Zeruah

Zeruah was the mother of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who would become the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of Solomon's realm (1 Kings 11:26). She is described as a widow, suggesting Jeroboam was raised without a father and possibly of modest origins. The brief notice of her name in the regnal formula reflects the biblical historiographer's practice of identifying the mothers of significant rulers in the narrative.