"Jeroboam"

Jeroboam I (r. 928-907 B.C.E.) – The son of Nevat and Zeruah the widow, and a high official under Solomon, Jeroboam ungratefully rebelled against the House of David and was forced to seek refuge in Egypt under Pharaoh Shishak after the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite informed Jeroboam of his impending appointment as king over the northern ten tribes.

When these tribes wearied of Rehoboam’s heavy-handed rule, they selected Jeroboam as founder of the northern Kingdom of Israel. He reigned from his successive capitals of Shechem, Penuel, and Tirzah. In order to stem the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the people’s connection to the southern kingdom, Jeroboam erected two golden calves, one in Beth El and another in Dan, and made desultory changes to the priesthood and festivals. An unnamed holy man from Judah prophesied against Jeroboam’s altars and foretold the advent of King Josiah of Judah who would overturn these perfidies. Jeroboam lost the use of a hand as a punishment, which he then had restored with the holy man’s help.

Still, Jeroboam continued to appoint random men as priests over the high places of sacrifice. Jeroboam lost a costly war against King Abijam of Judah, who seized territory and slew great numbers. When Jeroboam’s son Abijah fell ill, the monarch sent his disguised wife with gifts to the old, blind prophet Ahijah, who informed her that Jeroboam’s line would abruptly end and that the ailing Abijah would die, which soon transpired. Jeroboam was buried in his familial tomb in Tirzah.