The fact that Jeroboam successfully managed a revolution but failed to establish a dynasty shows that his strength lay in the power of his personality more than in the soundness of his principles. The steps of the campaign by which this was accomplished are unknown to us. The northern tribes, having rejected the house of David, now turned to the leader, and perhaps instigator of the revolution. Jeroboam's policy might have been considered as a clever political move, had it not contained the dangerous ppeal to the lower instincts of the masses, that led them into the immoralities of heathenism and hastened the destruction of the nation. (B.C. He therefore resolved to establish national sanctuaries in Israel. Now occurred the fatal error of his policy. (, Jeroboam II., the son of Joash, the fourth of the dynasty of Jehu. 975-954, was the son of an Ephraimite of the name of Nebat. (Amos 7:9). Amos, about the same time, received a commission to go to Bethel and testify against the whole proceedings there. Hamath was taken, and thus were restored the eastern boundaries of the kingdom, as they were in the time of David (1 Chronicles 13:5). It is also indicated that the relief which had now come was the only alternative to the utter extinction of Israel. Later he fortified Penuel in the East Jordan country. On hearing his denunciation, made probably as he stood beside the altar, Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent a messenger to the king at Samaria, to tell him of the "conspiracy" of Amos, and that the land was not able to bear all his words. 975-954, was the son of an Ephraimite of the name of Nebat. According to 1 Kings 14:17, Tirzah was the capital during the latter part of his reign. A case in which a man was sold into slavery for the price of a pair of shoes seems to have come to the prophet's knowledge, and is twice referred to by him (Amos 2:6; 8:6). Thus, the great work of David for a united kingdom was shattered by inferiors, who put personal ambitions above great ideals. The fact that the latter term may stand for the whole of the ten tribes (compare Amos 5:6; 6:6; Obadiah 1:18) indicates the importance of the position, which, however, he used to plot against the king. From the time of Joshua "the entrance of Hamath" (Joshua 13:5), a narrow pass leading into the valley of the Lebanons, had been the accepted northern boundary of the promised land. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". The name Jeroboam יָרָבְעָם‎ is commonly held to have been derived from riyb רִיב‎ and ʿam עַם‎, signifying "the people contend" or "he pleads the people's cause". increase of the people. Syria being weakened, Jeroboam determined on a bold attempt to conquer and annex the whole kingdom of which Damascus was the capital.