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== Biography ==

== Biography ==

Jeroboam I was the son of [[Nebat]], an [[Ephraim (tribe)|Ephraimite]], and of [[Zeruah]],<ref name=Aust/><ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/> who had outlived Nebat at the time of the revolt. The year of his birth cannot be determined, because his age at accession is not given.

Jeroboam I was the son of [[Nebat]], an [[Ephraim (tribe)|Ephraimite]], and of [[Zeruah]],<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Aust/> who had outlived Nebat at the time of the revolt. The year of his birth cannot be determined, because his age at accession is not given.

Early in his career, [[Solomon]] made him superintendent of all the forced laborers in his building program.<ref name=Aust/><ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/> But one day, in the thirty-first year of Solomon, the [[prophet]] [[Ahijah the Shilonite]] met Jeroboam along the road. In a graphic demonstration of Divine intent, Ahijah took off his robe, tore it into twelve pieces, and invited Jeroboam to take any ten.<ref name=Aust/><ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=GeoCities/> {{Bible quote|For thus saith the LORD, 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 Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did 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, because he 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 unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway 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, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.|book=I_Kings|chap=11|verses=31-39|version=KJV}}

Early in his career, [[Solomon]] made him superintendent of all the forced laborers in his building program.<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Aust/> But one day, in the thirty-first year of Solomon, the [[prophet]] [[Ahijah the Shilonite]] met Jeroboam along the road. In a graphic demonstration of Divine intent, Ahijah took off his robe, tore it into twelve pieces, and invited Jeroboam to take any ten.<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Aust/><ref name=GeoCities/> {{Bible quote|For thus saith the LORD, 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 Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did 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, because he 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 unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway 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, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.|book=I_Kings|chap=11|verses=31-39|version=KJV}}

Solomon issued a warrant for Jeroboam's arrest and execution, but Jeroboam fled to [[Egypt]] and sought asylum under [[Pharaoh]] [[Shishak]] (probably [[Thutmose III]]).<ref name=Aust/><ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=GeoCities/>

Solomon issued a warrant for Jeroboam's arrest and execution, but Jeroboam fled to [[Egypt]] and sought asylum under [[Pharaoh]] [[Shishak]] (probably [[Thutmose III]]).<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Aust/><ref name=GeoCities/>

== The Revolt ==

== The Revolt ==

At length, Solomon died, and Solomon's son [[Rehoboam]] prepared to take the throne. The people of every tribe except those of [[Judah (tribe)]] and [[Benjamin (tribe)]] sent messengers to Egypt asking for Jeroboam to come back and rule over them.<ref name=Aust/><ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=GeoCities/>

At length, Solomon died, and Solomon's son [[Rehoboam]] prepared to take the throne. The people of every tribe except those of [[Judah (tribe)]] and [[Benjamin (tribe)]] sent messengers to Egypt asking for Jeroboam to come back and rule over them.<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Aust/><ref name=GeoCities/>

Representatives of all the tribes met at [[Shechem]] for the coronation. Jeroboam, as spokesman for the ten tribes, sought out Rehoboam and made a simple plea for relief from the burden of taxation and forced labor. Rehoboam asked him to wait three days.<ref name=Aust/> Three days later, Rehoboam gave his answer:{{Bible quote|My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.|book=I_Kings|chap=12|verses=14|version=KJV}}

Representatives of all the tribes met at [[Shechem]] for the coronation. Jeroboam, as spokesman for the ten tribes, sought out Rehoboam and made a simple plea for relief from the burden of taxation and forced labor. Rehoboam asked him to wait three days.<ref name=Aust/> Three days later, Rehoboam gave his answer:{{Bible quote|My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.|book=I_Kings|chap=12|verses=14|version=KJV}}

Jeroboam wasted no time. He led the representatives of the ten tribes in a walkout from the coronation. Later, when Rehoboam sent his chief tax collector to collect the annual tribute, Jeroboam's new subjects answered by stoning him to death. Rehoboam climbed back into his chariot and fled all the way back to Jerusalem. There Rehoboam conscripted an army one hundred eighty thousand strong, but nothing came of this. The prophet [[Shemaiah]] warned Rehoboam to desist, and he did. Nevertheless, the Northern Kingdom was in a constant state of war with the [[Southern Kingdom]] during the entire time of Jeroboam's reign.<ref name=Aust/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=GeoCities/>

Jeroboam wasted no time. He led the representatives of the ten tribes in a walkout from the coronation. Later, when Rehoboam sent his chief tax collector to collect the annual tribute, Jeroboam's new subjects answered by stoning him to death. Rehoboam climbed back into his chariot and fled all the way back to Jerusalem. There Rehoboam conscripted an army one hundred eighty thousand strong, but nothing came of this. The prophet [[Shemaiah]] warned Rehoboam to desist, and he did. Nevertheless, the Northern Kingdom was in a constant state of war with the [[Southern Kingdom]] during the entire time of Jeroboam's reign.<ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Aust/><ref name=GeoCities/>

