And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

1 KINGS 12:29KJV
Know the Bible

1 Kings 12:29 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 12:29 mean?

1 Kings 12:29 describes how Jeroboam, the new king of the northern tribes of Israel, placed one golden calf idol in Bethel and another in Dan. This action set up two locations for the people to worship, instead of traveling to Jerusalem.

Jeroboam is acting as king over the northern kingdom after Israel split into two kingdoms. To keep his people from going to Jerusalem in the southern kingdom, he sets up alternative worship sites at Bethel (in the south of his territory) and Dan (in the far north). This verse records the specific places where these idols were placed, which would become centers of worship for the northern tribes.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 12:29

  • "set" (שָׂם, sām): This word means "to place" or "to set." It emphasizes that Jeroboam intentionally established the idol in Bethel as a permanent fixture.
  • "put" (נָתַן, natan): This word also means "to give" or "to put," and here it refers to Jeroboam placing the other idol in Dan. The use of two different Hebrew words for "set" and "put" may highlight the deliberate and active role Jeroboam took in establishing these worship centers.
  • "Bethel" (בֵּית־אֵל, Beit-El): This town's name means "house of God." Its selection as a worship site is significant because it had a long history as a sacred place in Israel's past.
  • "Dan" (דָּן, Dan): This is the northernmost city in Israel. Placing an idol here made it accessible for people living far from Jerusalem, showing Jeroboam's intent to make worship convenient for all his subjects.

Why 1 Kings 12:29 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Jeroboam intentionally chose two strategic locations—Bethel and Dan—so that people from all parts of his kingdom could easily access these new worship sites.
  • The verse highlights the beginning of a major shift in Israel's religious practices, moving away from the central worship in Jerusalem to new, unauthorized centers.
  • Understanding the specific locations helps explain later references in the Bible to "the sin of Jeroboam," which became a recurring problem for the northern kingdom.

Where else these words appear

“Bethel” Hebrew H1008 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
  • Judges 1:22 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.
  • 2 Kings 2:23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

“Dan” Hebrew H1835 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
  • Deuteronomy 27:13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
  • 2 Samuel 3:10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.