1Ki 12:16-29 | TNotes

12:18 ^a Adoniram served under both David (2 Sam 20:24 ^b) and Solomon (1 Kgs 4:6 ^c; 5:13-14 ^d). His death by stoning showed the folly of Rehoboam’s decision to send the unpopular supervisor of the labor force to restore order in the north.
Summary for 1Kgs 12:21-24: 12:21-24 ^e Rehoboam resolved to restore the kingdom to himself by force, but he turned back when confronted with the message of the Lord through Shemaiah. The expression man of God emphasizes a prophet’s relationship to the Lord as his messenger. God’s prophets played a leading role in the history of the divided kingdom. Shemaiah apparently authored a history of Rehoboam’s reign (2 Chr 12:15 ^f).
Summary for 1Kgs 12:25-33: 12:25-33 ^g Jeroboam’s actions in establishing his kingdom are reported in two sections, one on his building activities (12:25 ^h), the other on his false shrines and religious practices (12:26-33 ⁱ). 12:25 ^j Both Shechem (12:1 ^k) and Peniel, which Jeroboam built across the Jordan River, were strategic defensive sites against the Arameans.
Summary for 1Kgs 12:26-27: 12:26-27 ^l Jeroboam tried to satisfy Israel’s spiritual needs and maintain the allegiance of his people by making the worship services in the north both convenient and distinctive.
12:28 ^m Two gold calves would strike a responsive chord regarding Israel’s history (Exod 32 ⁿ; esp. 32:4 ^o). Similar religious practices, associated with the Canaanite god Baal-Hadad, also appealed to the remaining Canaanite population in the northern kingdom. Jeroboam’s intentions compromised true worship and caused religious confusion (see 1 Kgs 14:9 ^p; Hos 8:6 ^q).
Summary for 1Kgs 12:29-30: 12:29-30 ^r By placing the calf idols in Bethel (the southern part of Israel) and in Dan (the far northern section) Jeroboam gave his people two choice sites with long religious traditions (see Gen 12:8 ^s; 28:11-19 ^t; Judg 18:30-31 ^u). Archaeological excavations confirm the existence of a high place—an altar for pagan worship—in Dan. Bethel was where Jacob had his dream (Gen 28:10-22 ^v), and it was the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in the days of the judges (Judg 20:18-28 ^w) and a sanctuary in Samuel’s time (1 Sam 7:16 ^x; 10:3 ^y).