26 Then aJeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, Solomon’s servant, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, balso 1rebelled against the king.

27 Now this was the reason why he 1rebelled against the king: aSolomon built the 2Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of his father David.

28 Now the man Jeroboam was a valiant warrior, and when aSolomon saw that the young man was 1industrious, he appointed him over all the 2forced labor of the house of Joseph.

29 It came about at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that athe prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now 1Ahijah had clothed himself with a new cloak; and both of them were alone in the field.

30 Then aAhijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve pieces.

31 He said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, aI will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes

32 (abut he will have one tribe, for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, bthe city which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel),

33 because they have forsaken Me, and ahave worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, bChemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the sons of Ammon; and they have not walked in My ways, doing what is right in My sight and observing My statutes and My ordinances, as his father David did.

34 ‘Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him 1ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of My servant David whom I chose, who observed My commandments and My statutes;

35 but aI will take the kingdom from his son’s hand and give it to you, even ten tribes.

36 ‘But ato his son I will give one tribe, bthat My servant David may have a lamp always before Me in Jerusalem, athe city where I have chosen for Myself to put My name.

37 ‘I will take you, and you shall reign over whatever 1you desire, and you shall be king over Israel.

38 ‘Then it will be, that if you listen to all that I command you and walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight by observing My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then aI will be with you and bbuild you an enduring house as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.

39 ‘Thus I will afflict the 1descendants of David for this, but not always.’ ”