Scripture References: 1 Kings 12:25–33; 13:33–34; 2 Chronicles 11:13–15
2831 AM (929 BCE) – THE 48 LAWS OF EGYPTIAN POWER
The raw power of organizing the people against the established order, against Rehoboam, was an immense thrill to Jeroboam. It was a kind of amazing rush … and then to be made king. Sure, he knew it would happen, because Adonai had said so. At least, that man … what was his name? Anyway, he claimed Adonai said so. Honestly, Jeroboam was a little incensed that he had to kill his friend, the captain of the guard. And Egypt was not exactly his favorite place.
But he did learn quite a bit about effective leadership and how Pharaoh ruled. He also learned about the power of the Egyptian gods. Now he could implement the laws of power he learned in Egypt and make sure not even Adonai could take away his kingdom.
So, what to do.
But Jeroboam already knew what to do. He needed a focal point, like Jerusalem. He needed his own light to the nations, a city on a hill. What better place than Shechem? Oh, the history that had already happened in Shechem! That could be leveraged—it had to be leveraged.
And then, of course, the temple. Israel could not go to Judah for the appointed times, nor for sacrifices. Their hearts would eventually realign and want to reunite. No, he had to create division. He had to create issues, keep the resentment raw. He could not let latent hostilities cool, but he needed to fan the animosity. Us and them. He had to manufacture dissatisfaction and discontent.
Very quickly, Jeroboam went to work. He set up Shechem as the epicenter of worship in Israel. Then, he created two golden calves. He inaugurated the new worship center the same way the Egyptians did, with a ten-day feast filled with all sorts of debauchery.
When the wine was flowing and people were in good cheer, Jeroboam spoke with the most benevolent eloquence, “Hear, O Israel, these calves are your gods. These calves alone are the ones who brought you out of Egypt. Rehoboam is a fraud and a liar. He wants to control you—your happiness, your means of production. He wants to hold you in bondage and make you slaves for life.”
“But I want to give you life, and these golden, fattened calves represent the wealth, prosperity, and fulfillment you will have following the real gods of Israel. One will be in Bethel, for that is the closest spot to access heaven, and the other will be in Dan, for we will be judged by the true gods of Israel, not Adonai. We will celebrate our appointed times, not the appointed times arbitrarily dictated by Adonai. He is the god of Rehoboam and of Judah and Jerusalem. Not of us, not of Israel. Our gods for our lands, and their god for their land!”
The people cheered and chanted, “Our gods for our lands, and their god for their land! Our gods for our lands, and their god for their land!”
And how it warmed the heart of Jeroboam.
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After the festivities, Jeroboam appointed many priests, and they went with him and sacrificed at Bethel and also at Dan to the fattened, golden calves Jeroboam had made. And Jeroboam created new times and seasons for feasting and raucous worship, along with burning his own favorite foreign incense, whose recipe he learned in Egypt.
And Israel did not keep the appointed times of Adonai, nor did they keep Shabbat.
Used with permission by the author. Find the author’s complete works online: Complete Works of Mack Samuels
