History repeats itself

History repeats itself. Israel took up Sheba’s rebellious cry (2 Sam. 20:1), forsook David, and commenced the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel. The tribe of Levi, which had stood by Moses when Aaron set up the calf, now forsook their homes for the sake of their religion, and came to Jerusalem. They would not serve the calf, so Jeroboam cast them out (2 Chron. 11:13–17). The calves were, in all probability, imitations of Apis, the Egyptian sacred bull. The ten tribes commenced their kingdom in bloodshed, and ended it in shame. They stoned Adoram (a shorter form of Adouiram), broke the second commandment and Deut. 12:5–11. All the worshippers were required to kiss the calves (Hos. 13:2; 1 Kings 19:18; see also Job 31:26–28). Cicero speaks of a bronze image of Hercules at Agrigentium, in Sicily, the mouth and chin of which were a little worn away with kissing. In the Mamertine prison at Rome is a brazen statue of Jesus nailed to the cross; the face is entirely worn away by the kisses of the people—calf, statue, crucifix alike. Beware of idolatry. There is nothing new under the sun. Old superstitions are revived just as old fashions are: the idol at Dan (Judges 18:30, 31) explains this; one at Bethel, for the king and court (Amos 7:13). Which was now the kingdom of God upon earth? Clearly the two tribes, so long as God did not cast them off. Bethel the house of God, now became Bethaven the house of shame. Jeroboam made priests from the people, and appointed a feast in imitation of the feast of Tabernacles but one month later. He altered the ordinances of the Lord. Now there was a new kingdom, a new king, new priests, new gods, a new feast, and new temples.

1903 Christadelphian p 144