If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
If these people go up to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices in the LORD's temple, then their hearts will turn back to their master, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to serve Rehoboam king of Judah.
Jeroboam is worried that if his people keep worshiping in Jerusalem, they'll abandon him and go back to serving the southern kingdom's king instead.
📚 Historical Context
This is Jeroboam speaking after Israel split into two kingdoms following Solomon's death. As the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, he feared that his people's continued worship at the Jerusalem temple (in the southern kingdom of Judah) would undermine his authority. The temple in Jerusalem was still the central place of worship for all Israelites, creating a political problem for the newly divided nation.
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