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1 Kings 14

World English Bible

WEB

1At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam became sick. 2Jeroboam said to his wife, “Please get up and disguise yourself, so that you won’t be recognized as Jeroboam’s wife. Go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said that I would be king over this people. 3Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the child.” 4Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose and went to Shiloh, and came to Ahijah’s house. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were set by reason of his age. 5Yahweh said to Ahijah, “Behold, Jeroboam’s wife is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Tell her such and such; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman.” 6So when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, Jeroboam’s wife! Why do you pretend to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy news. 7Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: “Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel, 8and tore the kingdom away from David’s house, and gave it to you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in my eyes, 9but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made for yourself other gods, molten images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back, 10therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates on a wall, he who is shut up and he who is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung until it is all gone. 11The dogs will eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam who dies in the city; and the birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the field, for Yahweh has spoken it.”’ 12Arise therefore, and go to your house. When your feet enter into the city, the child will die. 13All Israel will mourn for him and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam will come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. 14Moreover Yahweh will raise up a king for himself over Israel who will cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day! What? Even now. 15For Yahweh will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherah poles, provoking Yahweh to anger. 16He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin.” 17Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18All Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. 19The rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 20The days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty two years; then he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place. 21Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. 22Judah did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done. 23For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. 24There were also sodomites in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which Yahweh drove out before the children of Israel. 25In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; 26and he took away the treasures of Yahweh’s house and the treasures of the king’s house. He even took away all of it, including all the gold shields which Solomon had made. 27King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the door of the king’s house. 28It was so, that as often as the king went into Yahweh’s house, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard room. 29Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 30There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually. 31Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in David’s city. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. Abijam his son reigned in his place.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

1 Kings Chapter 14 presents a pivotal moment in the history of Israel, focusing on the reign of King #Jeroboam and the consequences of his idolatry. The chapter begins with Jeroboam's son, #Abijah, falling ill, prompting Jeroboam to send his wife in disguise to the prophet #Ahijah in Shiloh to inquire about their son's fate. This act of seeking guidance from a prophet, while simultaneously maintaining his idolatrous practices, highlights the spiritual decline of Israel under Jeroboam's leadership. Ahijah, who had previously anointed Jeroboam as king, delivers a stern message from God, revealing that Abijah will die and that Jeroboam's dynasty will face severe judgment due to his unfaithfulness and the worship of golden calves at #Bethel and #Dan. This prophecy emphasizes the seriousness of turning away from God and the consequences that follow such actions.

The chapter continues to describe the impending judgment on Jeroboam's house, stating that God will raise up a king to cut off every male descendant of Jeroboam, illustrating the severity of divine retribution for leading Israel into sin. The narrative also reflects on the broader context of Israel's disobedience, as it notes that Jeroboam's actions led the people of Israel into sin, further solidifying the divide between the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. The chapter concludes with a brief account of Jeroboam's reign, his death, and the succession of his son, Nadab, serving as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the dire consequences of idolatry.

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Referenced by

  1. 1 Kings 16:7v101 Kings 16:7 mentions the prophecy against the house of Baasha, similar to the prophecy against the house of Jeroboam in 1 Kings 14:10, showing the pattern of judgment against those who lead Israel into sin.
  2. 2 Chronicles 11:17v21Rehoboam's strengthening of the kingdom for three years is mirrored in 1 Kings 14:21, which notes his reign in Jerusalem, highlighting the temporary stability and adherence to Davidic traditions.
  3. 2 Chronicles 12:1v222 Chronicles 12:1 describes how Rehoboam and all Israel forsook the law of the Lord, which is paralleled in 1 Kings 14:22, highlighting Judah's evil in the sight of the Lord.
  4. 2 Chronicles 12:9v252 Chronicles 12:9 recounts Shishak's invasion and plundering of Jerusalem, which is also detailed in 1 Kings 14:25-26, emphasizing the consequences of forsaking God.

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