BSN: ON IDOLATRY

• The worship of idols is condemned in both testaments.
• Although idols were often physical, they could also be unseen. For example, Ezekiel condemned idols “set up in the heart” (Ezek 14:3-7), and Paul equates certain character flaws with idolatry (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5).
• Even objects that God has ordered and used for our benefit – such as the the bronze serpent that Moses had made for healing the Israelites – can become idols (Num 21:8-9; 2 Kings 18:4).
• Idolatry numbs us to God – makes us blind and deaf to Him (Ps 115:4-8; 135:15-18).

The data below is edited from ChatGPT.

Aaron’s Golden Calf – This incident is described in Exodus 32. Moses re-tells it in Deut 9:7–21. Other references to it can be found in Neh 9:16–18; Ps 106:19–23; Acts 7:39–41.

Jeroboam’s Two Golden Calves – The incident is described in 1 Kings 12:25–33. Later biblical references to it include 1 Kings 13–14 — Prophets condemn Jeroboam’s idolatry.

• 2 Kings 10:28–31 — Jehu wipes out Baal worship but leaves Jeroboam’s calves in place.
• 2 Kings 17:16–23 — The calves are cited as part of Israel’s persistent sin leading to exile.
• 2 Chronicles 11:13–15 — Levites leave Jeroboam’s territory because of the idolatry.
• 2 Chronicles 13:8–9 — King Abijah rebukes Jeroboam for the calf worship.
• Hosea 8:5–6; 10:5 — Prophets refer to the calf of Samaria.

The phrase “the sins of Jeroboam” appears 14 times and in each cases is referring in part or in whole to this incident. Other references to it include:

“his sin which he made Israel sin”

• Used when describing Nadab following Jeroboam’s path — 1 Kings 15:26

“his sins which he made Israel sin”

• Reference to Baasha walking in Jeroboam’s ways — 1 Kings 15:30

“from the sins of Jeroboam … Jehu did not depart”

• Describing Jehu’s failure to eradicate the calves — 2 Kings 10:29

“followed the sins of Jeroboam … he did not depart from them”

• Applied to later kings like Jehoahaz and Jehoash — 2 Kings 13:2, 13:6

“they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam”

• Refers to continuing idolatry with the calves — 2 Kings 13:11

“did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam”

• Speaking of complete, unrepentant continuation — 2 Kings 13:13

“such as walking in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel to sin”

• Used for Omri and Zimri — 1 Kings 16:26, 16:19