1 Kings 14

Passage overview

1 Kings 14 records the events that took place during the reigns of Jeroboam of the northern kingdom of Israel and Rehoboam of the southern kingdom of Judah. In this chapter, the story unfolds around Jeroboam going to find the prophet Ahijah based on his son's illness, and also the process by which Judah, during Rehoboam's era, spiritually falls away.

1verseAt that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam became sick.

2verseJeroboam 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.

3verseTake 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.”

4verseJeroboam’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.

5verseThe LORD 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.”

6verseSo 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.

7verseGo, tell Jeroboam, ‘The LORD, the God of Israel, says: “Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you prince over my people Israel,

8verseand 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,

9versebut 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,

10versetherefore, 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.

11verseThe 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 the LORD has spoken it.”’

12verseArise therefore, and go to your house. When your feet enter into the city, the child will die.

13verseAll 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 the LORD, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.

14verseMoreover the LORD will raise up a king for himself over Israel who will cut off the house of Jeroboam. This is the day! What? Even now.

15verseFor the LORD 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 the LORD to anger.

16verseHe will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin.”

17verseJeroboam’s wife arose and departed, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.

18verseAll Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the LORD’s word, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet.

19verseThe 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.

20verseThe days which Jeroboam reigned were twenty two years; then he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.

21verseRehoboam 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 the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother’s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.

22verseJudah did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done.

23verseFor they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

24verseThere were also sodomites in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD drove out before the children of Israel.

25verseIn the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem;

26verseand he took away the treasures of the LORD’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.

27verseKing 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.

28verseIt was so, that as often as the king went into the LORD’s house, the guard bore them, and brought them back into the guard room.

29verseNow 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?

30verseThere was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.

31verseRehoboam 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.

Prophecy Concerning Jeroboam’s Son

When Jeroboam’s son became ill, Jeroboam disguises his wife and sends her to find the prophet Ahijah. Ahijah, who had already received the word of the LORD, foretells the judgment that would come upon Jeroboam’s household. Although Jeroboam’s son dies, the message is that only the child will be regarded as good within Jeroboam’s family and will die peacefully.

Judgment on Jeroboam’s House

Through Ahijah’s prophecy, it is announced that Jeroboam’s household will face a great disaster. They are condemned because they depart from God, worship idols, and lead Israel into sin. Jeroboam’s royal line is cut off, and the entire family is brought to destruction.

Spiritual Decline in Rehoboam’s Reign and Its Consequences

Meanwhile, in the southern kingdom of Judah as well, during King Rehoboam’s era, idolatry and moral corruption are widespread. As a result, Pharaoh Shishak, king of Egypt, invades Jerusalem and takes away the treasures of the temple and the wealth of the royal palace. Even Rehoboam’s seventeen-year reign shows the reality of Israel being far from God’s heart.

Meditation Point

  • Through this chapter, we can reflect on the consequences brought by a life that leaves God and the seriousness of judgment.
  • Even so, we can also find God’s mercy toward those who lived a good life according to His standards (Jeroboam’s son).

Apply It to Me

  • It teaches us that it is important to live without losing the center of faith and not to be shaken by circumstances.
  • In my own life as well, I need to be on guard against temptation and compromise, and to check my attitude toward being whole before God.