26. Then there was Jeroboam son of Nebat (the name of his mother, a widow, was Zeruah), an Ephraimite of Zereda. Though he was Solomon’s servant, he also raised a hand against the king.
27. Now the reason that he raised a hand against the king was this: Solomon built the Millo and closed the breach of the city of his father David.
28. Now the man Jeroboam was mighty of strength, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he appointed him over the entire labor force of the house of Joseph.
29. It was around that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had covered himself in a new cloak, and the two of them were alone in the field.
30. Then Ahijah seized the new cloak that was on him, tore it into twelve pieces,