Jeroboam, of the tribe of Ephraim, was the first king of the breakaway ten tribes or Northern Kingdom of Israel, over whom he has reigned twenty-two years; this is according to 1 Kings 11:26-39.

William F. Albright has dated Jeroboam’s reign to 922 BCE-901 BCE, while Edwin R. Thiele offers the dates 931 BCE-910 BCE.

He was the son of a widow of Zereda, and while still young was promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent of the "burnden", i.e., the bands of forced laborers.

The Bible states that Jeroboam rebuilt and fortified Shechem as the capital of his kingdom, from which he waged continual war on Judah, and attempted to bring about religious and political reforms.

Perpetuating the division between the two parts of the formerly unified kingdom of Solomon, he had erected at Dan and Bethel, the two extremities of his kingdom, "golden calves," which he has set up as symbols of God, enjoining the people not any more to go up to worship at Jerusalem, but to bring their offerings to Israel’s shrines.

Israel has prospered under Jeroboam, who is succeeded by his son Nadab, who reigns for two years until, while engaged with his army in besieging Gibbethon, a town of southern Dan (Joshua 19:44), a conspiracy breaks out in his army.

Baasha overthrows Nadab and decimates the house of Jeroboam.