In the days of the rending of the kingdom, centuries before, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, in bold defiance of the God whom Israel had served, was endeavoring to turn the hearts of the people away from the services of the temple in Jerusalem to new forms of worship, he had set up an unconsecrated altar at Bethel. During the dedication of this altar, where many in years to come were to be seduced into idolatrous practices, there had suddenly appeared a man of God from Judea, with words of condemnation for the sacrilegious proceedings. He had "cried against the altar," declaring: 402

Ved rigets deling flere hundrede år tidligere søgte Nebats søn, Jeroboam, i åbent trods imod den Gud, som Israel havde tjent, at få folket til at holde op med at deltage i tempeltjenesten i Jerusalem og begynde at tjene fremmede guder. I sine bestræbelser herfor havde han bygget et afgudsalter i Betel. I de kommende år ville mange blive forledt til afgudsdyrkelse ved dette alter. Ved dets indvielse trådte der pludselig en Guds mand fra Judæa frem og fordømte den vanhellige ceremoni. Han råbte imod alteret og sagde: