1 Kings 11:26 kjv
And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
1 Kings 11:26 nkjv
Then Solomon's servant, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also rebelled against the king.
1 Kings 11:26 niv
Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon's officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.
1 Kings 11:26 esv
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king.
1 Kings 11:26 nlt
Another rebel leader was Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon's own officials. He came from the town of Zeredah in Ephraim, and his mother was Zeruah, a widow.
1 Kings 11 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Kgs 11:9-13 | "The LORD was angry with Solomon...for not keeping...covenant...he would tear the kingdom from him..." | God's anger and decree of judgment against Solomon due to idolatry. |
| 1 Kgs 11:14 | "And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad..." | God's active role in raising adversaries against Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 11:23 | "And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon..." | God's sovereignty in orchestrating events and adversaries. |
| 1 Kgs 11:28 | "And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious..." | Jeroboam's initial character and position under Solomon. |
| 1 Kgs 11:29-31 | "when Jeroboam went out...the prophet Ahijah...rent it in twelve pieces...Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD..." | Ahijah's prophecy to Jeroboam, promising him ten tribes. |
| 1 Kgs 11:32-35 | "...one tribe shall be to him for my servant David's sake...because they have forsaken me..." | God's reasoning for giving Jeroboam ten tribes while retaining Judah for David's line. |
| 1 Kgs 11:36 | "And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem..." | Promise to maintain a lamp for David in Jerusalem despite judgment. |
| 1 Kgs 11:38 | "if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee...I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house..." | Conditional promise of a lasting dynasty to Jeroboam. |
| 1 Kgs 11:40 | "Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt..." | Solomon's response to Jeroboam's rebellion and prophecy. |
| 1 Kgs 12:1-20 | Details of Rehoboam's oppressive rule and the tribes' rebellion leading to Jeroboam's kingship. | Fulfillment of the prophecy as Jeroboam becomes king of Israel. |
| 1 Kgs 12:28-33 | "Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them...Behold thy gods, O Israel..." | Jeroboam's sin of establishing idolatrous worship centers. |
| 1 Kgs 13:33-34 | "After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way...and this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam..." | The perpetuation of Jeroboam's sin and its consequences. |
| 1 Kgs 14:16 | "And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin." | Jeroboam's lasting negative legacy on Israel. |
| 2 Kgs 17:21-23 | "For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king...until the LORD removed Israel..." | Summarizing the division and its consequences for Israel. |
| Deut 17:16-17 | "But he shall not multiply horses...neither shall he multiply wives...nor greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." | Solomon's transgressions against Mosaic Law, leading to God's judgment. |
| 2 Sam 7:15-16 | "But my mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul...And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established..." | God's enduring covenant with David, even amidst judgment. |
| Ps 89:30-37 | "...If his children forsake my law...Then will I visit their transgression with the rod...Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not take from him..." | Affirmation of the conditional and unconditional aspects of the Davidic covenant. |
| Isa 7:13-14 | "...The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son..." | Echoes of God's enduring commitment to the Davidic line, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. |
| Lk 1:32-33 | "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David..." | Prophecy of Jesus fulfilling the Davidic covenant, ensuring an everlasting kingdom. |
| Rom 13:1-2 | "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers...whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God..." | General principle of submitting to authority, but this context involves divine judgment raising up an adversary. |
| Judg 9:22-23 | "When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem..." | God's role in causing strife and conflict as judgment. |
| Hos 10:1-2 | "Israel is an empty vine...their heart is divided..." | Reflects the spiritual decline and division stemming from Jeroboam's actions. |
1 Kings 11 verses
1 Kings 11 26 Meaning
This verse introduces Jeroboam, a significant figure in Solomon's administration, identifying his lineage and background before stating that he rebelled against King Solomon. It sets the stage for the dramatic division of the Israelite kingdom following Solomon's reign, marking the beginning of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
1 Kings 11 26 Context
1 Kings chapter 11 details King Solomon's great apostasy, where despite his unparalleled wisdom and blessings from God, he turned away to worship foreign gods due to the influence of his numerous foreign wives. This act of disobedience ignited God's anger. As a consequence, God declared that He would tear the kingdom from Solomon's hand, leaving only one tribe (Judah) for David's sake and for Jerusalem's sake. The chapter then lists the adversaries God raised up against Solomon, beginning with Hadad the Edomite and Rezon of Damascus. Jeroboam is introduced as the third and most significant adversary, the instrument through whom God's judgment would be primarily executed, leading to the division of the united kingdom of Israel. Historically, Solomon's lavish building projects and excessive taxation, alongside his spiritual decline, created discontent, especially in the northern tribes who were accustomed to greater tribal autonomy. Jeroboam, overseeing forced labor, would have been acutely aware of this discontent and the strain on the people.
