Jeroboam was an overseer of forced labor in the time of Solomon. He was encouraged by the prophet Ahijah to rebel against the king. Solomon tried to kill him, but Jeroboam fled to Egypt and returned at the accession of Rehoboam. When Rehoboam vowed to rule harshly, the discontented northern tribes made Jeroboam king, leaving Rehoboam with only Judah and Benjamin. Jeroboam built Shechem as his capital and set up golden calves for worship at Bethel and Dan.