Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 12:26

"And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David:" — 1 Kings 12:26 (ASV)

Jeroboam’s fear was that a reaction would set in and that a desire for reunion would manifest itself. He was not a man content to remain quiet, trusting simply in the promise made to him (1 Kings 11:38). Therefore, he gave way to the temptation of advancing the plans of Providence through the crooked devices of a merely human policy.

His measures, like all measures that involve a departure from principle, brought certain evils in their wake and drew down divine judgment on himself. But they fully secured the objective he aimed for. They prevented any healing of the breach between the two kingdoms and made the separation final. As a result, not only did a reunion never take place, but no signs of an inclination to reunite ever appeared during the entire period of the divided kingdom.