Verses 2-3a are not in some manuscripts of the Septuagint. The Masoretic Text of verses 2-3 seems to contradict the statement in verse 20 (missing from the parallel account in 2 Chronicles) that the Israelites at Shechem called for Jeroboam to come there, since the Masoretic Text says that he had already returned. Some interpreters think verses 2-3a have been added to the text in 1 Kings from the parallel account in 2 Chr 10.2-3. For this reason New Jerusalem Bible places verses 2-3a within parentheses to show that they are a later addition to the text. New American Bible, on the other hand, shifts verse 2 to a position between verses 19 and 20 of this chapter. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, however, gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text, which translators should follow. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament does not even discuss this larger textual problem.

Heard of it is literally “heard” without an object, but Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation supply the direct object it and “this news” respectively for the verb in agreement with English usage. In a broader sense, the news was not only that Rehoboam had gone to Shechem but also that King Solomon had died.

For he was still in Egypt, whither he had fled from King Solomon: These words are parenthetical, and for this reason Revised Standard Version and New Revised Standard Version set them off from the rest of the verse with parentheses. Other translations use dashes for the same reason here (New Jerusalem Bible, Moffatt, Anchor Bible, Peregrino, Maredsous). Another way of handling this problem is to restructure the material, shifting this parenthetical statement to the beginning of this verse. If this is done, the verse may be rendered “Jeroboam, son of Nebat, had escaped from King Solomon and run away to Egypt. While he was still there, he heard this news. He then remained in Egypt.”

Fled from translates the same Hebrew words as those translated “fled from” in 1 Kgs 2.7. In this context the Hebrew is appropriately rendered “taken refuge from” (New Jerusalem Bible). In certain languages two verbs may be required to express the meaning here; for example, some may say “ran away and hid himself.”

Jeroboam returned from Egypt: By translating in this way, both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation, as well as most other modern translations, follow the reading in some ancient translations, which also agrees with the parallel text in 2 Chr 10.2. If this text is followed, International Children’s Bible may provide a helpful model for the whole verse since it breaks it down into the following three short sentences, which help clarify the meaning: “Jeroboam son of Nebat was still in Egypt. He had gone there to escape from Solomon. When Jeroboam heard about Rehoboam being made king, Jeroboam returned from Egypt.”

The Masoretic Text reads “remained in” (wayyesheb be in Hebrew) instead of returned from (wayyashab mi). This is usually understood to mean either (a) he settled down to live in Egypt, or (b) he remained there waiting for an opportunity to return.

Regarding interpretation (a), compare New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible): “Jeroboam son of Nebat learned of it while he was still in Egypt; for Jeroboam had fled from King Solomon, and had settled in Egypt.”

Regarding interpretation (b) compare De Vries: “And when Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it—now he was still in Egypt wither he had fled before King Solomon—then Jeroboam remained in readiness in Egypt.”

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a different interpretation of the Hebrew verb for “remained/dwelt.” As in 1 Kgs 15.21, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament believes this verb is used with a technical military meaning in this context. The sense is that Jeroboam remained inactive militarily. Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives a {C} rating to the Masoretic Text. Translators should follow the Masoretic Text, and either interpretation (a) or (b) is acceptable.

According to the text followed in Revised Standard Version, Jeroboam had already heard of Solomon’s death and had returned from Egypt before the people of the northern tribes called him to Shechem. But according to the Masoretic Text, Jeroboam was still living in Egypt at the time that the people of the northern tribes sent word for him to come to Shechem from Egypt.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .