Jeroboam

How Nave’s arranged it

• 1. First king of Israel after the revolt
• Promoted by Solomon1 Kings 11:28
• Ahijah's prophecy concerning1 Kings 11:29–391 Kings 14:5–16
• Flees to Egypt to escape from Solomon1 Kings 11:26–40
• Recalled from Egypt by the ten tribes on account of disaffection toward Rehoboam, and made king1 Kings 12:1–202 Chronicles 10:12–19
• Subverts the religion of Moses1 Kings 12:25–331 Kings 13:331 Kings 13:341 Kings 14:91 Kings 14:161 Kings 16:21 Kings 16:261 Kings 16:312 Chronicles 11:142 Chronicles 13:82 Chronicles 13:9
• Hand of, paralyzed1 Kings 13:1–10
• His wife sent to consult the prophet Ahijah concerning her child1 Kings 14:1–18
• His wars with Rehoboam1 Kings 14:191 Kings 14:301 Kings 15:62 Chronicles 11:1–4
• His war with Abijah1 Kings 15:72 Chronicles 13
• Death of1 Kings 14:202 Chronicles 13:20
• 2. King of Israel

The passages, in Bible order (34)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. 1 Kings 11:26–40

   Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon, but he rebelled against the king,

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 11:26–402 voices

   “And Jeroboam the son of Nebat,.... According to some Jewish writers (r), this was Sheba the son of Bichri; but, as Kimchi observes, he was of the tribe of Benjamin, this of Ephraim; and besides, his head was cut off, and thrown over the wall to Joab, 2Sa 20:1, an Ephrathite of Zereda; some where in the tribe of Ephraim, but nowhere else mentioned.

   “Jeroboam the son of Nebat - From the context we learn that Jeroboam while a young man was employed by Solomon to superintend the improvements and buildings at Millo, and had so distinguished himself there by his industry and good conduct as to attract general notice, and to induce Solomon to set him over all the laborers employed in that work, belonging to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, called here the house of Joseph.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 11:26–40→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. 1 Kings 11:28

   Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 11:282 voices

   “And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour,.... A man of great strength of body, and fortitude of mind: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious; in what he was set about in the above buildings and repairs: he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph; the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, to be a prince or a deputy governor of them; or rather to collect the king's tax from them, or the revenues of that part of the country, see Pro 22:29.

   “A mighty man of valor - Here “a man of strength and activity.” It is a vague term of commendation, the exact force of which must be fixed by the context. See Rth 2:1; 1Sa 9:1, etc. Solomon made Jeroboam superintendent of all the forced labor (“the charge”) exacted from his tribe - the tribe of Ephraim - during the time that he was building Millo and fortifying the city of Jerusalem 1Ki 9:15.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 11:28→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. 1 Kings 11:29–39

   During that time, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met Jeroboam on the road as he was going out of Jerusalem. Now Ahijah had wrapped himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the open field.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 11:29–392 voices

   “Were alone - Having gone aside for private conference; for otherwise it is most likely that he had servants attending him, who, though they hear not the words, yet might see the action, and the rending of Jeroboam's coat; and thus it came to Solomon's ears, who being so wise, could easily understand the thing by what he heard of the action, especially when a prophet did it.

   “And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem,....

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 11:29–39→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. 1 Kings 12:1–20

   Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone there to make him king.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 12:1–202 voices

   “And Rehoboam went to Shechem,....

   “The first step taken by the new king was a most judicious one. If anything could have removed the disaffection of the Ephraimites, and caused them to submit to the ascendancy of Judah, it would have been the honor done to their capital by its selection as the scene of the coronation. Shechem (now Nablous) lay on the flank of Mount Gerizim, directly opposite to Mount Ebal, in a position second to none in all Palestine.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 12:1–20→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. 1 Kings 12:25–33

   Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And from there he went out and built Penuel.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 12:25–332 voices

   “It was rebuilt, and perhaps fortified, by Jeroboam, as a royal residence. built Penuel--a ruined city with a tower (Jud 8:9), east of Jordan, on the north bank of the Jabbok. It was an object of importance to restore this fortress (as it lay on the caravan road from Gilead to Damascus and Palmyra) and to secure his frontier on that quarter.

   “We have learned in the books of Kings that under Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, Jeroboam, the son of Nabat, made a division among the people and led ten tribes into Samaria. The tribes of Judah and Benjamin, however, remained under the rule of Rehoboam; and many likewise from the tribe of Levi who were dwelling in Jerusalem as priests and Levites—as it is written in Paralipomenon—returned to the temple of God, that is, to Jerusalem.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 12:25–33→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. 1 Kings 13:1–10

   Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 13:1–102 voices

   “And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah,....

   “Rather, “in the word of the Lord.” The meaning seems to be, not merely that the prophet was bid to come, but that he came in the strength and power of God’s word, a divinely inspired messenger. (Compare 1Ki 13:2, 1Ki 13:5,1Ki 13:32.) By the altar - “On the altar;” i, e. on the ledge, or platform, halfway up the altar, whereupon the officiating priest always stood to sacrifice. Compare 1Ki 12:32 note.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 13:1–10→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. 1 Kings 13:33

   Even after these events, Jeroboam did not repent of his evil ways, but again he appointed priests for the high places from every class of people. He ordained anyone who desired to be a priest of the high places.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 13:332 voices

   “For you know undoubtedly that those that are by us named bishops, and presbyters, and deacons, were made by prayer, and by the laying on of hands; and that by the difference of their names is showed the difference of their employments. For not every one that will is ordained, as the case was in that spurious and counterfeit priesthood of the calves under Jeroboam; [1 Kings 13:33] but he only who is called of God. For if there were no rule or distinction of orders, it would suffice to perform all the offices under one name.

