26 Nebat’s son Yarobam (Jeroboam), an Efratite from Tseredah also rebelled against the king. (His widowed mother Tseruah was one of Shelomoh’s servants.) 27 This is the background about how it started: Shelomoh had built the raised terrace and had repaired a gap in the wall of the city of David his father. 28 Shelomoh had noticed Yarobam as a strong and hard-working young man, so he’d appointed him as supervisor over all the forced labour from Manashsheh and Efraim’s regions. 29 One time when Yarobam was away from Yerushalem, the prophet Ahiyyah the Shilonite met him on the road. He was wearing a brand-new a new cloak, and there was just the two by themselves in the countryside. 30 Ahiyyah then pulled the new cloak off his shoulders and tore it into twelve pieces, 31 and told Yarobam, “Take ten pieces for yourself, because this is what Israel’s God Yahweh says, ‘Listen, I’m about to tear the kingdom away from Shelomoh’s control, and I’ll give the[fn] ten tribes to you. 32 The one tribe[fn] will be for him, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Yerushalem city which I’ve chosen from all the tribes of Israel. 33 This is because they’ve forsaken me. Instead they’ve bowed down to the Tsidonians’ God Ashtoret, to the Moabite god Kemosh, and to the Ammonite God Milkom. They’re no longer following my instructions or doing what they know I’ve said is right—not obeying my statutes or my judgments like the king’s father David did. 34 But I won’t take the entire kingdom off him, but rather I’ll leavet him as a leader while he’s still alive for the sake of my chosen servant David, who obeyed my commands and my statutes. 35 However, I’ll take the kingship away from his son and I’ll give the ten tribes to you to rule. 36 I’ll give Shelomoh’s son one tribe to rule so that one of David’s descendants will always rule in my chosen city Yerushalem because it’s associated with my name. 37 But I’ll use you, and you’ll be able to reign over the area where you want to rule—you’ll become king over Israel. 38 Then if you’ll listen to everything that I command you, and walk on the right path and do what pleases me and keep my statutes and my commands, just like my servant David did, then I’ll be with you. I’ll establish a dynasty for you just like I did for David, and I’ll give Israel to you. 39 I’ll make David’s descendants suffer because of Shelomoh’s behaviour, but not forever.’ ”

40 Shelomoh tried to kill Yarobam, but he left the area and fled to Egypt. He remained in Egypt under the protection of King Shishak until Shelomoh’s death.