26
Likewise Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon’s slave, whose mother’s name
was Zeruah, a widow woman, lifted up his hand against the king.
27
And this
was why he lifted up
his hand against the king: Solomon in building Millo, closed the breach of the city of David, his father.
28
And the man Jeroboam
was a mighty man of valour, and Solomon, seeing that the young man 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
was covered with a new garment; and the 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 ten pieces for thyself, for thus hath said the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to thee;
32
and he shall have one tribe for my slave David’s sake and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel
33
because 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 sons of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do
that which is right in my eyes and
to keep my statutes and my rights, as
did David his father.
34
But I will not take any of his kingdom out of his hand, for I will make him prince all the days of his life for David, my slave’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 I will give one tribe, that David my slave may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name in her.