The king's bold defiance of God in thus setting aside divinely appointed institutions was not allowed to pass unrebuked. Even while he was officiating and burning incense during the dedication of the strange altar he had set up at Bethel, there appeared before him a man of God from the kingdom of Judah, sent to denounce him for presuming to introduce new forms of worship. The prophet "cried against the altar, . . . and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.

"Jeroboam lod fejre en fest på den femtende dag i den ottende måned i lighed med den fest, man havde i Juda; og han steg op på alteret, han havde ladet lave i Betel, for at ofre til de tyrekalve, han havde ladet lave; og han lod de præster, han havde indsat på højene, gøre tjeneste i Betel." 1Kong 12,32.