Jeroboam, according to 1 Kings 11:26-39, was born the son of Nebat an Ephrathite of Zereda whose mother's name was Zeruah (who later became a widow, and could have been leprous as her name translates).

While still young, he had been promoted by Solomon to be chief superintendent of the "burnden", i.e., the bands of forced laborers.

Influenced by the words of the prophet Ahijah, he began to form conspiracies with the view of becoming king of the ten tribes; but these having been discovered, he fled to Egypt (1 Kings 11:29-40), where he remained for a length of time under the protection of Shoshenq.

On the death of Solomon, the ten tribes, having revolted, send to invite him to become their king and he is accordingly proclaimed "king of Israel" (1 Kings 12:1-20).

He rebuilds and fortifies Shechem as the capital of his kingdom.

He at once adopts means to perpetuate the division thus made between the two parts of the kingdom, and ...