23. to give Rehoboam and everyone from Judah and Benjamin this warning:
24. “Don't go to war against the people from Israel—they are your relatives. Go home! I am the Lord, and I made these things happen.”Rehoboam and his army obeyed the Lord and went home.
25. Jeroboam rebuilt Shechem in Ephraim and made it a stronger town, then he moved there. He also fortified the town of Penuel.
26-27. One day, Jeroboam started thinking, “Everyone in Israel still goes to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord. What if they become loyal to David's family again? They will kill me and accept Rehoboam as their king.”
28. Jeroboam asked for advice and then made two gold statues of calves. He showed them to the people and said, “Listen everyone! You won't have to go to Jerusalem to worship any more. Here are your gods who rescued you from Egypt.”