Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Kings 12:32

32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month , like unto the feast that is in Judah , and he offered upon the altar, (so did he in Bethel) sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the highplaces which he had made.

Either, 1. A Feast of Dedication, like that which was in Iudah, at the Dedication of the Temple. Or rather, 2. The feast of Tabernacles, as may be thought, 1. because that began on the fifteenth day of the Month, Levit. 23. 34. 2. Because he is not blamed for devising the Feast (which thereby seems to have been of God's appointment) but onely for devising the month, ver. 33. for keeping Gods Feast, not in God's time, which was the 15th day of the Seventh Month, and so onward, Levit. 23. 34. But on the 15th day of the Eighth Month. And this alteration he made, either 1. To keep up the difference between his Subjects, and those of Iudah, as by the differing manners, so by the distinct times of their Worship. Or, 2. Lest he should seem directly to oppose the God of Israel, (who had in a special manner obliged all the People to go up to Ierusalem at that time, Deut. 16. 16.) by requiring their attendance to Celebrate the Feast elsewhere, at the same time. Or, 3. To engage as many Persons as possibly he could, to come to his Feast; which they would more willingly do when the Feast at Ierusalem was past, and all the Fruits of the Earth were most perfectly gathered in.

And so onward till the Seven days ended.

He took his Pattern thence, to shew, That he Worshipped the same God, and Professed the same Religion for substance, which they did; howsoever he differed in circumstances, as here he did in the time.

Either, 1. By his Priests. Or, rather 2. By his own hands; as appears from Chap. 13. 1, 4. which he did, to give the more countenance to his new-devised solemnity. Nor is this strange; for he might plausibly think, that he who by his own Authority had made others Priests, might much more exercise a part of that Office; at least, upon an extraordinary occasion; in which case, he knew David himself had done some things, which otherwise he might not do.

i. e. He himself did offer there in like manner, as he now had done at Dan.

For they were two, ver. 29.

As he had done at Dan. v. 31.

Marginal references: Or, was.; Or, went up to the Altar, &c.; Or, to Sacrifice.