1 Kings 11:26
ESV
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother 's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king.
NIV
Also, Jeroboam son of Nebat rebelled against the king. He was one of Solomon’s officials, an Ephraimite from Zeredah, and his mother was a widow named Zeruah.
NASB
Then Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also rebelled against the king.
CSB
Now Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam son of Nebat, was an Ephraimite from Zeredah. His widowed mother’s name was Zeruah. Jeroboam rebelled against Solomon,
NLT
Another rebel leader was Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon’s own officials. He came from the town of Zeredah in Ephraim, and his mother was Zeruah, a widow.
KJV
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.
NKJV
Then Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also rebelled against the king.
What does 1 Kings 11:26 mean?
Because Solomon is worshiping the false gods of his foreign wives, the Lord is sending enemies against him and Israel. By extension, this also affects Solomon's descendants. The first two enemies are not Israelites. Hadad (1 Kings 11:14) is from Edom, south and east of Israel. Rezon (1 Kings 11:23) is from Aram or Syria, far to the north. Jeroboam is from the tribe of Ephraim, separated from Judah by Dan on the west and Benjamin on the east.We don't know anything about Nebat or Zeruah. Nebat probably has nothing to do with the later Nabateans. The name "Zeruah" suggests she may have a skin condition like leprosy. The location of Zeredah is uncertain. In terms of his origins, Jeroboam is a "nobody."
Jeroboam's humble beginnings reveal a pattern. Saul was so timid that when called to accept the crown, he hid in the luggage (1 Samuel 10:22). David was bolder, but he was the youngest of a large family: a shepherd boy. Solomon was his father's tenth son (1 Chronicles 3:1–5). Jeroboam is a laborer; his father is dead and his mother seems to have a chronic skin disease. Yet, the unlikely and the dismissed are exactly the type of person God chooses to accomplish His plan (1 Corinthians 1:27).
"Servant of Solomon" could refer to anyone who works in the government. In ancient understanding, even generals and political advisors are "servants," with respect to the king. Jeroboam supervises part of a construction crew in Jerusalem. Solomon realizes how dependable Jeroboam is and puts him in charge of all the laborers in "the house of Joseph": Ephraim and Manasseh (1 Kings 11:27–28). Later, when Solomon's son Rehoboam is king, it appears Jeroboam champions the laborers whom Rehoboam promises to abuse. God chooses Jeroboam to split the nation. Rehoboam's foolishness and Jeroboam's leadership skills make this easy.
