“Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.”
In the preceding verses (1 Kings 12:1-24), we learn that after the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam ascended to the throne. Rehoboam faced a difficult situation, as the people of Israel came to him with a request for a lighter yoke and less oppressive labor than that imposed by Solomon. Rehoboam initially sought counsel from the older advisers who had served his father, but he disregarded their advice and instead followed the counsel of his peers. This decision led to a rebellion, and ten of the twelve tribes of Israel rejected Rehoboam’s rule, leaving him with only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
Now, let’s focus on 1 Kings 12:25. In this verse, we are introduced to Jeroboam who was a prominent figure during this time. Jeroboam, from the tribe of Ephraim, had been a servant of Solomon and had risen to prominence. Following the division of the kingdom, Jeroboam became the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel.
The verse tells us that Jeroboam built Shechem in Mount Ephraim and made it his dwelling place. Shechem was an important city in the central region of Israel, located between the mountains of Gerizim and Ebal. It held historical and religious significance for the Israelites, as it was the place where God had appeared to Abraham when he first entered the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:6-7). By establishing his residence in Shechem, Jeroboam was solidifying his authority and presence in the northern kingdom.
The verse continues by mentioning that Jeroboam went out from Shechem and built another city called Penuel. The exact location of Penuel is not explicitly mentioned in this verse, but it is believed to have been situated east of the Jordan River. Penuel means “the face of God,” which further emphasizes the religious undertones associated with these cities.
The significance of Jeroboam’s actions in these verses lies in the fact that he was deliberately establishing alternative centers of worship and authority apart from Jerusalem, which was the designated place of worship for the Israelites. Later in the chapter, we learn that Jeroboam erected golden calves in both Shechem and Bethel and instituted a non‑Yahwistic form of worship. This decision was a direct violation of God’s commandments and led to idolatry and spiritual decline in the northern kingdom of Israel.
