1 Kings 11:26

JEROBOAM RECEIVES AHIJAH'S MESSAGE; HE FLEES TO EGYPT

"And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king. And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father. And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he gave him charge over all the labor of the house of Joseph. 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; Now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field. And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces. And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces, for thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee (but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel); because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh, the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon; and they have not walked in my ways to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and mine ordinances, after David his father. Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes; but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. And to his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp always before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. And it shall be, that thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and will walk in my ways, and do that which is right in mine eyes, to keep my statutes, and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and will build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. And I will for this afflict the seat of David, but not forever. Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, and to Shishak, king of Egypt, and was in Egypt till the death of Solomon."

Jeroboam's flight into Egypt was possibly due to the news of Ahijah's announcement to Jeroboam having been spread over Jerusalem like wildfire. Nothing is here stated about that, but by some means or other, Solomon identified the man to whom God would give the greater part of his dominion. And, evil man that he was, he made every effort to thwart God's purpose by murdering Jeroboam.

Another possible reason for Jeroboam's flight to Egypt is also suggested. He was over all the forced labor of the tribe of Ephraim, and it is possible that the injustice of that situation could have provoked Jeroboam into some rebellious act against the king; and when Solomon sought to kill him, he fled to Egypt.

We shall hear of Shishak again in the reign of Rehoboam over Judah. "Shishak is the first Pharaoh to be mentioned by name in the Bible; we shall meet him again in 1 Kings 14:25."[15]

Ahijah's exalted thoughts about what kind of a king Jeroboam would be proved to be the essence of vanity. Jeroboam proved to be a very wicked king.

THE DEATH OF SOLOMON

The final obituary for Solomon is this simple paragraph, but over it there flies the tragic banner of God's anger and displeasure.