1 Kings 11:28 kjv
And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
1 Kings 11:28 nkjv
The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the young man was industrious, made him the officer over all the labor force of the house of Joseph.
1 Kings 11:28 niv
Now Jeroboam was a man of standing, and when Solomon saw how well the young man did his work, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the tribes of Joseph.
1 Kings 11:28 esv
The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph.
1 Kings 11:28 nlt
Jeroboam was a very capable young man, and when Solomon saw how industrious he was, he put him in charge of the labor force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph.
1 Kings 11 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Ki 11:26 | Now Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite...was Solomon’s servant... | Introduces Jeroboam. |
| 1 Ki 11:29-39 | ...the prophet Ahijah met him...saying, "Thus says the Lord...I will tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon...and give ten tribes to you." | Prophecy of Jeroboam's kingship. |
| 1 Ki 12:4 | "Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore lighten the burdensome service...and we will serve you." | Complaint about Solomon's heavy labor, setting stage for Jeroboam. |
| 1 Ki 12:20 | ...there was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. | Jeroboam made king over Israel. |
| 1 Ki 5:13-18 | King Solomon raised a levy of forced labor...and the levy was thirty thousand men. | Context of Solomon's extensive labor force. |
| 1 Ki 9:15-22 | As for all the people who were left of the Amorites...Solomon made them forced laborers...But of the children of Israel Solomon made no forced laborers... | Initial distinction, later blurred or strained. |
| 2 Chr 10:4 | "Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore lighten the burdensome service..." | Echoes the labor grievances against Rehoboam. |
| Gen 41:41-43 | Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." | Example of capable man elevated to authority. |
| Prov 22:29 | Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men. | Reflects Jeroboam's merit leading to promotion. |
| Ru 2:1 | Now Naomi had a relative...a mighty man of wealth. | Example of "mighty man of valor/strength/wealth." |
| 1 Sam 16:18 | ...I have seen a son of Jesse...skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech... | David as a multi-talented "man of valor." |
| Ex 1:11-14 | They set taskmasters over them to afflict them with burdens. | Historical context of forced labor, burden. |
| Deut 28:43 | "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you..." | God's hand in raising up figures. |
| Is 45:1 | "Thus says the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held..." | God uses specific individuals for His purposes. |
| Jer 27:6 | "Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, My servant..." | God orchestrating the rise and fall of leaders. |
| Rom 13:1 | For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. | Divine establishment of earthly authority. |
| Dan 2:21 | He removes kings and raises up kings. | God's sovereignty over leadership and nations. |
| Gen 48:19 | "...but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." | Prophecy elevating Ephraim (House of Joseph). |
| Psa 78:67 | Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, | Later divine judgment against northern kingdom. |
| Amos 5:6 | Seek the Lord and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph... | Prophetic address to the northern kingdom. |
| 2 Sam 20:1 | "We have no portion in David, nor any inheritance in the son of Jesse! Every man to his tents, O Israel!" | Foreshadows the division's rallying cry. |
| Josh 17:14-18 | The children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given us only one lot and one share for an inheritance, since we are a numerous people?" | Joseph's tribes' long-standing desire for prominence/land. |
1 Kings 11 verses
1 Kings 11 28 Meaning
The verse introduces Jeroboam as a capable and diligent individual, recognized by King Solomon for his strengths. Solomon, observing Jeroboam's exceptional performance, appointed him to a significant supervisory role over the "labor force of the house of Joseph," which represented the powerful northern tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. This promotion positioned Jeroboam directly over a segment of the population that would later form the core of his rebellion, signifying his emergence as a prominent figure and the beginnings of a divine setup for the kingdom's future division.
1 Kings 11 28 Context
This verse appears at a critical juncture in Solomon's reign, detailing the spiritual and political decline following his peak. Chapter 11 recounts Solomon's fall into idolatry due to his foreign wives, which incurred God's wrath and led to God's promise to tear the kingdom from his son (1 Ki 11:1-13). As a consequence, God began to raise adversaries against Solomon (1 Ki 11:14-25). Jeroboam is introduced here as the primary internal adversary. His promotion directly over the large and influential "house of Joseph" (representing Ephraim and Manasseh, key northern tribes) is significant. These tribes had historical aspirations for leadership (dating back to Jacob's blessing of Ephraim) and were particularly burdened by Solomon's extensive building projects which relied heavily on forced labor, despite initial promises of using only non-Israelites (1 Ki 9:20-22). Solomon’s decision here reveals his pragmatism in identifying talent, yet ironically sets the stage for the instrument of God’s judgment against his house.
