This verse is an editorial comment by the author, providing the theological explanation for the northern tribes’ rejection of King Rehoboam. Good News Translation has reversed the order of the clauses in this verse. It states first what God had done and then concludes with the response of the king.

For hearken see the comments on 1 Kgs 8.30.

It was a turn of affairs brought about by the LORD is literally “it was a turn from Yahweh.” According to verse 24, God was the cause of what happened. Some other ways that this has been translated are “The LORD caused this to happen” (New Century Version), “the LORD brought this about” (New American Bible), and “this was the means used indirectly by the LORD” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).

Fulfil his word: Others say “fulfill the prophecy” (New American Bible) or “fulfil the promise” (New Jerusalem Bible). The idea is that God used this means to accomplish what he had said would happen.

His word, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat is a reference to 1 Kgs 11.29-39.

By Ahijah is literally “by the hand of Ahijah.”

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 .