Jeroboam was the true disciple (6) of this great prophet, His doctrine
was as pure as the new garment Ahijah wore when he met Jeroboam near
Jerusalem, and his learning exceeded that of all the scholars of his
time except his own teacher Ahijah alone. The prophet was in the habit
of discussing secret love with Jeroboam and subjects in the Torah whose
existence was wholly unknown to others. (7)
Had Jeroboam proved himself worthy of his high position, the length of
his reign would have equalled David's. (8) It was his pride that led
him into destruction. He set up the golden calves as objects to be
worshipped by the people, in order to wean them from their habit of
going on pilgrimages to Jerusalem. He knew that in the Temple only
members of the royal house of David were privileged to sit down. No
exception would be made in favor of Jeroboam, and so he would have to
stand while Rehoboam would be seated. Rather than appear in public as
the subordinate of the Judean king, he introduced the worship of idols,
which secured him full royal prerogatives.
In the execution of his plan he proceeded with great cunning, and his
reputation as a profound scholar and pious saint stood him in good
stead. This was his method: He seated an impious man next to a pious
man, and then said to each couple: "Will you put your signature to
anything I intend to do?" The two would give an affirmative answer. "Do
you want me as king?" he would then ask, only to receive and
affirmative answer again. "And you will do whatever I order?" he
continued. "Yes," was the reply. "I am to infer, then, that you will
even pay worship to idols if I command it?" said Jeroboam. "God forbid
!" the pious member of the couple would exclaim, whereupon his impious
companion, who was in league with the king, would turn upon him: "Canst
thou really suppose for an instant that a man like Jeroboam would serve
idols? He only wishes to put our loyalty to the test." Through such
machinations he succeeded in obtaining the signatures of the most
pious, even the signature of the prophet Ahijah. Now Jeroboam had the
people is his power. He could exact the vilest deeds from them. (9)
So entrenched, Jeroboam brought about the division between Judah and
Israel, a consummation which his father, Sheba the son of Bichri, had
not been able to compass under David, because God desired to have the
Temple erected before the split occurred. (10) Not yet satisfied,
Jeroboam sought to involve the Ten Tribes in a war against Judah and
Jerusalem. But the people of the northern kingdom refused to enter into
hostilities with their brethren, and with the ruler of their brethren,
a descendant of David. Jeroboam appealed to the elders of the
Israelites, and they referred him to the Danites, the most efficient of
their warriors; but they swore by the head of Dan, the ancestor of
their tribe, that they would never consent to shed blood of their
brethren. They were even on the point of rising against Jeroboam, and
the clash between them and the followers of Jeroboam was prevented only
because God prompted the Danites to leave Palestine.
Their first plan was to journey to Egypt and take possession of the
land. They gave it up when their princes reminded them of the Biblical
prohibition (11) against dwelling in Egypt. Likewise they were
restrained from attacking the Edomites, Ammonites, and Moabites, for
the Torah commands considerate treatment of them. Finally they decided
to go to Egypt, but not to stay there, only to pass through to
Ethiopia. The Egyptians were in great terror of the Danites, and their
hardiest warriors occupied the roads travelled by them. Arrived in
Ethiopia, the Danites slew a part of the population, and exacted
tribute from the rest. (12)
The departure of the Danites relieved Judah from the apprehended
invasion by Jeroboam, but danger arose from another quarter. Shishak,
(13) the ruler of Egypt, who was the father-in-law of Solomon, came to
Jerusalem and demanded his daughter's jointure. He carried off the
throne of Solomon, (14) and also the treasure which the Israelites had
taken from the Egyptians at the time of the exodus. So the Egyptian
money returned to its source. (15)