1 Kings 14
14:2 a Disguise yourself: Jeroboam apparently recognized that his sin had separated him from any right to approach God’s prophet. He knew that the man who had predicted his accession to Israel’s throne could predict the child’s fate and perhaps intercede with the Lord on his behalf.• Shiloh had earlier been destroyed by the Philistines in the time of Eli (1 Sam 4 b). Before that, the Tabernacle resided there (Josh 18:1 c; 1 Sam 1:3 d). A small community once again inhabited the site, which remained largely undeveloped throughout the divided monarchy.
14:3 e It was customary to take a gift to a prophet when seeking his counsel (2 Kgs 5:5 f; 8:8 g). King Jeroboam’s wife took everyday commodities to supplement her disguise.
14:5 h the answer I give you: The Lord often instructed prophets to deliver only the message that he gave them (see 22:14 i; Num 22:38 j; 23:12 k; Jer 7:2 l; Amos 7:14-15 m).
14:7 n God had blessed Jeroboam and established him as ruler in Israel (see study note on 1:35). However, Jeroboam abused God’s appointment with his false religion.
Summary for 1Kgs 14:8-9: 14:8-9 o Unlike David, who genuinely repented of his sins (2 Sam 12:13 p; Ps 51:2-4 q), Jeroboam exceeded his predecessors in doing evil. Despite clear evidence of God’s displeasure and coming judgment (1 Kgs 13:33 r), he failed to turn from his ways. His sin would bring grave consequences to his family and descendants (13:34 s; 14:10-11 t, 14 u) and, ultimately, to the whole northern kingdom (14:16 v).
• gold calves: see 12:26-30 w.
14:11 x eaten by dogs: This message of judgment for Jeroboam’s family followed the legal curses pronounced for unfaithfulness (Deut 28:26 y; see 1 Kgs 16:4 z; 21:23 aa; 2 Kgs 9:35-37 ab).
14:14 ac destroy the family of Jeroboam: The prophecy quickly came true. God raised up Baasha, who killed Jeroboam’s son Nadab in the second year of Nadab’s reign (15:27-28 ad).
14:15 ae Asherah was thought to be the consort of El, the elder god of ancient Canaan. Asherah worship included fertility rites at sacred trees or poles; it became a chronic sin for God’s people (15:13 af; 16:33 ag; 18:19 ah; Deut 16:21 ai; Judg 3:7 aj).
Summary for 1Kgs 14:17-18: 14:17-18 ak Tirzah was situated on the road from Shechem to Beth-shan. Noted for its great beauty (Song 6:4 al), the city was a royal retreat that apparently had become the capital of the northern kingdom (1 Kgs 16:6 am, 8 an).
• The child died, as Ahijah had predicted.
Summary for 1Kgs 14:19-20: 14:19-20 ao all his wars: Jeroboam engaged in repeated border skirmishes with Rehoboam (14:30 ap).
• The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel is mentioned seventeen times in 1 Kgs 14:19—2 Kgs 15:31 aq; it includes material that may have originated in official records kept by the court recorder (see 1 Kgs 4:3 ar). It was known to the original readers of 1–2 Kings but is now lost.
Summary for 1Kgs 14:21-31: 14:21-31 as Between the opening and closing details about Rehoboam’s reign (14:21 at, 29-31 au), the account focuses on the deteriorating spiritual experience of God’s people in Judah (14:22-24 av) and on an Egyptian invasion (14:25-28 aw). 14:21 ax Rather than any city of the northern kingdom, the city the Lord had chosen was Jerusalem.
• Naamah, as the queen mother, was highly esteemed in Judah. This role seems to have developed into an official status (15:13 ay), and Judah’s queen mothers are often mentioned in connection with the reigning king (see, e.g., Jer 22:26 az).
14:22 ba the people of Judah did what was evil: Although Rehoboam seemed to begin his reign in good spiritual form (2 Chr 11:5-17 bb, 23 bc), he deserted God’s standards (2 Chr 12:1 bd).
Summary for 1Kgs 14:23-24: 14:23-24 be Solomon had married foreign wives, who led his family into idolatry. Judah, under Rehoboam’s leadership, then perpetuated the detestable practices of the pagan nations that occupied the land before the Israelites. The spiritual decline of a nation easily follows from debased leadership, which leads to disgrace and destruction (Prov 14:34 bf).
• Shrine prostitutes were not uncommon in Canaan but were prohibited for Israel (see study notes on Lev 17:7; Deut 23:17-18). They became a part of Israelite society as the people embraced Canaanite culture.
14:25 bg Shishak (Shoshenq I, 945–924 BC), of Egypt’s 22nd dynasty, reunited the land of Egypt that was divided during the 21st dynasty. He gave Egypt renewed stability, economic expansion, and military power. His attack on Judah is also recorded by the Chronicler (2 Chr 12:2-4 bh) and is written on the Amon Temple in Thebes.
Summary for 1Kgs 14:26-28: 14:26-28 bi When Rehoboam replaced Solomon’s gold shields with bronze shields, it reflected the declining spiritual value of Rehoboam’s kingdom. The complete destruction of Judah and Jerusalem was avoided only when Rehoboam repented in response to the Lord’s word through the prophet Shemaiah (2 Chr 12:5-6 bj, 12 bk).
Summary for 1Kgs 14:29-31: 14:29-31 bl The closing report concerning Rehoboam’s reign notes his constant strife with Jeroboam.
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