And Jeroboam the son of Nebat,.... According to some Jewish writers , this was Sheba the son of Bichri; but, as Kimchi observes, he was of the tribe of Benjamin, this of Ephraim; and besides, his head was cut off, and thrown over the wall to Joab, 2Sa 20:1,an Ephrathite of Zereda; some where in the tribe of Ephraim, but nowhere else mentioned.
There was a famous Jewish doctor, before the times of Christ, of this place, as it seems, who was called Jose ben Joezer, a man of Zereda :Solomon's servant; not only his subject, but one that had been advanced by him to an office, and served under him, 1Ki 11:28,whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman; who very probably was supported by this her son, an industrious and ingenious man:even he lifted up his hand against the king; either against Solomon, by reproaching and reproving him for some things he did; or rather against Rehoboam his son, which was very ungrateful.
Shalshalet Hakabala, p. 11. Pirke Abot, c. 1. sect.