Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Heard of it - i. e., of the death of Solomon and accession of Rehoboam. This would be more clear without the division into chapters; which division, it must be remembered, is without authority.

Dwelt in Egypt - By a change of the pointing of one word, and of one letter in another, the Hebrew text here will read as in 2 Chronicles 10:2, “returned out of Egypt; and they sent and called him.”

In the Septuagint Version the story of Jeroboam is told in two different ways. The general narrative agrees closely with the Hebrew text; but an insertion into the body of 1 Kings 12 - remarkable for its minuteness and circumstantiality - at once deranges the order of the events, and gives to the history in many respects a new aspect and coloring. This section of the Septuagint, though regarded by some as thoroughly authentic, absolutely conflicts with the Hebrew text in many important particulars. In its general outline it is wholly irreconcileable with the other narrative; and, if both stood on the same footing, and we were free to choose between them, there could be no question about preferring the history as given in our Version.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it,.... Of the death of Solomon, and of the meeting of the Israelites at Shechem:

(for he was fled from the presence of King Solomon; see 1 Kings 11:40.

and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) until the death of Solomon; some render the words, "Jeroboam, returned out of Egypt"^F4וישב־במצרים "reversus est de Aegypto", V. L. Ex Egypto, ב pro מן, Vatablus. , which agrees with 2 Chronicles 10:2, this he did on hearing the above news, and on being sent for by some of his friends, as follows.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Kings 12:2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard [of it], (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)

Ver. 2. For he was fled,] viz., For safeguard of his life, as man is ζωον φιλοζωον, a life loving creature. See on 1 Kings 11:40.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Heard of it; in the Hebrew it is only heard, and may relate either to Solomon’s death, or to the meeting which all the tribes had appointed at Shechem.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

2.When Jeroboam’ heard — Heard that Solomon was dead, and that Rehoboam had begun to reign in Jerusalem.

For he was fled — The parenthesis which begins here should take in, according to Schmidt, De Wette, and others, the first sentences in the next verse, but this is unnecessary. The whole passage, (1 Kings 12:2-3,) however, should be translated thus: When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard, (now he was still in Egypt, whither he had fled from the face of Solomon the king, and Jeroboam was dwelling in Egypt, ) then sent they and called him, and they came, Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel, and spake to Reho-boam, saying. They had heard of Ahijah’s prophecy that Jeroboam should become their king, and they knew his ability and influence, and desired his counsel and guidance in this critical period of their history. All this indicates a deeply-laid plan and a well-matured purpose to throw off the yoke of the house of David.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Hearing of. Hebrew, "It (the assembly) and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt." (Haydock) --- But in 2 Paralipomenon x. 2., we find he returned. It is probable that both texts agreed in the days of St. Jerome; as the same letters, if read in a different manner, may have both meanings. (Calmet) --- Septuagint have also "returned." (Haydock)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) For he was fled.—In 2 Chronicles 10:2, and in the LXX. version (or, rather versions, for there is variety of reading) of this passage, Jeroboam is made to return from Egypt, on hearing of the death of Solomon, to his own city, and to be “sent for” thence. This is obviously far more probable, and might be read in the Hebrew by a slight alteration of the text.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeroboam the son of Nebat

11:26-31,40; 2 Chronicles 10:2,3