In the previous article (Tidings, May), we put forth the idea that Jeroboam had grown up in the glory days of Solomon — had seen the temple being built, had gone to worship at the feast days, and had embraced the Truth. In the beginning of his life, Jeroboam was a believer with an extraordinary amount of potential for good. To add to this testimony, we find out later in the story that he had a son named “Abijah.”
“At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick” (1Kgs 14:1).
Immediately, when we see the “jah” at the end of the name, we know that it contains the name of God. When we look further into it, we find out that the name means “Yahweh is my father.” At some early point in his life, Jeroboam was a man of faith. He wanted his son to grow up knowing the God of Israel, and seeing that God as his “Father”. He was a believer. He was a man who knew the Truth and followed it. Thus, upon his departure from Jerusalem, Ahijah the prophet met him and delivered to him a prophecy and promise from God Himself (1 Kings 11:29-39).
He was to be king. God had called him to be a leader of the nation and to deliver them out of the blatant idol worship that Solomon had instituted. This idol worship was abhorrent to God and so He would break the kingdom apart and sever off the false worship — allowing the northern kingdom, Israel to be His true followers.
In this article, we will examine the potential and abilities of Jeroboam, and note the command that he had over the people of Israel. He could have been an amazing deliverer to them; he could have swept the nation clean of idolatry and led them in the way of Truth. We will see how his reign initially started out this way, how he showed to all the world that his time of kingship would be one of serving Yahweh. Sadly, he would not continue in this path. His faith would falter, and he would follow the ways of the churches today — twisting the Word of God and destroying the hope of his followers.
Jeroboam’s Abilities
Jeroboam was the man that God chose to be a savior for the nation. He was the one that Yahweh Himself specifically chose to bring the nation out of sin! Imagine this — the one that we know as “Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin,” was the one that God personally chose to bring the nation to light. When we look at his beginning years, we can see that Jeroboam was the perfect choice; he was a man of amazing talents and potential. He had the ability and strength to take the nation of Israel, throw out their apostasy, and bring them to the true God.
His name means: “Increaser of the people” or “he will contend for the people.” Even in his name we can see his ability for leading others and standing up for them. As noted previously, he was “industrious,” or diligent, and he had the ability to command the people. Solomon had made him the leader of the levy that came from Manasseh and Ephraim. In addition to this, we are told that he was a “mighty man of valor.”
“And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph”( 1Kgs 11:28).
Jeroboam was a “mighty man of valor.” This title alone shows us the abilities of the future king. It is a title that isn’t applied often, but almost always refers to one that is an amazing warrior and fighter. In the book of Chronicles, when it is discussing these mighty men in the tribe of Asher, it mentions that they were apt for war. They were especially suited to battle.
“All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father’s house, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. And the number throughout of the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men” (1Chron 7:40).
They were apt to the war and to battle. In addition, they were also the “chief of the princes” and “heads of their father’s house.” Not only did mighty men of valor excel on the battlefield, but they were amazing leaders (cp. 1 Chron 26:6). Jeroboam had potential. He was a powerful fighter, a hard worker, and a dynamic leader. He was one that could rally the people, could set their mind on the idols of Solomon and create a reform like that of Hezekiah (2 Chron 31:1). This man could have done so much to revitalize the kingdom. In fact, when we look even further, we notice that the events in his early life parallel very similarly to those of a future King who would come with the same goal and same mission:
- Specifically chosen by God to save Israel (1 Kigs 11:37-38; Matt 1:21)
- Promised a sure house (1 Kgs 11:38; Luke 1:32-33)
- Fled down into Egypt for protection from the king and was there until the king’s death (1 Kgs 11:40; Matt 1:13-15)
- A mediator for the people (1 Kgs 12:3, 12; 1 Tim 2:5)
- Became king over Israel (1 Kgs 12:20; John 18:36-37)
Jeroboam could have been a savior to the nation. Just as the Lord Jesus Christ came to bring the nation out of their false worship, Jeroboam could have done the same thing. He knew the law. He knew the Truth and could make a deep impact in the lives of his people. They would follow him and he would bring them out of their folly.
But first, Solomon had to pass from the scene.
