Book of 1 Kings - Chapter 12 - Verse 32

Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, similar to the feast in Judah. This act of Jeroboam is significant because it signified a departure from the traditional religious practices established in Judah. By establishing this feast in Bethel and offering sacrifices to the calves he had made, Jeroboam was attempting to establish his own religious authority separate from the temple in Jerusalem. This move was in direct contradiction to the commands of God, who had established the temple in Jerusalem as the central place of worship for the Israelites. Furthermore, by appointing his own priests to serve at these high places, Jeroboam was further solidifying his control over the religious practices of his kingdom. Ultimately, Jeroboam's actions led to a growing division between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Israelite kingdom.

Jeroboam's actions in ordaining a feast in the eighth month on the fifteenth day, similar to the one in Judah, reveal his attempt to establish his own religious practices apart from the worship at the temple in Jerusalem. The theological interpretation of this verse suggests that Jeroboam was trying to distance his kingdom from the authority of the Davidic line and the worship of Yahweh in Judah. By sacrificing unto the golden calves he had made in Bethel, Jeroboam was not only committing idolatry but also establishing a rival religious center to rival the one in Jerusalem. Placing priests in Bethel indicated a deliberate rejection of the Levitical priesthood and the true worship of God. This act by Jeroboam symbolized a blatant disregard for the commands of God and set the stage for future conflict and division within the kingdom of Israel.