The Essential Bible Dictionary by Moisés Silva

Author:Moisés Silva [Silva, Moisés]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2017-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Jeroboam (jer´uh-boh´uhm). The name of two Israelite kings. (1) Jeroboam I had been an official under SOLOMON, and when the kingdom was split in 930 BC he founded the northern kingdom of ISRAEL (1 Ki. 11:26 – 40; 12:1 – 20). Afraid that if his people went annually to JERUSALEM to worship it would not be long before they would be won back to the house of David, he set up a golden calf in each of the two extremities of his kingdom — DAN in the N and BETHEL in the S — thus leading the people into idolatrous worship (12:26 – 33). Jeroboam reigned for twenty-two years, but his rule was a political and religious calamity. (2) Jeroboam II, son of King JEHOASH, began to rule in SAMARIA c. 790 BC and reigned forty-one years (2 Ki. 14:23 – 29). He followed the example of Jeroboam I in keeping up the idolatrous worship of the golden calves, but his reign outwardly flourished. The prophet AMOS denounced the corruption that prevailed in the land during this time (Amos 1:2; 6:1 – 7; 7:9).

Jerub-Baal (ji´ruhb-bay´uhl). The name given to GIDEON when he destroyed his father’s BAAL altar (Jdg. 6:32).

Jerusalem (ji-roo´suh-luhm). The capital of the Hebrew nation and the most important city in biblical history — the place where God chose “to put his Name” (1 Ki. 14:21). It never occupied a large area, but was centrally located, being 34 mi. (55 km.) E of the MEDITERRANEAN and only 17 mi. (27 km.) W of the JORDAN RIVER, at an elevation of c. 2,550 ft. (780 m.) above sea level. The old city rests on three hills. The SE hill was the original city of the Jebusites (see JEBUS), taken by DAVID and later called ZION. The N hill is the one on which SOLOMON built the great TEMPLE. Between them is a minor elevation (see OPHEL). When the kingdom was divided in 930 BC, Jerusalem remained the capital of the southern kingdom of JUDAH and expanded westward. It was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586, then rebuilt after 538 by the Jewish exiles who were allowed to return. Jerusalem played a significant role in the life and ministry of Jesus (Lk. 2:22 – 52; 9:51; Jn. 2:13 – 25; 5:1 – 2; 7:2; 10:21); it was in and near the city that he spent the final week of his life (Matt. 26:1 – 27:66). The church came into existence in Jerusalem (Acts 2; cf. 1:4, 8), and some of the most important events in early Christianity took place there (chs. 3 – 7; 15; 21 – 23; Gal. 2:1 – 10). The heavenly city is called the “new Jerusalem” (Rev. 3:12; 21:2; cf. Gal. 4:26; Heb. 12:22).

Aerial view of Jerusalem, with the temple mount in the foreground.

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