Yerovam's Golden Calves

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1. The Ideological Foundations of the Sin of the Golden Calf

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   How could have Bnei Yisrael performed the Sin of the Golden Calf immediately after receiving the Torah? A look at the description of God's chariot shows that the cherubs are in fact oxen. Aharon had intended on bringing the Divine Presence down to earth after Moshe had disappeared; but the nation misunderstood his intentions, and believed the calf was a replacement for God. The same mistake was made, hundreds of years later, by Yerovam.

2. The Rebellion of Yerovam - New Kingdom, New Religion

   Part 2

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Shekhem is a city that has hosted mass events in the past and a city with historic significance in general. The challenge that Rehavam meets from the Northern tribes reawakens old tribal conflicts that expressed themselves in David and Shaul's reigns. Rehavam takes the advice of the younger less mature advisors who grew up with him in the luxury of Shlomo's palace.   Yerovam begins to fail as a leader when he sets up an alternative religion to the worship of God in the Mikdash in Jerusalem by setting up shrines in Beit El and Dan - two cities with a long history of religious significance. There he places golden calves reminiscent of Aharon's golden calf in the desert. Additionally, as per his democratic nature that fueled his rebellion against Shlomo, he appoints Kohanim from all of the people and establishes a new date for Sukkot. 

3. The Altar, the Prophet, and the Lion

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   The Ish Haelokim's refusal to eat on his mission against Yerovam and the new form of worship in Beit El stems from God's command which proves the chastity of the prophet. He is not a paid prophet, but loyal to God, Nonetheless, when he disobeys God's word he dies at the hand of the lion. This is symbolic of the confusion surrounding Yerovam. On the one hand he is ordained by God in Ahiya's prophecy. On the other hand he is disobeying God in the new system of worship that he set up. He is given an opportunity to repent but rejects it. 

   Are the Golden Calves of Yerovam considered Idol Worship or an alternative but prohibited worship of God?

4. The Fall and Exile of Shomron

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Hoshea ben Ella rises to power as an apparent appointment of the Assyrian King, but soon after he joins an anti-Assyrian coalition. While Hoshea does not follow in the footsteps of the kings of Israel and residents of the northern kingdom participate in the Pessah Korban with Hizkiyahu in Jerusalem, this change is too late to stop the destruction and exile of the northern kingdom.

   The Assyrian policy of population transfer is aimed at crushing hostile populations. By dispersing the exiles to far-flung locations, Ashur succeeds in destabilizing and disorienting the defeated. This technique absolutely destroys the internal cohesion of the exiled community and strangles its political opposition. For Israel this policy is a death knell. Domestically, as alien populations are transferred to Shomron, along with a foreign governor, it essentially becomes impossible for Israel to reinstate itself as an independent entity and leads to the disappearance of the ten tribes.

   The people - not only the kings - of Israel chose to go in the ways of the surrounding nations and, just as the Torah warned, God and the land of Israel rejected them.

5. Yerovam's Revolution- What Was the Secret of his Success?

   Rabbi Alex Israel | Hour and 12 minutes

   Who was Yerovam and why is he portrayed as such an evil person? Be closely examining the actions of Yerovam during his rebellion, one can see his motives and can notice the way in which he re-interprets stories in the Torah to fit with his own agenda. By noticing these parallels one can also learn about what it means to worship the correct God but through improper means. 

6. Amos 3-4 - Matan Al HaPerek

   Rabbi David Sabato

   In the beginning of Chapter 3, Amos warns the nation that being the chosen people will not prevent them from being punished.   In fact, the opposite is true – the choice imposes on them a responsibility which, if ignored, will bring harsh punishment.  In the continuaton of the perek there is a series of rhetorical questons with similar structures, emphasizing that the prophet is compelled to prophesy (3-8). Afer the series of questons, Amos begins to give prophecies of rebuke against the upper classes in Samaria, whose wealth is derived from exploitaton of the poor. 

   Chapter 4 begins with rebuke for the idol worship in Beit El and Gilgal. The naton absorbs blow afer blow, but remains rebellious and does not return to God.

   The study guide includes guided questions and an appendix about the Kingdom of Israel.

7. Yerovam ben Nevat - Tanakh Profiles

   Rabbi Jonathan Mishkin