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ception would be made in favor of Jeroboam, and so he would have had to stand while Rehoboam would be seated. Rather than appear in public as the subordinate of the Ju- dean king, he introduced the worship of idols, which secured him full royal prerogatives.
In the execution of his plan he proceeded with great cun- ning, and his reputation as a profound scholar and pious saint stood him in good stead. This was his method: He seated an impious man next to a pious man, and then said to each couple : " Will you put your signature to anything I intend to do ? " The two would give an affirmative answer. " Do you want me as king ? " he would then ask, only to receive an affirmative answer again. " And you will do whatever I order ? " he continued. " Yes," was the reply. " I am to infer, then, that you will even pay worship to idols if I command it ? " said Jeroboam. " God forbid ! " the pious member of the couple would exclaim, whereupon his im- pious companion, who was in league with the king, would turn upon him : " Canst thou really suppose for an instant that a man like Jeroboam would serve idols? He only wishes to put our loyalty to the test." Through such machi- nations he succeeded in obtaining the signatures of the most pious, even the signature of the prophet Ahijah. Now Jero- boam had the people in his power. He could exact the vilest deeds from them.*
So entrenched, Jeroboam brought about the division be- tween Judah and Israel, a consummation which his father, Sheba the son of Bichri, had not been able to compass under David, because God desired to have the Temple erected be- fore the split occurred.10 Not yet satisfied, Jeroboam sought
