Lexical Definition

‎יָרׇבְעָם‎ Yârobʻâm (yaw-rob-awm') Jeroboam ^N:N-M-P
from ‎רִיב‎ and ‎עַם‎; (the) people will contend

Jeroboam.

• § Jeroboam = "the people will contend"
• Jarobam, the name of two Israelite kings

1) the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel when the kingdom split at the death of Solomon and the 10 tribes split off from Judah and Benjamin and the kingdom under Solomon's son Rehoboam; idolatry was introduced at the beginning of his reign
2) the 8th king of the northern kingdom of Israel, son of Joash, and 4th in the dynasty of Jehu; during his reign the Syrian invaders were repelled and the kingdom restored to its former borders but the idolatry of the kingdom was maintained

Extended Information

• A king of the Kingdom of Israel, living at the time of United Monarchyand Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.11.26
• son of: Nebat (נְבָט) and Zeruah (צְרוּעָה)
• father of: Abijah (אֲבִיָּה), Nadab (נָדָב)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎יָָֽרָבְעָם‎₁₀₄ proper name, masculine Jeroboam, Ιεροβοαμ (probably = ‎יָרֹב‎ + ‎עַם‎ the people increaseth Thes Kit^{1Kgs 11:26} and others; compare also Gray^{Prop.N. 59; Ency. Bib. i. 139 f.}; > √ ‎ריב‎ the people contendeth or (the god) 'Amm contendeth Nbr^{Stud. Bib. i. 225}, compare Che^{JQ July, 1899, 559; Ency. Bib.}); —

1.₉₀ (Kings Chronicles), leader of revolt of Northern Israel (10th century), and first king 1Kgs 11:26; 1Kgs 12:2 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 12:20, etc., || 2Chr 10:2 (twice in verse); 2Chr 10:3; 2Chr 10:12 etc., 1Kgs 13:1; 1Kgs 13:4; 1Kgs 13:83 +; (specifically ‎בֶּןנְֿבָט‎ ‎׳‎‎יר‎ 1Kgs 11:26 + 23 t.); in later times (under Deuteronomic influence) as sinful and author of Israel's sin 1Kgs 15:30; 1Kgs 16:2; 1Kgs 16:7; 1Kgs 16:19; 1Kgs 16:26; 1Kgs 16:31 + 15 t.

2. son of Jehoash of Northern Israel (8th cent.) and 13th king 2Kgs 13:13; 2Kgs 14:16; 2Kgs 14:23; 2Kgs 14:27; 2Kgs 14:28; 2Kgs 14:29; 2Kgs 15:1; 2Kgs 15:8; Hos 1:1; Amos 1:1; Amos 7:9; Amos 7:10; Amos 7:11 probably also 1Chr 5:17.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • King of N. Israel • First king of the northern kingdom of Israel.

King living at the time of United Monarchyand Divided Monarchy

Jeroboam I was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the split of the united monarchy following Solomon's reign.

• A king of Northern Israel, living at the time of United Monarchyand Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.11.26;
• only referred to as Jeroboam יָרׇבְעָם;
• a son of Nebat נְבָט and Zeruah צְרוּעָה;
• father of Abijah אֲבִיָּה, Nadab נָדָב.

Jeroboam I was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the united monarchy split following the reign of King Solomon. He was an Ephraimite and a former official in Solomon's administration. The prophet Ahijah predicted that Jeroboam would rule over ten tribes of Israel, and when Solomon sought to kill him, Jeroboam fled to Egypt.

After Solomon's death, Jeroboam returned and led the northern tribes in a revolt against Solomon's son, Rehoboam. He established his capital in Shechem and set up two golden calves in Bethel and Dan to prevent the people from worshipping in Jerusalem. This act of idolatry became known as the "sin of Jeroboam" and was condemned by the prophets.

Jeroboam reigned for 22 years, during which he constantly fought against the southern kingdom of Judah. He was succeeded by his son Nadab. The kings of Israel who followed Jeroboam continued in his idolatrous practices, leading to the eventual downfall and exile of the northern kingdom.

All entries for Jeroboam: יָרׇבְעָם

Related Profiles:

• Nebat (father)
• Zeruah (mother)
• Abijah (child)
• Nadab (child)