Good Beginnings
Solomon, the son of David, at the end of his life became rooted in false worship. He heard about the promise that had been given to Jeroboam and he despised it. Jeroboam would not be allowed to take the throne. Solomon would destroy him.
“Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon” (1Kgs 11:40).
For about 10-14 years, Jeroboam was in Egypt. After the death of Solomon, he returned to Israel and mediated between Rehoboam and the people, trying to negotiate for lower taxes. Rehoboam vigorously denied the petition of the people and told them that the taxes would not be lowered, and that in fact, he would be a stronger and more dominant king than his father. His little finger would be thicker than his father’s loins; his father chastised them with whips, he would chastise them with scorpions. It was an incredibly foolish thing to say, and it is what caused the division in the kingdom. The upper ten tribes tore away from the kingdom of David and established their own empire — with Jeroboam as their king.
This was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Ahijah. Jeroboam was the king of Israel. Now was his chance, now was the time for him to take hold of the people and clear their minds of the blasphemies and evils of Solomon’s reign. Here, Jeroboam shines forth as a beautiful example to us. The first two things that he did in his new reign were things that would blatantly cry to all of the people and the nations around that Israel was a kingdom that would follow Yahweh. They believed in Him, they would lean upon Him, and they would devote themselves to Him. Things were going to be different than they were under Solomon’s reign.
“Then Jeroboam build Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel” (1Kngs 12:25).
Jeroboam rebuilt Shechem and rebuilt Penuel. There is much behind these words. God doesn’t waste words when He writes to us, so there must be a reason for including them as the first things that Jeroboam did. The reason is this: if we were an Israelite and knew the history of these two cities, it would have screamed out to us who Jeroboam was and what he stood for. Cities always have meanings behind them based off of what has taken place there. Think about Bethlehem. When someone says the name “Bethlehem” it makes you think about David, or about Jesus — because the Lord was born there. When someone mentions Jericho, it makes you think about when the walls of Jericho collapsed and the city was taken. So it was with Shechem and Penuel.
Shechem
Shechem was a city that carried a rich history of cleansing and renewing the covenant. It was the first place in Israel where Abraham was given the promises, the beginnings of the covenant between him and his God:
“And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him”( Gen 12:6-7).
Later, it is where Jacob took all of the idols from his family and buried them — thrusting out the idols and renewing the covenant with Yahweh.
“And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem” (Gen 35:4).
This took place directly between the blessings and cursings. Remember, one group of the tribes was standing on Mount Gerizim, blessing the people, and the other group was standing on Mount Ebal, cursing the people. Shechem is situated directly in between those two mountains, in the little valley that is created by them. When the tribes were shouting forth the blessings and the cursings, the city of Shechem was between them, witnessing their covenant with the Father.
“ These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali”( Deut 27:12-13).
Finally, Shechem is where Joshua, once again, gathered all Israel and had them renew their vows to the true God. It is here where the old man says the famous phrase “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
“Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel…So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem” (Josh 24:23, 25).
Shechem was a city that was characterized by covenants with Yahweh, with the God of Israel. It was a city that was the birthplace of the promises in Israel, the place where the blessings and the cursings were given, and the place where Joshua renewed the covenant. When Jeroboam rebuilt the city and named it his capital, it would have made a powerful statement to the people. Jeroboam was renewing the covenant. They were going to follow the true God.
Penuel
Similar characteristics are shown with the city of Penuel. This is where Jacob wrestled with the angel and learned his dependence upon the Father. It is where we are told he “halted upon his thigh.” It was in Penuel that Jacob learned that he could not survive on his own strength, but had to depend upon God.
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him… And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted [limped] upon his thigh”( Gen 32:24-25, 31).
Penuel is a city which represents our dependence upon God. By rebuilding both Shechem and Penuel, Jeroboam was giving a clear message––this kingdom is going to be different. We are following the Law. We are living in Truth. We will depend upon Yahweh, God of our fathers.
His reign started out going in the right direction; he was reforming the people. But it was not to be. Tragically, something happened which completely broke Jeroboam and sent him down the path of perdition. He would fall so low that he would never recover. Fear and doubt would take hold of his heart, and he would plunge the nation into false worship. In the next article, we will unearth what caused this fall and examine his apostasy.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One