The form of the Hebrew verb rendered took counsel sometimes means “to take counsel together [with someone else]” as, for example, in verse 6. Assuming that the verb has the same meaning here, International Children’s Bible says “asked his men for advice.” New Living Translation has “on the advice of his counselors,” and Contemporary English Version says “asked for advice.” In this occurrence, however, it could well mean “to take counsel with oneself.” This is the basis for the Good News Translation translation “thinking it over.”
The calves of gold are elsewhere called “molten images” (1 Kgs 14.9; 2 Kgs 17.16), which suggests that they were made by pouring liquid metal into molds. Some scholars, however, think that they were most likely wooden statues covered with gold leaf. The function of these calves is also debated. Some scholars think that the statues were originally considered to be pedestals on which God stood invisibly, similar to the way that the storm god Hadad is shown as standing on the back of a bull in several ancient Near Eastern images. Other scholars think that the calves themselves were understood to be gods or symbols of gods that were to be worshiped. Whatever Jeroboam’s intention may have been, the writer of 1–2 Kings certainly considered these calves to be divine images (1 Kgs 14.9; 2 Kgs 17.16). Since the Hebrew word for calves is masculine, Good News Translation translates “bull-calves.” In languages that have different terms for the two sexes of young cattle, the masculine form should be used here.
He said to the people is literally “he said to them,” which means of course that the king spoke to the people and not to the golden calves. The Septuagint and the Vulgate read “to the people,” which correctly expresses the meaning. Good News Translation again makes clear that the reference is to the people of the northern kingdom by saying “said to his people.”
You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough: The people had been going to Jerusalem to the Temple there to offer sacrifices. The reason for going to Jerusalem may be made explicit. Compare “You no longer need to go to the Temple in Jerusalem” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), “You have been going long enough to Jerusalem to worship” (Good News Translation), and “Enough of these pilgrimages to Jerusalem!” (La Bible du Semeur).
Behold your gods: This is very similar to the words of Aaron in Exo 32.4. Here the Hebrew word rendered Behold is the same focusing particle thus translated in other contexts. In this context, however, it is better translated “Look at,” “See” or “Here are…” (New Revised Standard Version and many others), since Jeroboam is presenting the newly made gods to the people. The translation gods (in plural form) is not universally accepted since the same word is elsewhere translated as a singular. Here New American Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate using the singular as follows: “Here is your God.” Bible en français courant is similar and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses the word “god” in singular form but without a capital letter. But since the following Hebrew verb rendered brought … up is plural, the plural gods is probably the intended meaning here.
O Israel: The interjection O is an addition of Revised Standard Version. It is used in archaic English to capture the attention of a person or persons being addressed directly. In many languages different devices are used to perform the same function. Some will say “you Israelites” and others simply “people of Israel.” This element may also take a different position in the sentence in some languages—often at the very beginning.
Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt: While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets with the commandments, Aaron made a gold bull-calf, which the people worshiped, calling it the god who had led them out of Egypt (Exo 32.4). In this common Old Testament expression, brought you up out has the same meaning as “brought you out” (Deut 8.14). Here the reference to upward movement probably suggests going from the lowlands of Egypt to the highlands of Israel.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .