What is in these Words? - "The way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin."

What is in these Words?,

so Often Used to Measure the Most Evil of the Evil Kings?:

“…the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin”

1 King 22:52 (KJV.)

Cf. 1 Kings 16:3, 26, 31; 21:22; 22:52;

2 Kings 3:3; 9:9; 10:29; 13:2, 11; 14:24; 15:9; 15:18, 24, 28; 17:21; 23:15;

2 Chron. 9:29; 10:15; and 13:6.

1 Kings 12:25 - 13:34 makes it very clear, especially considering the primary meaning of the Hebrew words, that Jeroboam set up two distinct and separate Calendars.

The Hebrew word translated 'calf' is 'eglei', which according to Strong's #5695-99 represents "a (male) calf (as frisking round)...from an unused root meaning to revolve, circular... something revolving, i.e. a wheeled vehicle". The Hebrew word translated 'gold' is 'zahav', which is Strong's #2091 "from an unused root meaning to shimmer; gold; figuratively something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky".

Thus, whether or not Jerobeam actually had golden calves made as symbols representing two separate Calendars is besides the point, the words used in the text may certainly represent 'Calendars describing the revolving seasons, months, the moon, the sun, &c.,' just as well as, or even much better than, 'a calf or a steer'.

Considering the word 'gold' one would be inclined to think in terms of solar based Calendars, i.e. 'sun worship', in contradistinction to the Biblical lunar based Sacred Calendar.

So, what two Calendars did Jerobeam establish? Was one of them the Sacred Calendar, and perhaps the other one the new Hebrew Calendar? Or were both of them distinct and separate from the Sacred Calendar?

"And he [Jeroboam] set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan." 1 Kings 12:29-30.

This text seems to indicate that the one in Dan was being preferred at the expense of (cf. Hebr. 'jashav' meaning 'to sit', i.e. 'sit down' or 'set down', or perhaps even 'lay off') the one in the House of the Lord, i.e. the one in Beth-el, which latter one may well have been the old Sacred Calendar.

A study of the meaning of the names of the Hebrew months seems quite revealing: A cursory study seems to indicate that only the 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th months had their names changed from that of the Sacred Calendar. Could it be that, at this particular time, in Israel, the former seventh month, the month of the Day of Atonement, now became the month of Rosh Hashana, i.e. the month of the New Year? Its name was changed from Ethanim, meaning "a present, a gift, munificence" (Strong's #866-868), to Tishrei meaning "my arrival, my gift" (cf. Strong's #8670). Thus the meaning of the names are deceptively similar, while it appears that in effect the reference was changed from the Creator to king Jeroboam.

Now Jeroboam's arrival as king was being referenced and celebrated by the annual feast of Rosh Hashana, as well as his gifts of the golden calves, i.e. of the newly established Calendar. Actually the Hebrew text in 1 Kings 12:29 is better translated "And he SAT DOWN the one in Beth-el, and the other he GAVE in Dan", thus further emphasizing the meaning of the name of the first month of this new, i.e. “the civil,” year, i.e. Tishrei. In the second month, of this new, i.e. “the civil,” year…

"Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah..." 1 Kings 12:32.

Apparently this new feast was to replace the annual Passover celebration in Jerusalem, which was to be celebrated on the fifteenth Day of the first or the second month of the year. Interestingly the Bible uses the following words:

"…the month which he had DEVISED of his own heart" 1 Kings 12:33 (KJV).

The meaning of the new name of the old eighth month, i.e. 'Chishlav', is "a contrivance, a fabrication, to plot, intelligence" (Strong's #2803,2808-2810). Seems revealing enough... The old Biblical name for the same month is 'Bul", meaning "produce" (Strong's #944-945&2481).

The names of the old first two months, Abib (or simply Rishon, meaning ‘the first’,) and Zif, were replaced by the new names Nisan and Iyyar, probably in an effort to avoid reminding the people of the events closely associated with the Passover celebrations in Jerusalem. I.e. consistent with:

"And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord..." 1 Kings 12:26-27.

Further, the Hebrew text makes it quite clear that the new Calendar implied 'a sacrifice,' perhaps, and not unlikely, in terms of wasting a certain time period, e.g. the first six months of the Sacred Year. Thus:

"…he offered upon the altar... sacrificing unto the calves...... offered upon the altar... offered upon the altar, and burnt incense... the ashes poured out from the altar..." 1 Kings 12:32-33,13:5 (KJV).

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