1 Kings 11:26

26 Yarov`am the son of Nevat, an Efratite of Tzeredata, a servant of Shlomo, whose mother's name was Tzeru`ah, a widow, he also lifted up 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 He gathered men to him, and became captain over a troop, when David killed them [of Tzovah]: and they went to Dammesek, and lived therein, and reigned in Dammesek.

25 He was an adversary to Yisra'el all the days of Shlomo, besides the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Yisra'el, and reigned over Aram.

26 Yarov`am the son of Nevat, an Efratite of Tzeredata, a servant of Shlomo, whose mother's name was Tzeru`ah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king.

27 This was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Shlomo built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father.

28 The man Yarov`am was a mighty man of valor; and Shlomo saw the young man that he was industrious, and he gave him charge over all the labor of the house of Yosef.