1 Kings 11:26-40,1 Peter 3:18-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 11:26-40

We have here the first mention of that infamous name Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that made Israel to sin; he is here brought upon the stage as an adversary to Solomon, whom God had expressly told (1 Kgs. 11:11) that he would give the greatest part of his kingdom to his servant, and Jeroboam was the man. We have here an account, I. Of his extraction, 1 Kgs. 11:26. He was of the tribe of Ephraim, he next in honour to Judah. His mother was a widow, to whom Providence had made up the loss of a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:26

And Jeroboam the son of Nebat ,.... According to some Jewish writers F18 Shalshalet Hakabala, p. 11. , 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 , 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:27

And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king ,.... The occasion of it, his being advanced to some posts under Solomon, which elated him, and what passed between him and the prophet Ahijah, after related: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father : in the oversight of which, it is supposed by the Jews, he employed this man, who reproached him for doing these works; building an house in Millo for Pharaoh's daughter, and stopping up... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:28

And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour ,.... A man of great strength of body, and fortitude of mind: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious ; in what he was set about in the above buildings and repairs: he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph ; the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, to be a prince or a deputy governor of them; or rather to collect the king's tax from them, or the revenues of that part of the country, see Proverbs 22:29 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:29

And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem ,.... Either to enter upon his new office: or having been with Solomon to pay in the revenues, and to make up his accounts with him was going back to the country to do the duty of his office: that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way ; not accidentally, but purposely was in the way to meet him, and converse with him; this prophet was of the city of Shiloh, and where was now his abode, see 1 Kings 14:2... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:30

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him ,.... This looks as if it was Jeroboam's garment, having got a new one to appear before the king in; though the sense may be this, that the prophet took hold of his own garment that was upon himself: and rent it in twelve pieces ; as symbolical of the twelve tribes of Israel. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:31

And he said to Jeroboam, take thee ten pieces ,.... Of the twelve, an emblem of the ten tribes he was to have: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon ; that is, out of his family: and will give ten tribes unto thee ; to rule over. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:32

But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake ,.... See Gill on 1 Kings 11:13 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:33

Because that they have forsaken me ,.... My worship, as the Targum; both Solomon and the children of Israel following his example; which is not to be wondered at, considering how prone they always were to idolatry: and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon ; of which deities; see Gill on 1 Kings 11:5 , 1 Kings 11:7 . and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 11:34

Howbeit, I will not take the kingdom out of his hand ,.... Not any part of it, 1 Kings 11:12 , but I will make him prince all the days of his life ; that is, he shall continue to hold the government of all the tribes so long as he lives: for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes ; see 1 Kings 11:12 , or was well pleased with, as the Targum; for keeping the commands of God from right principles, and with right views, is well... read more

1 Kings 11:26-40,1 Peter 3:18-20

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