Jeroboam ("increase of the people"), the son of Nebat (1 Kings
11:26-39), "an Ephrathite," was the first king of the ten tribes,
over whom he reigned twenty-two years (B.C. 928-907). He was the
son of a widow of Zereda, and while still young was promoted by
Solomon to be chief superintendent of the "burnden", i.e., of
the bands of forced labourers. Influenced by the words of the
prophet Ahijah, he began to form conspiracies with the view of
becoming king of the ten tribes; but these having been
discovered, he fled to
Egypt (1 Kings 11:29-40), where he
remained for a length of time under the protection of Shishak I.
On the death of
Solomon, the ten tribes, having revolted, sent
to invite him to become their king. The conduct of
Rehoboam
favoured the designs of Jeroboam, and he was accordingly
proclaimed "king of Israel" (1 Kings 12: 1-20). He rebuilt and
fortified Shechem as the capital of his kingdom. He at once
adopted means to perpetuate the division thus made between the
two parts of the kingdom, and erected at Dan and Bethel, the two
extremities of his kingdom, "golden calves," which he set up as
symbols of Jehovah, enjoining the people not any more to go up
to worship at Jerusalem, but to bring their offerings to the
shrines he had erected. Thus he became distinguished as the man
"who made Israel to sin." This policy was followed by all the
succeeding kings of Israel.
While he was engaged in offering incense at Bethel, a prophet
from Judah appeared before him with a warning message from the
Lord. Attempting to arrest the prophet for his bold words of
defiance, his hand was "dried up," and the altar before which he
stood was rent asunder. At his urgent entreaty his "hand was
restored him again" (1 Kings 13:1-6, 9; comp. 2 Kings 23:15);
but the miracle made no abiding impression on him. His reign was
one of constant war with the house of Judah. He died soon after
his son Abijah (1 Kings 14:1-18).
See also Jeroboam II
Initial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 -- Please update as needed
A
jeroboam is also the name for a very large wine bottle, containing the same quantity as 4 bottles (3 litres) in the case of
champagne and
port, and 6 bottles (4.5 litres) in the case of
claret[?].
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