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.

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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

Jeroboam’s Rebellion

26 Then Solomon’s servant, (A)Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, (B)also (C)rebelled against the king.

27 And this is what caused him to rebel against the king: (D)Solomon had built the Millo and [a]repaired the damages to the City of David his father. 28 The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the young man was (E)industrious, made him the officer over all the labor force of the house of Joseph.

29 Now it happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet (F)Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two were alone in the field. 30 Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that was on him, and (G)tore it into twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for (H)thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you 32 (but he shall have one tribe for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 (I)because [b]they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David. 34 However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes. 35 But (J)I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and give it to you—ten tribes. 36 And to his son I will give one tribe, that (K)My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there. 37 So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then (L)I will be with you and (M)build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. 39 And I will afflict the descendants of David because of this, but not forever.’ ”

40 Solomon therefore sought to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled to Egypt, to (N)Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 11:27 Lit. closed up the breaches
  2. 1 Kings 11:33 So with MT, Tg.; LXX, Syr., Vg. he has