IEROBOAM I. – King of Israel (ca. 932–911 B.C.), son of the widow Sarva, of the tribe of Ephraim. He founded the first dynasty in the Kingdom of Israel after the schism.
Already during the reign of Solomon he had distinguished himself as an intelligent worker and had been appointed superintendent of the laborers of the house of Joseph (I Reg. 11, 26 ff.). But in the final years of that king, while the millô' (a fortification work already begun by David) was being constructed, I. rebelled against his sovereign: the reason for such an action must have been the growing discontent among the people over the continual tax burdens imposed by the new works. At that time the prophet Ahia indicated to him, by means of a symbolic action (tearing his cloak into 12 pieces), that he would become the head of 10 tribes (I Reg. 11, 29–39). Subsequently persecuted by Solomon, he sought refuge in Egypt with Pharaoh Sesac. Recalled to his homeland after Solomon’s death (932 B.C.), he was charged with Roboam (v.), at the assembly in Sichem, the people’s demands for a less burdensome regime. But when Roboam chose intransigence, the northern tribes rebelled against the Davidic dynasty and elected as their own king I. himself (I Reg. 12, 1–26).
Thus the nation remained divided into two kingdoms: the southern one (Kingdom of Judah), which continued under the Davidic dynasty, with the allegiance of the tribe of Judah and, in practice, of the tribe of Simeon and various elements of Benjamin; and the northern one (“Kingdom of Ephraim”
or “of Israel,” later also called “of Samaria”), which had on its side the remaining tribes, together with a more extensive territory comprising the northern part of Cisjordan and all the Transjordan occupied.
Once the division had taken place, I. immediately thought of consolidating the new Kingdom through measures of a political and military nature. He fortified the principal centers, including the new capital Sichem, and Phanuel in Gilead, where he established his residence for some time. Moreover, in order to sever every bond with the Kingdom of Judah and to prevent the people from being drawn to Jerusalem for religious practices, he established in his kingdom two schismatic sanctuaries: one at Bethel (the southern extremity), famous for its patriarchal associations; the other at Dan (the northern extremity), where an illegitimate sanctuary had existed since the time of the Judges (Iud. 18, 27–31). There he instituted a priestly service and a cycle of rites and religious feasts analogous to those celebrated in the Temple of Jerusalem. In particular, the feast of Tabernacles is mentioned, the most popular of all, although its celebration was shifted by one month. And, what is more serious, he placed a golden calf in these two sanctuaries and invited the people to worship Jahweh under that form (I Reg. 12, 26–33), much as Aronne had done in the desert. This was a flagrant violation of one of the most delicate Mosaic laws, and although it was not in itself an idolatrous act—as modern exegetes hold—it nevertheless constituted for the people a serious danger of idolatry, as was seen later. For this reason I.’s action is severely condemned in Sacred Scripture as “an incentive to sin” for all Israel (I Reg. 12, 30). Subsequently as well, I. is pointed out as the one who led Israel into sin (cf. I Reg. 15, 26; 16, 19, 26; II Reg. 10, 31; etc.).
This transgression was also the cause of the ruin and destruction of his house, foretold to him by the same prophet Ahia who had announced the throne to him (I Reg. 14, 1–16). But already at the inauguration of the illegitimate worship at Bethel, a prophet arose (I Reg. 13, 1–10) who protested against that violation of divine law and foretold the destruction Iosia (v.). Despite the severe warning, I. allowed considerations of a political nature to prevail in his ambitious mind. In his final years he went to war against the king of Judah, Ahia son of Roboam, but suffered a crushing defeat (II Par. 13: the figures given, 400,000 and 800,000 soldiers on the one side and the other, are enormous; there must be a copyist’s error or an interchange of letters: there were at most 40,000 and 80,000 men). I. died after 22 years of reign, and was succeeded by his son Nadab (911–909), who after only two years was assassinated by Baass; with him I.’s dynasty came to an end.