Jeroboam had been further instructed that the kingdom was not to be divided before the close of Solomon's reign. "I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand," the Lord had declared; "but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David My servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept My commandments and My statutes: but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes." Verses 34, 35.

Jeroboam havde endvidere fået besked om, at riget først skulle deles, når Salomons regeringstid var forbi. "Fra ham vil jeg dog ikke tage riget," havde Herren sagt, "men lade ham være fyrste, så længe han lever, for min tjener Davids skyld, som jeg udvalgte, og som holdt mine bud og anordninger. Men jeg vil tage riget fra hans søn og give dig det, de ti stammer." 1Kong 11,34-35.