10th Century BC
The division of the United Monarchy into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah had recently occurred. Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom, and he established alternative worship centers to prevent his people from going to Jerusalem.
The kingdom of Israel was newly established under Jeroboam, who sought to consolidate his rule by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan as alternative worship sites to Jerusalem.
Bethel, a significant religious site in the northern kingdom of Israel, where Jeroboam set up one of the golden calves.
The religious practices were in flux due to the recent division of the kingdom. Jeroboam's establishment of new worship centers was a direct challenge to the centralization of worship in Jerusalem, which was the norm under the Davidic dynasty.
Jeroboam
The Man of God from Judah