The Lord through His messenger had spoken plainly to Jeroboam regarding the necessity of dividing the kingdom. This division must take place, He had declared, "because that they have forsaken Me, and have worshiped 88 Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways, to do that which is right in Mine eyes, and to keep My statutes and My judgments, as did David." Verse 33.

Herren sagde rent ud til Jeroboam ved sit sendebud, at det var nødvendigt at dele riget. Han begrundede det således: "Fordi han har forladt mig og tilbedt Astarte, zidoniernes gudinde, Kemosj, Moabs gud, og Milkom, ammonitternes gud, og ikke vandret på mine veje og gjort, hvad der er ret i mine øjne, eller holdt mine anordninger og lovbud som hans fader David." 1Kong. 11,33.