The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about Jeroboam's sins; it highlights how patterns of sin, once established by leaders, can become deeply entrenched and then passed down through generations, making it incredibly hard for people to break free. It shows that imitation, even in something as serious as sin, can have devastatingly long-lasting consequences.
The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is reflecting on the northern kingdom of Israel's persistent rebellion against God, even after repeated warnings and prophetic calls to repentance. It explains that their downfall, leading to Assyrian exile, was a direct consequence of their continued idolatry and disobedience, mirroring the very sins of their first king, Jeroboam, which set a destructive precedent. This verse serves as a crucial explanation for the impending judgment described immediately after.
Why does the Bible point to one specific king's sins when describing the downfall of a whole nation? It wasn't just any sin; it was a deliberate act of rebellion against God's very nature.
The text highlights Jeroboam's sins as the template for Israel's later rebellion. What were these sins?
Idolatry at the Core
Jeroboam, after the kingdom split, feared the people would return to worship in Jerusalem. So, he set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, declaring, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt" (1 Kings 12:28).
This was a direct assault on God's command against idolatry and a distortion of true worship. He replaced God's appointed place and the true God with man-made objects and a false representation.
A Legacy of Disobedience
This wasn't a one-time mistake; it became a deeply ingrained pattern. The text says Israel "walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did" and "did not depart from them." This implies a continuous, willful adherence to this foundational act of defiance, becoming the norm for generations.
It’s one thing to stumble, but what happens when an entire generation inherits and perpetuates a specific rebellion? This verse shows sin isn't just personal; it can become cultural and national.
The phrase "walked in all the sins" suggests that Jeroboam's actions weren't isolated incidents but set a precedent that corrupted the entire nation's spiritual life.
Ask a follow-up
Normalizing Rebellion
When a society adopts the sins of its leaders or past generations as its own, it normalizes rebellion against God. The worship of the golden calves became the established religious practice, and deviation from it was no longer even considered.
A Closed Path to Return
"They did not depart from them" is a stark declaration of spiritual stagnation. It speaks of a hardened heart and a closed mind, unwilling to turn back to God. This lack of repentance sealed their fate, leading to the judgment described later in the chapter.
This verse highlights how the corrupt religious and political decisions made by the first king of the divided northern kingdom, Jeroboam, set a destructive pattern that plagued Israel for centuries, ultimately leading to their downfall and exile.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After King Solomon's death, the unified Kingdom of Israel split into two: the northern Kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern Kingdom of Judah (two tribes). Jeroboam became the first king of the northern kingdom.
c. 931-910 BC— this verse
Jeroboam's Sinful Reign
Jeroboam, fearing that the people would return to the house of David in Judah if they went to Jerusalem to worship, set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. He also established his own religious festivals and appointed non-Levites as priests, directly defying God's commands.
c. 848 BC
Ahab and Jezebel's Idolatry
King Ahab, influenced by his Phoenician wife Jezebel, heavily promoted the worship of Baal and Asherah in the northern kingdom, leading to widespread spiritual corruption and persecution of prophets.
c. 740 BC
Prophets Warn Israel
Prophets like Amos and Hosea condemned the northern kingdom's persistent idolatry, social injustice, and deviation from God's law, warning of impending judgment. Their messages highlight the ongoing cycle of sin Jeroboam initiated.
733-732 BC
Assyrian Campaigns Begin
Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria begins campaigning in the region, conquering parts of the northern kingdom and deporting some of its inhabitants. This marks the initial phase of Assyria's tightening grip.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and End of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire, under Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II, conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, destroying its capital Samaria and deporting the majority of the population into exile. This fulfilled the prophecies of judgment for their unfaithfulness.
This passage describes Jeroboam's sin of setting up golden calves and establishing a rival priesthood, which serves as the direct source of the 'sins' mentioned in 2 Kings 17:22.
Exodus 20:3-5This is the foundational command against idolatry and worshiping other gods, highlighting the profound disobedience of Israel and Jeroboam's actions which directly violated God's law.
Jeremiah 3:6-11Jeremiah uses the historical example of Israel's unfaithfulness, including their wandering after idols, to condemn Judah's even deeper spiritual adultery, showing the long-standing pattern of sin described in 2 Kings.
Psalm 106:34-39This psalm recounts Israel's repeated failures to drive out the nations and their tendency to adopt their detestable practices, directly mirroring the persistent, unrepentant sin that led to their downfall in 2 Kings 17.
This verse isn't just about Jeroboam's sins; it highlights how patterns of sin, once established by leaders, can become deeply entrenched and then passed down through generations, making it incredibly hard for people to break free. It shows that imitation, even in something as serious as sin, can have devastatingly long-lasting consequences.
This passage is reflecting on the northern kingdom of Israel's persistent rebellion against God, even after repeated warnings and prophetic calls to repentance. It explains that their downfall, leading to Assyrian exile, was a direct consequence of their continued idolatry and disobedience, mirroring the very sins of their first king, Jeroboam, which set a destructive precedent. This verse serves as a crucial explanation for the impending judgment described immediately after.
This passage is reflecting on the northern kingdom of Israel's persistent rebellion against God, even after repeated warnings and prophetic calls to repentance. It explains that their downfall, leading to Assyrian exile, was a direct consequence of their continued idolatry and disobedience, mirroring the very sins of their first king, Jeroboam, which set a destructive precedent. This verse serves as a crucial explanation for the impending judgment described immediately after.
"The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them," — This verse isn't just about Jeroboam's sins; it highlights how patterns of sin, once established by leaders, can become deeply entrenched and then passed down through generations, making it incredi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026