January 29, 2013 – 1 Kings 12
 http://www.ldolphin.org/kings.html
I thought a list like this might be nice to look at as we go through the rest of Kings and Chronicles.
The tribes spilt off because of the arrogance of Judah’s king and him wanting to retain the service as Solomon had. If your recall, Solomon had each of the tribes working forced labor for a month out of every year. The king, instead of lightening that load, declares he will double it. We find out that it was God that allowed him to make such a claim because God was bringing about the punishment he had told Solomon for Solomon’s sins. So, the people say enough is enough and take ten of the tribes and form Israel under king Jeroboam. Benjamin and Judah stay together and become Judah. Thus, we will have these two running along parallel paths until they are exiled.
It was obvious that Jeroboam was going to have to start idol worship because he did not have the Temple, which was in Jerusalem. Obviously he didn’t HAVE to, but he thought that if the people of Israel had to continually travel to Judah to worship, they would eventually go back to form with them and not need him as King. So, he starts two new places of worship and why he chose calves as the idols I do not understand. He must have heard what happened in the wilderness when they made the golden calf. Why didn’t he pick another animal.
What I don’t understand is why Rehoboam so quickly falls to idolatry. He did have the Temple right there, yet he goes outside the city and builds new places to worship. I guess when you think about the fact that Solomon also fell to idolatry, Rehoboam didn’t have the best role model to follow.