1 Kings 11 26 Word analysis
- And Jeroboam: Introduces a key figure, previously loyal to Solomon. His full identity is given to underscore his status and role.
- the son of Nebat: Standard biblical identification, marking his lineage.
- an Ephrathite: Points to his tribal affiliation with Ephraim, a major northern tribe. Ephraim was the dominant tribe within the "house of Joseph" (1 Kgs 11:28), which held significant influence in the north. This detail hints at his future role as leader of the Northern Kingdom.
- of Zeredah: His specific hometown, possibly in the Jordan Valley or central highlands, anchoring his origin.
- Solomon's servant: This is a crucial detail. The Hebrew word is 'ebed (עֶבֶד), which can mean servant, slave, or even high-ranking official. 1 Kings 11:28 specifies he was "over all the labour of the house of Joseph," indicating a position of significant administrative power and trust. His rebellion is thus a profound act from within the inner circle.
- whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow: Provides specific genealogical detail. Mentioning his mother and her status as a widow might suggest humble origins or add a note of pathos or human interest. It could also emphasize God's choice of an seemingly unlikely individual, reflecting His sovereign working.
- even he lifted up his hand against the king: The core action. "Lifted up his hand" (nasa' yad, נָשָׂא יָד) is a common Hebrew idiom for rebellion, an active, aggressive act of defiance, not just passive resistance or grumbling. This implies active plotting or overt resistance against Solomon's rule, preceding the eventual split.
- "Jeroboam...Solomon's servant...lifted up his hand": This grouping highlights the profound irony and betrayal. A trusted official, intimately familiar with the kingdom's operations and potentially its weaknesses, actively revolted. This elevates the internal threat and divine judgment over external adversaries.
- "An Ephrathite...lifted up his hand against the king": Connects his tribal identity with his rebellious act, foreshadowing the future division where Ephraim (through Jeroboam) becomes the head of the breakaway northern kingdom.
1 Kings 11 26 Bonus section
Jeroboam's leadership skills and competence are noted in 1 Kings 11:28, describing him as "a mighty man of valor" and "industrious." This human capability was used by God to bring about His judgment. Following this verse, in 1 Kings 11:29-39, the prophet Ahijah met Jeroboam and explicitly prophesied that God would give him ten tribes of Israel, torn from Solomon's kingdom, serving as divine legitimation for Jeroboam's future rebellion. This divine confirmation intensified Solomon's reaction, causing him to seek Jeroboam's life (1 Kgs 11:40), leading Jeroboam to flee to Egypt until Solomon's death. This background clarifies that Jeroboam's rebellion was not a purely human initiative, but deeply intertwined with God's sovereign plan to judge Solomon's unfaithfulness. Jeroboam's actions ultimately established a pattern of idolatry in the Northern Kingdom, which the biblical writers frequently referred to as "the sin of Jeroboam, which he sinned, and which he made Israel to sin" (1 Kgs 14:16).
1 Kings 11 26 Commentary
This verse precisely introduces Jeroboam, not as a peripheral figure, but as a trusted servant of King Solomon who ultimately rebelled against him. His detailed background—lineage, hometown, and especially his high position within Solomon's administration overseeing the forced labor of the powerful "house of Joseph"—underscores the depth of this internal conflict. The rebellion was not merely a political uprising; it was an divinely ordained event. God, provoked by Solomon's profound apostasy, specifically raised up Jeroboam as the primary instrument for tearing the kingdom, while simultaneously honoring the Davidic covenant by leaving one tribe for Solomon's heir. Jeroboam's act of "lifting up his hand" signified not just discontent but a direct, active move towards seizing power, catalyzed by both the people's weariness under Solomon's heavy hand and divine appointment through the prophet Ahijah. This pivotal verse marks the shift from internal dissent to open, prophesied rebellion, setting the stage for the dramatic and enduring division of the unified kingdom.