1 Kings 11:26

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 raised [his] hand against the king.

1 Kings 11:26 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 11:26

And Jeroboam the son of Nebat
According to some Jewish writers ^F18, 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, ( 2 Samuel 20:1 2 Samuel 20:22 ) ,

an Ephrathite of Zereda;
some where in the tribe of Ephraim, but nowhere else mentioned. There was a famous Jewish doctor, before the times of Christ, of this place, as it seems, who was called Jose ben Joezer, a man of Zereda ^F19:

Solomon's servant;
not only his subject, but one that had been advanced by him to an office, and served under him, ( 1 Kings 11:28 ) ,

whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman;
who very probably was supported by this her son, an industrious and ingenious man:

even he lifted up his hand against the king;
either against Solomon, by reproaching and reproving him for some things he did; or rather against Rehoboam his son, which was very ungrateful.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Shalshalet Hakabala, p. 11.
F19 Pirke Abot, c. 1. sect. 4.

1 Kings 11:26 In-Context

24 And he gathered men to him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them [of Zobah]: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt in it, and reigned in Damascus.

25 And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.

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 raised [his] hand against the king.

27 And this [was] the cause why he raised [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 valor: and Solomon, seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.