In addition to external adversaries, God raised up within the nation an adversary to Solomon. He was Jeroboam, the son of Nebat and Zeruah. The same verse (1 Kings 11:26), which gives us his name and family relationship, tells us that there was a reason that Jeroboam lifted up his hand against the king. We must be careful that we do not think that it was his family background that explains his adversarial relationship with Solomon. It is what comes next that explains how his opposition came about.
We can divide 1 Kings 11:27 in half at the end of the first sentence, because the second sentence appears to fit better with the rest of the narrative than it does with the introductory matters.
There is one more matter that should be noticed. We must be careful that we do not confuse the word reason
with the word motive.
Rather, the writer is telling us the circumstances that led to the opposition.
26 Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king.