Which statement about Jeroboam's idolatry is true?

• A. He promoted peace with foreign nations
• B. He kept worship centralized in Jerusalem
• C. He set up golden calves and led the people to idolatry
• D. He strengthened temple worship

Answer: (C)

Understanding Jeroboam’s idolatry means seeing how he replaced true worship with idols to secure his rule. He responded to the risk that the northern tribes might return to Jerusalem and align with the king in the south by establishing worship centers outside the temple in Jerusalem. To make this workable, he set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan and encouraged the people to worship there rather than going to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. This act directly promotes idol worship, which is the essence of idolatry, rather than honoring God as prescribed. It also shows a deliberate departure from centralized temple worship. The other ideas don’t fit: the actions describe initiating deliberate idol worship, not promoting peace with foreign nations, not keeping worship centralized in Jerusalem, and not strengthening temple worship. So the statement about setting up golden calves and leading the people into idolatry captures what Jeroboam actually did and why it mattered.