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.
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.