30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other.
30 Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one.
30 This was blatant sin. Think of it - people traveling all the way to Dan to worship a calf!
30 Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.
30 But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.
34 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.
34 This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.
34 And this thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.
34 This was the root sin of Jeroboam's government. And it was this that ruined him.
34 And this thing was the sin of the house of Jeroboam, so as to exterminate and destroy it from the face of the earth.
34 This became a great sin and resulted in the utter destruction of Jeroboam's dynasty from the face of the earth.
(Read 1 Kings 13:23-34)
God is displeased at the sins of his own people; and no man shall be protected in disobedience, by his office, his nearness to God, or any services he has done for him. God warns all whom he employs, strictly to observe their orders. We cannot judge of men by their sufferings, nor of sins by present punishments; with some, the flesh is destroyed, that the spirit may be saved; with others, the flesh is pampered, that the soul may ripen for hell. Jeroboam returned not from his evil way. He promised himself that the calves would secure the crown to his family, but they lost it, and sunk his family. Those betray themselves who think to support themselves by any sin whatever. Let us dread prospering in sinful ways; pray to be kept from every delusion and temptation, and to be enabled to walk with self-denying perseverance in the way of God's commands.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 12:30
Commentary on 1 Kings 12:25-33
(Read 1 Kings 12:25-33)
Jeroboam distrusted the providence of God; he would contrive ways and means, and sinful ones too, for his own safety. A practical disbelief of God's all-sufficiency is at the bottom of all our departures from him. Though it is probable he meant his worship for Jehovah the God of Israel, it was contrary to the Divine law, and dishonourable to the Divine majesty to be thus represented. The people might be less shocked at worshipping the God of Israel under an image, than if they had at once been asked to worship Baal; but it made way for that idolatry. Blessed Lord, give us grace to reverence thy temple, thine ordinances, thine house of prayer, thy sabbaths, and never more, like Jeroboam, to set up in our hearts any idol of abomination. Be thou to us every thing precious; do thou reign and rule in our hearts, the hope of glory.