Jeroboam fortified the city of [[Shechem]] in the early days. But in later years he moved his capital, by first building a new capital of [[Penuel]] and then building a third capital, [[Tirzah]].<ref name=WebBible/>

Jeroboam fortified the city of [[Shechem]] in the early days. But in later years he moved his capital, by first building a new capital of [[Penuel]] and then building a third capital, [[Tirzah]].<ref name=WebBible/>

== A new religious system ==

== A new religious system ==

Jeroboam was not satisfied with his kingship. He feared that if his people continued to go up to Jerusalem (here "up" means "to a higher elevation" and not "north"), they might revolt against ''him'' and reestablish the [[United Kingdom]]. Therefore he did two things that would provoke [[God]]'s vengeance. First he threw out all the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]] from his country, and appointed his own priestly class. Then he set up two golden calves, exactly like the infamous Golden Calf that [[Moses]] destroyed centuries ago. He set up one in [[Dan (tribe)|Dan]] and one at [[Bethel]]. The Levites fled, and so too did all members of the Ten Tribes who still wanted to worship the One True God. Jeroboam does not seem to have cared: he set up "high places," altars of [[Baal]], and [[Asherah]] poles all over his kingdom. He even ordained his own feast, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the year, exactly one month later than the [[Feast of Tabernacles]].<ref name=Aust/><ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=GeoCities/>

Jeroboam was not satisfied with his kingship. He feared that if his people continued to go up to Jerusalem (here "up" means "to a higher elevation" and not "north"), they might revolt against ''him'' and reestablish the [[United Kingdom]]. Therefore he did two things that would provoke [[God]]'s vengeance. First he threw out all the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]] from his country, and appointed his own priestly class. Then he set up two golden calves, exactly like the infamous Golden Calf that [[Moses]] destroyed centuries ago. He set up one in [[Dan (tribe)|Dan]] and one at [[Bethel]]. The Levites fled, and so too did all members of the Ten Tribes who still wanted to worship the One True God. Jeroboam does not seem to have cared: he set up "high places," altars of [[Baal]], and [[Asherah]] poles all over his kingdom. He even ordained his own feast, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the year, exactly one month later than the [[Feast of Tabernacles]].<ref name=Catholic/><ref name=WebBible/><ref name=Aust/><ref name=GeoCities/>

One day, an unnamed prophet came to Bethel from the [[Southern Kingdom]] to speak a prophecy against Jeroboam.<ref name=Aust/> He declared that one day, centuries later, another king named [[Josiah]] would burn on that very altar the bones of the priests of Jeroboam's false religion. He then said that as a sign that God meant what He said, the altar would break apart and spill its ashes. Jeroboam raised his hand in anger to order the prophet's arrest, and the hand immediately shriveled up, and the altar split apart exactly as the prophet had predicted.<ref name=WebBible/><ref name=GeoCities/> Jeroboam begged the prophet to intercede with God so that his hand would be restored. It was. Jeroboam then offered the prophet food and drink, but the prophet indignantly refused, saying that God had commanded him neither to eat nor drink in the Northern Kingdom land.

One day, an unnamed prophet came to Bethel from the [[Southern Kingdom]] to speak a prophecy against Jeroboam.<ref name=Aust/> He declared that one day, centuries later, another king named [[Josiah]] would burn on that very altar the bones of the priests of Jeroboam's false religion. He then said that as a sign that God meant what He said, the altar would break apart and spill its ashes. Jeroboam raised his hand in anger to order the prophet's arrest, and the hand immediately shriveled up, and the altar split apart exactly as the prophet had predicted.<ref name=WebBible/><ref name=GeoCities/> Jeroboam begged the prophet to intercede with God so that his hand would be restored. It was. Jeroboam then offered the prophet food and drink, but the prophet indignantly refused, saying that God had commanded him neither to eat nor drink in the Northern Kingdom land.

== The Battle of Zemaraim ==

== The Battle of Zemaraim ==

: ''Main Article: [[Battle of Zemaraim]]''

: ''Main Article: [[Battle of Zemaraim]]''

In the nineteenth year of his reign, Jeroboam fought a major battle with King [[Abijam]] of Judah. Despite a two-to-one numerical advantage, he lost half a million men--sixty-two-and-a-half percent of his fighting force. He never recovered his military strength from that disaster.<ref name=GeoCities/>

In the nineteenth year of his reign, Jeroboam fought a major battle with King [[Abijam]] of Judah. Despite a two-to-one numerical advantage, he lost half a million men—sixty-two-and-a-half percent of his fighting force. He never recovered his military strength from that disaster.<ref name=GeoCities/>

== Sickness and Death of his Son ==

== Sickness and Death of his Son ==

<references/>

<references/>

== See Also ==

== See also ==

* [[Northern Kingdom]]

* [[Northern Kingdom]]

* [[Southern Kingdom]]

* [[Southern Kingdom]]