Bible Strands
1 Kings 11:28
Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes a moment during Solomon’s reign, immediately after Solomon completes construction projects in Jerusalem and before the prophet Ahijah approaches Jeroboam. The text addresses the reader to establish Jeroboam’s background prior to his future rebellion.
The words — גִּבּוֹר חַיִל (gibbor chayil) = mighty man of valor or strength.
The thread — The elevation of a capable youth by a king parallels the principle in Proverbs 22:29 that skilled workers stand before royalty. The administrative focus of this passage contrasts with Deuteronomy 1:12, which addresses judicial burdens rather than royal labor management, and anticipates the territorial division described in Joshua 18:5.
Why it lands — The text records how Solomon recognized Jeroboam’s industriousness and assigned him authority over Joseph’s labor force. It asks the reader to observe how human competence is positioned within royal structures before divine intervention redirects those arrangements.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
- Deuteronomy 1:12 But how can I bear your troubles, burdens, and disputes all by myself?
- Joshua 18:5 and divide the land into seven portions. Judah shall remain in their territory in the south, and the house of Joseph shall remain in their territory in the north.
- Judges 1:22 The house of Joseph also attacked Bethel, and the LORD was with them.
- 2 Samuel 19:20 For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”
- 1 Kings 5:16 not including his 3,300 foremen who supervised the workers.
- Isaiah 14:25 I will break Assyria in My land; I will trample him on My mountain. His yoke will be taken off My people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.”
- Amos 5:6 Seek the LORD and live, or He will sweep like fire through the house of Joseph; it will devour everything, with no one at Bethel to extinguish it.
- Zechariah 10:6 I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them, and they will be as though I had not rejected them. For I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them.
- Matthew 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”