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.

1 KINGS 12:20KJV
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1 Kings 12:20 (KJV)

What does 1 Kings 12:20 mean?

1 Kings 12:20 describes the political break between Jeroboam’s kingdom and David’s royal family. The people make Jeroboam their king, while the tribe of Judah remains loyal to the house of David. Israel is no longer united under one king.

The “house of David” means David’s ruling family, represented at this point by his grandson Rehoboam. After the people’s break with Rehoboam in verse 19, the gathering and the choice of Jeroboam give the separation a new form of government.

The Hebrew behind 1 Kings 12:20

  • “congregation” — עֵדָה (ʿedah): The word means an assembly or gathered community. Here it describes the gathering to which Jeroboam is summoned for his appointment as king.
  • “followed” — אַחַר (aḥar): The word carries the sense of being “after” or “behind.” In this setting, following David’s house means remaining loyal to its rule.

Why 1 Kings 12:20 matters

  • “All Israel” needs to be read in light of the division. The same sentence says Judah still followed David’s house, so the phrase describes those who made Jeroboam king rather than every tribe without exception.
  • Judah’s place is more complex than the brief wording might suggest. The next verse names both Judah and Benjamin among those Rehoboam assembled, giving a fuller picture of the people on his side.
  • Jeroboam’s return matters to the story of his rise. Earlier, he had fled to Egypt from Solomon; now the people send for him and make him king.

Where else these words appear

“but” Hebrew H2108 · used in 16 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.
  • 2 Samuel 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
  • Isaiah 26:13 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.

“Jeroboam” Hebrew H3379 · used in 95 verses

  • 1 Kings 11:26 And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.
  • 1 Kings 15:1 Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.
  • 2 Kings 15:8 In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

“congregation” Hebrew H5712 · used in 140 verses

  • Exodus 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
  • Numbers 15:24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
  • Numbers 31:13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.