Calf worship

A heathen (notably Egyptian and Canaanite) practice, in which statues of bull calves were worshipped as symbols of fertility and physical strength. Contrary to the second commandment this was copied by the Israelites and by Jeroboam after the division of the kingdom, in both cases incurring God's wrath.

Aaron made a golden calf for the Israelites to worship

This act was born partly of impatience

Exodus 32:1–4 See also Exodus 32:7–8; Psalm 106:19–22; Acts 7:41

Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!” So Aaron told them, “Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” Then all the people took off their gold earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from their hands, and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”

It was swiftly condemned

Exodus 32:19–20 See also Exodus 32:35; Deuteronomy 9:16–21; Psalm 106:23

As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands, shattering them at the base of the mountain. Then he took the calf they had made, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the powder over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.

King Jeroboam initiated calf worship

As a matter of expediency

1 Kings 12:26–30 See also 2 Kings 17:15–16; 2 Chronicles 11:14–15, 2 Chronicles 13:8

Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom might revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, their hearts will return to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah; then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves.

Jeroboam's sin was one of the main reasons for the Assyrian captivity

2 Kings 17:18–28 See also Hosea 8:4–9, Hosea 10:5–6

Calf worship is detestable and useless

Deuteronomy 7:25; Isaiah 44:9–20, Isaiah 46:6–7; Romans 1:21–23