- Yeravam builds golden calves for worship:
- Building up the city of Shechem: Yeravam built Shechem in the mountain of Ephraim [into a fortified city[1]] and lived there, and he went from there and built the city of Penuel.
- Yeravam builds two golden calves as an alternative place of worship to Jerusalem: Yeravam said to himself, “If I allow the people to go up and bring sacrifices to the house of G-d in Jerusalem then they may return to becoming loyal to Rechavam the king of Judah and return the kingdom to the House of David. They will then kill me and return to Rechavam, the king of Judah.” So, the king took counsel [with his advisers to see what to do to prevent this situation] and he decided to make two golden calves, and he proclaimed to the Jewish people, saying, “There is no need for you anymore to go all the way up to Jerusalem; here are your G-ds, O Israel, that have brought you up from the land of Egypt.”
- The location of the calves: He placed one in Beth El and the other he placed in Dan.
- The Jewish people sin and worshiping the idol: This matter became a sin for the people and they went all the way until [the end of the land by] Dan to serve the idol.
- The priests that were appointed to serve by his altars: Yeravam made altars on high mountains, and he appointed priests from amongst the people who were not from the tribe of Levi.
- The initiation of a new Festival: Yeravam made a festival in the eighth month [i.e. Cheshvan] on the fifteenth day of the month like the festival [of Sukkos] which was in Judah, and he brought offerings on the altar. He also offered sacrifices in Beth El to the calves that he made. The priests of the altars were positioned in Beth El. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Yeravam would bring offerings and burn incense on the altar which he made in Beth El, for the festival that he had fabricated from his heart.
[1] Metzudos Dovid 12:25
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