- two calves of gold:
- He invented a political religion, and instituted feasts in his own times, different from those appointed by Jehovah; gave the people certain objects of adoration, and pretended to think that it would be both inconvenient and oppressive to them to go up to Jerusalem to worship. These calves were doubtless of the same kind as the calf which was set up by Aaron; and it is remarkable, that in pointing them out to the people he should use the same words that Aaron used on that occasion, when they must have heard what terrible judgments fell upon their forefathers for this idolatry. Solomon's idolatry, however, had prepared the people for Jeroboam's abominations. "Thou shalt not¹ makeª° unto thee any graven image,ª or any¹ likenessª [of any thing] thatª [is] in heavenª above,ª¹ or that¹ [is] in the earthª beneath,¹¹ or that¹ [is] in the waterª under¹¹ the earth:ª" {Exd 20:4} + "And the LORDª commandedª° me at that¹ timeª to teachª° you statutesª and judgments,ª that ye might doª° them in the landª whither¹¹ ye¹ go overª° to possessª° it. ... The likenessª of any thing¹ that creepethª° on the ground,ª the likenessª of any¹ fishª that¹ [is] in the watersª beneathª¹ the earth:ª" {Deu 4:14-18} + "Howbeit¹ [from] the sinsª of Jeroboamª the sonª of Nebat,ª who¹ made¹ Israelª to sin,ª° Jehuª departedª° not¹ from afterª¹ them, [to wit], the goldenª calvesª that¹ [were] in Bethel,ª and that¹ [were] in Dan.ª" {2Kg 10:29} + "And they leftª°¹ all¹ the commandmentsª of the LORDª their God,ª and madeª° them molten images,ª [even] twoª calves,ª and madeª° a grove,ª and worshippedª° all¹ the hostª of heaven,ª and servedª°¹ Baal.ª" {2Kg 17:16} + "And he ordainedª° him priestsª for the high places,ª and for the devils,ª and for the calvesª which¹ he had made.ª°" {2Ch 11:15} + "They¹ have set up kings,ª° but not¹ by¹ me: they have made princes,²°¹ and I knewª° [it] not:¹ of their silverª and their goldª have they madeª° them idols,ª that¹ they may be cut off.ª° ... For¹ they have sownª° the wind,ª and they shall reapª° the whirlwind:ª it hath no¹ stalk:ª the budª shall yieldª° no¹ meal:ª if² so be¹ it yield,ª° the strangersª° shall swallow it up.ª°" {Hsa 8:4-7} + "The inhabitantsª of Samariaª shall fearª° because of the calvesª of Bethaven:ª for¹ the peopleª thereof shall mournª° over¹ it, and the priestsª thereof [that] rejoicedª° on¹ it, for¹ the gloryª thereof, because¹ it is departedª° from¹ it. ... It shall be also¹ carriedª° unto Assyriaª [for] a presentª to kingª Jareb:ª Ephraimª shall receiveª° shame,ª and Israelª shall be ashamedª° of his own counsel.ª¹" {Hsa 10:5-6}
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