1 Kings 12 25

1 Kings 12:25 kjv

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

1 Kings 12:25 nkjv

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built Penuel.

1 Kings 12:25 niv

Then Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built up Peniel.

1 Kings 12:25 esv

Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel.

1 Kings 12:25 nlt

Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel.

1 Kings 12 verses

1 Kings 12 25 Meaning

Then King Jeroboam, having assumed rule over the northern ten tribes of Israel, began to solidify his newly formed kingdom by undertaking significant construction projects. He rebuilt and fortified Shechem, an ancient and historically pivotal city situated in the hill country of Ephraim, and established his residence there, effectively making it his initial capital or a primary administrative center. Following this, he extended his building efforts eastward by constructing and fortifying Penuel, a strategic city located across the Jordan River. These actions were practical steps taken by Jeroboam to consolidate his political power and establish secure administrative and military strongholds for his reign.

1 Kings 12 25 Context

The verse is situated in the immediate aftermath of the tragic split of the united kingdom of Israel. Following Solomon's death, his son Rehoboam ascended to the throne. His arrogance and refusal to ease the burdens on the northern tribes led to their secession, fulfilling an earlier prophecy that ten tribes would be given to Jeroboam (1 Kgs 11:29-39). With Jeroboam now crowned king over these ten tribes, his immediate challenge was to establish and consolidate his political authority separate from Jerusalem and the Davidic dynasty. This verse describes Jeroboam's practical, administrative steps towards this goal: building key cities to serve as administrative centers and strategic strongholds. This city-building initiative precedes, and is closely tied to, his greater sin of establishing alternative worship centers in Dan and Bethel (1 Kgs 12:26-33), motivated by a fear that continued pilgrimage to Jerusalem would erode his power and lead the people back to Rehoboam.

1 Kings 12 25 Word analysis

• Then Jeroboam: "Then" signifies a sequence of events, showing Jeroboam's active role as the newly designated king taking control. Jeroboam (Hebrew: יָרָבְעָם, Yarov'am) means "the people will contend" or "he causes the people to contend," which is ironic given the discord he would introduce. His actions here mark his first major policy as king.
• built: Hebrew: יִבֶן (yiben), from the root בָּנָה (banah). This word implies more than just construction; it often means to establish, fortify, restore, or rebuild. Here, it speaks of making something strong, firm, and perhaps a new seat of power or a significant defensive post. This was a kingly action to establish infrastructure and consolidate authority.
• Shechem: Hebrew: שְׁכֶם (Shekhem). An extremely ancient city with profound historical and spiritual significance. It was Abraham's first stop and altar site in Canaan (Gen 12:6-7), Jacob purchased land and built an altar there (Gen 33:18-20), and Joshua renewed the covenant for all Israel there (Josh 24). For Jeroboam, its selection was strategic: it was located centrally in the northern territories, had deep historical roots appealing to the northern tribes, and its existing importance made it a natural rival to Jerusalem.
• in the hill country of Ephraim: Hebrew: הַר אֶפְרַיִם (har Ephrayim). This refers to the central mountain range and the tribal territory of Ephraim. As Jeroboam himself was an Ephraimite, establishing his initial center within his own tribe's strongholds solidified his support base. The region provided a defensible location and was centrally located for the northern kingdom.
• and lived there: Hebrew: וַיֵּשֶׁב־שָׁם (vayyeshev-sham). This phrase denotes taking up permanent residence or making it a primary dwelling place. It signifies that Shechem was not just rebuilt, but was intended as a functional capital or royal city, providing stability and a visible center of authority for his nascent kingdom.
• And he went out from there: Hebrew: וַיֵּצֵא מִשָּׁם (vayyetse misham). This indicates a purposeful, planned movement or expedition from his base at Shechem. It suggests an extension of his administrative or military efforts across his dominion.
• and built Penuel: Hebrew: פְּנוּאֵל (Penu'el), meaning "Face of God." This city was located east of the Jordan River, in the territory of Gilead (associated with the tribes of Gad/Manasseh). It's renowned as the place where Jacob wrestled with God (Gen 32:22-31). Penuel was a strategically important stronghold that guarded the eastern frontier and critical trade routes across the Jordan. Its fortification highlights Jeroboam's concern for the security of his entire territory, not just the Transjordan region.

1 Kings 12 25 Bonus section

• The selection of Shechem and Penuel also held symbolic weight, indirectly challenging the singular status of Jerusalem as chosen by the LORD. By focusing on older, tribally significant sites, Jeroboam may have intended to harken back to a pre-Davidic Israelite identity, thereby diminishing the theological and historical centrality of Jerusalem and the Temple.
• Though Shechem was fortified, it did not remain the capital of the northern kingdom for long. Future Israelite kings would move their capital to Tirzah (1 Kgs 14:17; 15:21, 33) and eventually to Samaria (1 Kgs 16:23-24), indicating that Jeroboam's initial administrative choices might not have provided the lasting stability or optimal centralization he desired.
• The irony of building at Shechem, the place of covenant renewal with the one true God, and Penuel, the place where Jacob wrestled with God, to solidify a kingdom that would rapidly descend into idolatry highlights the perversion of sacred places for purely political and pragmatic ends.

1 Kings 12 25 Commentary

1 Kings 12:25 concisely illustrates King Jeroboam's immediate practical steps to consolidate his power and define the northern kingdom's new identity, separate from Judah. His choice of Shechem as an initial capital leveraged its deep historical and religious significance for the northern tribes, presenting it as a legitimate alternative center to Jerusalem. Shechem had a strong tribal resonance, associated with ancestral covenants and Joshua's renewal. The subsequent building of Penuel underscored his broader territorial concerns, ensuring security and control over the eastern regions. These building projects were a response to the geopolitical reality of a divided kingdom and a display of his kingship. However, these prudent administrative moves were primarily rooted in human fear and distrust rather than reliance on God's covenant promises (1 Kgs 11:38). They serve as the foundational physical infrastructure for his soon-to-be-revealed spiritual rebellion—the institution of calf worship at Dan and Bethel—which would ultimately define his reign as a kingdom of spiritual departure.