25 Then Yarov’am (Jeroboam) built Shekem in the hill country of Efrayim (Ephraim) and he lived there for a while. Then he left there and built Penuel. 26 After that, he worried that the entire country might want to go back under David’s dynasty. 27 He worried that if the people went down to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to offer sacrifices in Yahweh’s temple, they might shift their allegiance to King Rehav’am (Rehoboam) in Yehudah (Judah) and then his life might be in danger.

28 So after getting advice, the king made two gold calves, and he told his people, “Going all the way down to Yerushalem is too far for you. Look, these can be your gods, Yisrael (Israel), who brought you out from Mitsrayim (Egypt).”[ref] 29 He set one up at Beyt-El (Bethel) (in the south) and the other one at Dan (in the north). 30 This caused the people to sin, and some people went up as far as the one in Dan. 31 He built temples on hills and appointed priests from various tribes—not just from the tribe of Levi.