i8o The Legends of the Jews
dignity, when in reality they concerned themselves with his son.*
It was when Jeroboam was preparing to depart from Je- rusalem forever, in order to escape the dangers to which Solomon's displeasure exposed him,* that Ahijah of Shilo met him with the Divine tidings of his elevation to the king- ship. The prophet Ahijah, of the tribe of Levi, was venerable, not only by reason of his hoary age, — his birth occurred at least sixty years before the exodus from Egypt,4 — but be- cause his piety was so profound that a saint of the exalted standing of Simon ben Yohai associated Ahijah with him- self. Simon once exclaimed : " My merits and Ahijah's to- gether suffice to atone for the iniquity of all sinners from the time of Abraham until the advent of the Messiah." '
Jeroboam
Jeroboam was the true disciple* of this great prophet. His doctrine was as pure as the new garment Ahijah wore when he met Jeroboam near Jerusalem, and his learning exceeded that of all the scholars of his time except his own teacher Ahijah alone. The prophet was' in the habit of dis- cussing secret lore with Jeroboam and subjects in the Torah whose existence was wholly unknown to others.1
Had Jeroboam proved himself worthy of his high position, the length of his reign would have equalled David's.* It was his pride that led him into destruction. He set up the golden calves as objects to be worshipped by the people, in order to wean them from their habit of going on pilgrimages to Jeru- salem. He knew that in the Temple only members of the royal house of David were privileged to sit down, No ex-
