Jeroboam's legacy is defined by a profound and multi-layered rebellion against God. His heavy guilt is not viewed as a simple misstep, but rather as a complex web of wrongdoing. The severity of his actions unfolds in three distinct ways [מלבי״ם].
First, there is the personal dimension of his behavior, encompassing the actual sins he committed on his own. Second, his guilt extends far beyond his personal life. He bears the heavy responsibility of leading others astray and causing the entire nation of Israel to stumble into sin.
The third aspect deals with the underlying motive behind his actions. His wrongdoing was not the result of a mistake or a lack of knowledge. He knew God well, yet he made a conscious, deliberate choice to act maliciously. His primary intention was to openly rebel against God and provoke His anger [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].