1 Kings 11:26-40

1 Kings 11:26-40

[26] 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.  [27] And this was the cause  that he lifted up  his hand  against the king:  Solomon  built  Millo,  and repaired  the breaches  of the city  of David  his father.  [28] And the man  Jeroboam  was a mighty man  of valour:  and Solomon  seeing  the young man  that he was industrious,  he made him ruler  over all the charge  of the house  of Joseph.  [29] And it came to pass at that time  when Jeroboam  went out  of Jerusalem,  that the prophet  Ahijah  the Shilonite  found  him in the way;  and he had clad  himself with a new  garment;  and they two  were alone in the field:  [30] And Ahijah  caught  the new  garment  that was on him, and rent  it in twelve  pieces:  [31] And he said  to Jeroboam,  Take  thee ten  pieces:  for thus saith  the LORD,  the God  of Israel,  Behold, I will rend  the kingdom  out of the hand  of Solomon,  and will give  ten  tribes  to thee: [32] (But he shall have one  tribe  for my servant  David's  sake, and for Jerusalem's  sake, the city  which I have chosen  out of all the tribes  of Israel:)  [33] Because that they have forsaken  me, and have worshipped  Ashtoreth  the goddess  of the Zidonians,  Chemosh  the god  of the Moabites,  and Milcom  the god  of the children  of Ammon,  and have not walked  in my ways,  to do  that which is right  in mine eyes,  and to keep my statutes  and my judgments,  as did David  his father.  [34] Howbeit I will not take  the whole kingdom  out of his hand:  but I will make  him prince  all the days  of his life  for David  my servant's  sake, whom I chose,  because he kept  my commandments  and my statutes:  [35] But I will take  the kingdom  out of his son's  hand,  and will give  it unto thee, even ten  tribes.  [36] And unto his son  will I give  one  tribe,  that David  my servant  may have a light  alway  before  me in Jerusalem,  the city  which I have chosen  me to put  my name  there. [37] And I will take  thee, and thou shalt reign  according to all that thy soul  desireth,  and shalt be king  over Israel.  [38] And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken  unto all that I command  thee, and wilt walk  in my ways,  and do  that is right  in my sight,  to keep  my statutes  and my commandments,  as David  my servant  did;  that I will be with thee, and build  thee a sure  house,  as I built  for David,  and will give  Israel  unto thee. [39] And I will for this afflict  the seed  of David,  but not for ever.  [40] Solomon  sought  therefore to kill  Jeroboam.  arose,  and fled  into Egypt,  unto Shishak  king  of Egypt,  until the death  of Solomon. 

What does 1 Kings 11:26-40 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jeroboam, who would become the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was from Ephraim, the most prominent tribe in the North ( 1 Kings 11:26).
Part of Benjamin affiliated voluntarily with Judah eventually ( 1 Kings 11:32; cf. 1 Kings 12:21; 2 Chronicles 11:1; 2 Chronicles 11:10; 2 Chronicles 15:2; 2 Chronicles 15:9; Ezra 4:1). Really parts of two tribes joined the kingdom of Judah: Simeon and Benjamin. The reference to10 northern tribes evidently included the nine remaining tribes plus either Benjamin or Simeon, whichever provided the majority of its tribe to support the Northern Kingdom. This appears to have been Simeon (cf. 2 Chronicles 15:9; 2 Chronicles 34:6). Levi did not figure in either group.
"Ten as the number of completeness and totality is placed in contrast with one, to indicate that all Israel was to be torn away from the house of David, as is stated in ch. xii20 ..." [1]
David"s lamp ( 1 Kings 11:36) refers to his descendant on the throne (cf. 2 Samuel 21:17). [2] God"s conditional promise to Jeroboam was similar to His promises to Saul ( 1 Samuel 13:13), to David ( 2 Samuel 7:11; 2 Samuel 7:27), and to Solomon ( 1 Kings 9:4-7). God would afflict the descendants of David ( 1 Kings 11:39) until He raised up Messiah, when all Israel would come under His authority, as it had been under David and Solomon"s authority. [3] The reference to Shishak king of Egypt ( 1 Kings 11:40) is the first to identify a Pharaoh by name in the Bible. Shishak later invaded Jerusalem during Rehoboam"s reign ( 1 Kings 14:25-26).