   “After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way,....

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 13:33→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 1 Kings 13:34

   And this was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its extermination and destruction from the face of the earth.

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 13:342 voices

   “And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam,.... All the above things were sins in themselves, as building high places, and putting priests in them, whoever would; but the sense is, that these were the causes of punishment, or of evil things being inflicted on Jeroboam's family; sin is put for the punishment of sin, as it often is: even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth; so that it become utterly extinct; and the next thing we hear of is the sickness and death of his son.

   “Sin - Either, an occasion of sin, and means of hardening all his posterity in their idolatry: or, a punishment, for so the word sin is often used. This his obstinate continuance in his idolatry, after such warnings, was the utter ruin of all his family. They betray themselves effectually, who endeavour to support themselves by any sin.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 13:34→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 1 Kings 14:1–18

   At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became ill,

   ›Commentary on 1 Kings 14:1–182 voices

   “At that time--a phrase used often loosely and indefinitely in sacred history. This domestic incident in the family of Jeroboam probably occurred towards the end of his reign; his son Abijah was of age and considered by the people the heir to the throne.

   “At that time Abijah, the son of Jeroboam, fell sick. Being smitten of God with some disease, as a punishment of Jeroboam's sin; how long this was after the above things were done cannot be said.

   Everything gathered on 1 Kings 14:1–18→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 1 Kings 14:5–16

    But the LORD had said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to ask you about her son, for he is ill. You are to say such and such to her, because when she arrives, she will be disguised.”

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 14:5–162 voices

    “And the Lord said unto Abijah,....

    “Feign herself to be another woman - literally, “she shall make herself strange,” i. e., “she shall come in disguised.” So 1Ki 14:6.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 14:5–16→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 1 Kings 14:9

    You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me, and you have flung Me behind your back.

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 14:92 voices

    “To provoke - Whereby thou didst provoke me. For otherwise this was not Jeroboam's design in it, but only to establish himself in the throne. Hast cast - Despised and forsaken me, and my commands, and my worship, as we do things which we cast behind our backs.

    “David - Who though he fell into some sins, yet, first, he constantly persevered in the true worship of God; from which thou art revolted. Secondly, he heartily repented of, and turned from all his sins whereas thou art obstinate and incorrigible.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 14:9→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. 1 Kings 14:16

    So He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.”

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 14:162 voices

    “And he shall give Israel up,.... Into the hands of their enemies: because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin; by his devices and stratagems, by his example and edicts, and by the methods he took to prevent Israel from worshipping in the manner and place he directed to.

    “David - Who though he fell into some sins, yet, first, he constantly persevered in the true worship of God; from which thou art revolted. Secondly, he heartily repented of, and turned from all his sins whereas thou art obstinate and incorrigible.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 14:16→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 1 Kings 14:19

    As for the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he waged war and how he reigned, they are indeed written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 14:192 voices

    “And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred,....

    “The wars of Jeroboam may be divided into: (1) his wars with Rehoboam (see 1Ki 14:25, 1Ki 14:30); and (2) his war with Abijam (see the marginal reference). The book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel - (of Judah, 1Ki 14:29). See the Introduction.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 14:19→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 1 Kings 14:20

    And the length of Jeroboam’s reign was twenty-two years, and he rested with his fathers, and his son Nadab reigned in his place.

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 14:201 voice

    “And the days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty two years,.... So that he outlived Rehoboam five years, and lived to the second year of the reign of his grandson Asa: and he slept with his fathers; or died as they did: and Nadab his son reigned in his stead; who perhaps was younger than Abijah, whose sickness and death are before related.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 14:20→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. 1 Kings 14:30

    There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam throughout their days.

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 14:302 voices

    “And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days. For though Rehoboam did not enter into an offensive war, and attack the children of Israel, being dissuaded from it by Shemaiah the prophet in the name of the Lord, yet he might maintain a defensive war; and though there were no pitched battles between them as afterwards, in his son's time, yet there might be skirmishes and bickerings on the borders of their countries.

    “Was war - Not an invasive war with potent armies, which was forbidden, chap. xii, 24, and not revived 'till Abijam's reign, 2 Chron. xiii, 1-3, but a defensive war from those hostilities which by small parties and skirmishes they did to one another.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 14:30→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 1 Kings 15:6

    And there was war between the houses of Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Abijam’s life.

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 15:62 voices

    “War between, &c. - Upon Jeroboam's invading him with a great army: acting then in his own defense, he totally routed Jeroboam, so that he was quiet the rest of his reign.

    "Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah," and under his rule the Jews obtained a magnificent victory over the Israelites in a battle, which was greater than all those fought before in their civil wars. …

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 15:6→

    Verse page →Original language →