1 Kings 11:26 - Meaning and Application

Here we first meet that infamous name, Jeroboam son of Nebat, the man who led Israel into sin. He appears here as an enemy of Solomon, the king to whom God had already said that He would give most of the kingdom to a servant (1 Kings 11:11), and Jeroboam was that man.

We first learn where he came from. He was from the tribe of Ephraim, the tribe next in honor to Judah. His mother was a widow, and God had given her in her son the help and comfort she had lost in her husband. Jeroboam was active, capable, and useful, and he likely was a strong support to her.

We also learn how he was raised up. Solomon showed wisdom when he chose the right men for his work. He saw that Jeroboam was hardworking, careful, and eager in his task, so he kept promoting him. At last, Solomon put him over the burden, that is, over the tribute or taxes, and perhaps over the militia, the organized fighting force, of the house of Joseph. Industry is a path to advancement. If a man is diligent and faithful in his work, he may stand before kings and not remain among ordinary people.

There is also a difference here between David, Solomon, and Saul. Saul looked for brave men and drew them to himself (1 Samuel 14:52). Solomon looked for industrious men and promoted them. David looked for faithful people, because he wanted upright men around him. He valued godliness, because he was a man after God’s own heart.

Jeroboam was then marked out for rule over the ten tribes after Solomon’s death. Some think he was already plotting against Solomon, trying to rise to the throne. The Jews say that while he worked on Millo, he spoke against Solomon’s rule and turned the people against him. That seems unlikely in plain form, because Solomon would have heard of it and stopped promoting him. Still, the prophet’s words show that Jeroboam had such thoughts in his heart, for he was told, “You shall reign according to all that your soul desires” (1 Kings 11:37). So his rise, and his later boldness against the king, came together.

The prophet was Ahijah of Shiloh, whom we meet again later (1 Kings 14:2). Shiloh had not been completely forgotten by God, because He still kept a prophet there in memory of earlier days. Ahijah met Jeroboam on the road, likely after telling his servants to step away, as Samuel did in a similar case with Saul (1 Samuel 9:27). God’s word was no less sure because it came to Jeroboam in this quiet and hidden way.

The sign was the tearing of a new garment into twelve pieces, with ten pieces given to Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:30, 31). It is not certain whether the garment was Jeroboam’s or Ahijah’s, though it is more likely that it was the prophet’s, since he had put on a new garment on purpose for the sign. In an earlier case, the tearing of the kingdom from Saul was shown by Samuel’s torn mantle, not Saul’s (1 Samuel 15:27, 28). Prophets, both true and false, sometimes used such acted signs, even in the New Testament, as Agabus did (Acts 21:10, 11).

The message itself was very clear. Jeroboam was told that he would rule over ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. His humble birth and common office would not stop his rise when the God of Israel, who appoints rulers, said, “I will give ten tribes to you” (1 Kings 11:31). But he was also told why this would happen. It was not because he deserved it, but because Solomon had turned away from God. God said it was because Solomon, his house, and many of the people with him had forsaken Him and served other gods (1 Kings 11:33). Israel should understand from this that they did not take Canaan because they were righteous, but because the Canaanites were wicked (Deuteronomy 9:4). Jeroboam did not deserve such a high place, but Israel deserved such a ruler.

By telling him that the kingdom was torn away because Solomon and his house had forsaken God, the prophet also warned Jeroboam not to lose the same favor by sin. The gift itself was limited too. He was to expect only the ten tribes, and only after Solomon’s death, so he would not try to seize everything at once or disturb Solomon’s rule right away. Two tribes, called here one tribe because little Benjamin was almost absorbed into Judah, would stay with David’s house. Jeroboam must not touch them. David’s house would keep one tribe, so that David might still have a lamp, that is, a lasting name and royal line (Psalm 132:17). God would not reject David as He had rejected Saul. The house of David had to remain, because the Messiah would come from it. That blessing must not be destroyed.

Solomon would also remain king for the rest of his life (1 Kings 11:34, 35). Jeroboam must not try to remove him, but wait patiently until the time God had set. Solomon would rule as prince all his life, not because he had earned it, for he had lost it by sin, but because of David, God’s servant, who had obeyed God’s commands. Often children receive good in this world because of the faith and obedience of their parents.

Jeroboam was also told that he would hold the kingdom only on good behavior. The grant of the crown, in effect, would stand only while he remained faithful.

“If you will do what is right in my sight, I will build you a sure house, and not otherwise” (1 Kings 11:38). This means that if Jeroboam turned away from God, even his rise to the throne would end in ruin for his family. By contrast, David’s family, though disciplined and troubled, would not be cast down forever (1 Kings 11:39). It would rise again and shine in later kings of Judah, while Jeroboam’s family was wiped out.

Jeroboam fled to Egypt, as described in 1 Kings 11:40. In some way, Solomon learned about the matter, probably from Jeroboam himself, since Jeroboam did not keep it hidden. If Jeroboam had stayed quiet, he might have remained in his own land and prepared for future rule there. But once the matter became known, two things followed.

First, Solomon foolishly tried to kill the man who would take his place. Had he not taught others that human plans cannot stop the Lord’s purpose, because the counsel of the Lord will stand? Yet he now tried to defeat that very counsel. Second, Jeroboam wisely withdrew into Egypt. God’s promise would have protected him anywhere, but he still used ordinary means to preserve himself. He was willing to live in exile and obscurity for a time, because he knew a kingdom would come at last. Should not we have the same patience, since we have a far better kingdom kept for us?