Bible Strands
1 Kings 12:20
When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. Only the tribe of Judah followed the house of David.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the political realignment after Jeroboam returns from Egypt. The northern tribes convene an assembly to crown Jeroboam, while the tribe of Judah remains loyal to the house of David.
The words — The text employs שָׁב (shav, "he returned") to note Jeroboam's physical return and וַיִּשְׁלְחֻוּ (va/yishlechu, "they sent") to document the northern tribes' formal summons.
The thread — This territorial split enacts the earlier decree that one tribe would remain for David's sake (1 Kings 11:13; 1 Kings 11:32) and parallels the public assembly procedure used to establish kingship (1 Samuel 10:24).
Why it lands — The passage documents a concrete political fracture that forces the reader to track how tribal loyalty overrides national unity. It requires the reader to observe how human rebellion against established authority initiates a lasting dynastic division.
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 it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 11:13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom away from him. I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.”
- 1 Kings 11:32 But one tribe will remain for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.
- 1 Samuel 10:24 Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the one the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
- 1 Kings 11:36 I will give one tribe to his son, so that My servant David will always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put My Name.
- 1 Kings 12:17 but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.
- Hosea 8:4 They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.
- Hosea 11:12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.