Jeroboam’s Sin: Israel has once again broken free from slavery in “Egypt”; a new “Moses” is leading the way. It is not long, however, before this new exodus leads, as the first had done, to the worship of golden calves. It is Jeroboam’s action in facilitating such worship that will constantly be referred to in the narrative about the northern kingdom that follows (e.g., 15:26, 34) as Israel’s characteristic sin that leads eventually to exile in a foreign land (2 Kgs. 17:20–23).

12:25–30 The first task undertaken by Jeroboam is the obvious one of defence (v. 25). He evidently does not trust Rehoboam to remain in Jerusalem very long. In fact, he does not seem to trust anyone. He is not convinced, in spite of the events of 12:1–20, that his newfound subjects have really given him their total c…