1 Kings 11 28 Word analysis
- Now the man Jeroboam: Introduces a new, pivotal character; "man" (אִישׁ, 'ish) here denotes him as an individual of note.
- was a mighty man of valor: (גִּבּוֹר חַיִל, gibbor chayil). This phrase denotes exceptional strength, capability, and influence. It can imply military prowess (as for David in 1 Sam 16:18), but also economic substance or general competence (as for Boaz in Ru 2:1). Here, it emphasizes Jeroboam's inherent competence and ability, not necessarily military, but in the realm of practical leadership and execution.
- and Solomon, seeing that he was a hard-working young man: Solomon’s recognition of talent. "Hard-working" (עֹשֵׂה מְלָאכָה, oseh mela'khah) literally "one doing work" or "one performing business/task," signifying diligence, efficiency, and effectiveness in his duties. "Young man" (נַעַר, na'ar) implies someone in their prime, full of vigor and potential, not necessarily a youth but someone robust and energetic.
- appointed him: (וַיַּפְקֵד אֹתוֹ, vayyafked oto) literally "and he put him in charge/made him overseer." This denotes a formal delegation of significant administrative authority. Solomon saw him fit to delegate important responsibilities to.
- over all the labor force: (סֵבֶל, sevel) literally "burden" or "forced labor." This refers to the onerous work imposed on subjects, often referring to conscripted or communal labor for building projects. Jeroboam was placed in a position directly overseeing the most challenging and potentially discontent aspect of Solomon’s governance for the northern tribes.
- of the house of Joseph: Refers to the descendants of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who primarily occupied central Israel and were among the most numerous and influential northern tribes. Placing Jeroboam, an Ephraimite himself, over these specific tribes' labor implies an attempt by Solomon to perhaps leverage tribal affinity for control, yet it simultaneously gave Jeroboam significant influence and access to the very people who would feel most oppressed and respond to his eventual rebellion. This segment of the population felt the weight of Solomon's levies most acutely.
1 Kings 11 28 Bonus section
The phrase "mighty man of valor" (gibbor chayil) when applied to Jeroboam emphasizes his personal strengths and capabilities, setting him apart as a leader with potential beyond merely performing duties. His direct supervision over the "house of Joseph" highlights a recurring tension between the northern tribes (represented by Joseph/Ephraim) and the southern tribe of Judah (from which David and Solomon hailed). This historical tribal rivalry, though sometimes subdued, consistently bubbled beneath the surface of Israelite politics, making Jeroboam’s position over the grievances of the northern tribes particularly strategic. Solomon's choice reveals a leader who was still, at least to some degree, aware of and attempting to manage the internal dynamics of his kingdom, but failed to address the root spiritual issues that were dismantling his reign.
1 Kings 11 28 Commentary
This verse is profoundly significant, acting as a crucial turning point in the narrative of the divided kingdom. It paints a vivid picture of Jeroboam's character—not merely as a rebellious figure but as a capable and meritorious individual. Solomon, despite his spiritual decline, still possessed administrative acumen to discern and promote talent. Jeroboam's rise was due to his diligent work and strong character ("mighty man of valor"). This sets up a paradox: Solomon wisely appointed a competent man, yet this very appointment inadvertently placed him in a position to lead the very people most aggrieved by Solomon's excesses.
By being put in charge of the "labor force" (sevel, meaning 'burden' or 'forced labor') of the "house of Joseph," Jeroboam gained intimate knowledge of the disgruntlement of the powerful northern tribes, who were heavily taxed and burdened by Solomon’s grandiose building projects. His oversight of their compelled work created both recognition among them and a fertile ground for dissent, culminating in his receiving the prophetic word that solidified his role as the chosen one to lead the revolt and become the king of the northern kingdom of Israel. This was part of God's sovereign plan, bringing judgment upon Solomon's house while simultaneously utilizing human ambition and grievances as instruments. The verse thus subtly illustrates God's sovereignty working through human agency, setting the stage for one of the most consequential events in Israelite history.