John Gill Commentary 1 Kings 11:26

"And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother`s name was Zeruah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king." — 1 Kings 11:26 (ASV)

And Jeroboam the son of Nebat
According to some Jewish writers ^F18 , this was Sheba the son of Bichri; but, as Kimchi observes, he was of the tribe of Benjamin, this of Ephraim; and besides, his head was cut off, and thrown over the wall to Joab, (2 Samuel 20:1 2 Samuel 20:22) ,

an Ephrathite of Zereda ;
some where in the tribe of Ephraim, but nowhere else mentioned. There was a famous Jewish doctor, before the times of Christ, of this place, as it seems, who was called Jose ben Joezer, a man of Zereda ^F19 :

Solomon's servant ;
not only his subject, but one that had been advanced by him to an office, and served under him, (1 Kings 11:28) ,

whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman ;
who very probably was supported by this her son, an industrious and ingenious man:

even he lifted up his hand against the king ;
either against Solomon, by reproaching and reproving him for some things he did; or rather against Rehoboam his son, which was very ungrateful.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F18: Shalshalet Hakabala, p. 11.
• F19: Pirke Abot, c. 1. sect. 4.