1 Kings 11:28

Made him.. charge] RV 'gave him charge over all the labour'; see 1 Kings 5:13; 1 Kings 5:14. As the system of forced labour introduced by Solomon had as its object the adornment of his capital, which was most closely connected with Judah and Benjamin, it would be the more resented by the other tribes: cp. 1 Kings 12:4; 1 Kings 12:16. Jeroboam's position enabled him to detect and work upon the discontent, which would be strongest in Ephraim, inasmuch as in the times of Joshua and the Judges it had enjoyed the preeminence which had now passed to Judah.