tribes of Israel formed a separate state, with Jeroboam as its king. The northern kingdom, known as Israel, was firmly under the rule of Jeroboam, who for 22 years sought to distance the people from the Temple at Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

The Intention of Jeroboam<\/h2>\n

The intention of Jeroboam was to establish a unified and independent kingdom, ruling in the traditional fashion of dynasties peculiar to that era. Jeroboam sought to introduce some of the pagan practices he had seen in Egypt into his kingdom, in order to unite his people under a single shared identity. To this effect, he appointed his own priests from among the lowest social classes. He also constructed two golden calves to serve as symbols of his kingdom, directing the people to worship them.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Jeroboam’s claim to the throne of Israel depended heavily on his image of being a liberating force, opening up a new kingdom that was independent of both Pharaoh and the House of David. Yet, although his reign saw a period of unprecedented wealth and political prominence, once the kingdom itself was established, Jeroboam’s reign ultimately ended in tragedy.<\/p>\n

The Downfall Of Jeroboam<\/h2>\n