26 Then (A)Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, (B)also [a]rebelled against the king. 27 Now this was the reason why he [b]rebelled against the king: (C)Solomon built the [c]Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of his father David. 28 Now the man Jeroboam was a valiant warrior, and when (D)Solomon saw that the young man was [d]industrious, he appointed him over all the [e]forced labor of the house of Joseph. 29 And it came about at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that (E)the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now [f]Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak; and both of them were alone in the field. 30 Then (F)Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘Behold, (G)I am going to tear the kingdom away from the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes 32 ((H)but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, (I)the city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel), 33 because they have abandoned Me, and (J)have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, (K)Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways, doing what is right in My sight and keeping My statutes and My ordinances, as his father David did. 34 Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of My servant David whom I chose, who kept My commandments and My statutes; 35 but (L)I will take the kingdom from his son’s hand and give it to you; that is, ten tribes. 36 But (M)to his son I will give one tribe, (N)so that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, (O)the city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name. 37 However I will take you, and you shall reign over all that [g]you desire, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 Then it shall be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by keeping My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then (P)I will be with you and (Q)build you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 39 So I will oppress the [h]descendants of David for this, but not always.’” 40 Solomon sought therefore to put Jeroboam to death; but Jeroboam set out and fled to Egypt to (R)Shishak king of Egypt, and he was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 11:26 Lit lifted up a hand
  2. 1 Kings 11:27 Lit lifted up a hand
  3. 1 Kings 11:27 I.e., terraced structure
  4. 1 Kings 11:28 Lit a performer of work
  5. 1 Kings 11:28 Lit burden of
  6. 1 Kings 11:29 Lit he
  7. 1 Kings 11:37 Lit your soul desires
  8. 1 Kings 11:39 Lit seed

Solomon and Jeroboam

26 Now Nebat’s son Jeroboam was an Ephraimite from Zeredah. His mother’s name was Zeruah; she was a widow. Although he was one of Solomon’s own officials, Jeroboam fought against the king. 27 This is the story of why Jeroboam fought against the king:

Solomon had built the stepped structure and repaired the broken wall in his father David’s City. 28 Now Jeroboam was a strong and honorable man. Solomon saw how well this youth did his work. So he appointed him over all the work gang of Joseph’s house.

29 At that time, when Jeroboam left Jerusalem, Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him along the way. Ahijah was wearing a new garment. The two of them were alone in the country. 30 Ahijah tore his new garment into twelve pieces. 31 He said to Jeroboam, “Take ten pieces, because Israel’s God, the Lord, has said, ‘Look, I am about to tear the kingdom from Solomon’s hand. I will give you ten tribes. 32 But I will leave him one tribe on account of my servant David and on account of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel. 33 I am doing this because they have abandoned me[a] and worshipped the Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They haven’t walked in my ways by doing what is right in my eyes—keeping my laws and judgments—as Solomon’s father David did. 34 But I won’t take the whole kingdom from his hand. I will keep him as ruler throughout his lifetime on account of my servant David, who did keep my commands and my laws. 35 I will take the kingdom from the hand of Solomon’s son, and I will give you ten tribes. 36 I will give his son a single tribe so that my servant David will always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city that I chose for myself to place my name. 37 But I will accept you, and you will rule over all that you could desire. You will be king of Israel. 38 If you listen to all that I command and walk in my ways, if you do what is right in my eyes, keeping my laws and my commands just as my servant David did, then I will be with you and I will build you a lasting dynasty just as I did for David. I will give you Israel. 39 I will humble David’s descendants by means of all this, though not forever.’”

40 Then Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam fled to Egypt and its king Shishak. Jeroboam remained in Egypt until Solomon died.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 11:33 LXX, Syr, Vulg he has abandoned me