1 Kings Chapters 13-14 Commentary

First Kings Chapters 13-14 Chapter 13 13:1 “Prophets in the Old Testament were not only ‘king-makers’ but also ‘king-breakers’. Those the Lord sent to choose and anoint kings could also be sent to declare divine judgment” (Dilday p. 167). The prophet in this chapter is unnamed and simply called “a man of God”. “God did not permit the inauguration of Jeroboam’s first great feast at Bethel to proceed without prophetic protest” (Smith p. 473). The prophet actually arrives at the very moment that Jeroboam is arrogantly officiating as high priest of his own man-made religion. The prophet had come from Judah and was this because no prophet or faithful prophet could be found in the northern kingdom? 13:2 The prophet cried against the altar, because it was unscriptural in the sight of God. With the precision that is often found in the Bible, Josiah, a man who would not be born for some three hundred years, was named as the instrument who would bring God’s wrath upon Bethel and its altar. The actual prediction is fulfilled in 2 Kings 23:20. “The time span between Jeroboam and Josiah was 291 years. But time means nothing to the One who inhabits eternity (Isaiah 57:15). He sees the future as clearly as the present” (Winters p. 105). “The man of God did not even hint at what would happen before Josiah’s day: that the kingdom of Israel would fall to Assyria because of her apostasy, and then as Assyrian power weakened, it would be possible for Josiah to extend the authority of Judah northward and to destroy the idolatrous sanctuaries there” (Vos p. 94).

13:3 As proof that this man was speaking from God, a sign was given. As in the New Testament, the miracles were proof that God was speaking through an individual (Acts 2:22; Hebrews 2:3-4).

13:4-5 Instead of obeying and repenting Jeroboam tried to silence this prophet, he attempts to stop the prophet and thus also to obliterate the word of God. God immediately punished Jeroboam by causing arm to wither. “Before any soldiers could act, Jeroboam’s hand froze in its outstretched position, paralyzed; and the altar ‘bust apart’ and the ashes scattered” (Vos p. 94). “In one dramatic act, God: 1. Demonstrated that the sacrifice being offered was unacceptable; 2. Symbolized the

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ultimate overthrow of that altar; and 3. Humbled a proud king” (Smith p.

474).

13:6-10 Jeroboam now changes his tactics, and pleads for mercy, yet whatever softening of the king’s heart the request might imply it was shortlived. He continued in disobedience until his death (33). Jeroboam attempts to win the prophet’s favor by offering him food and a gift, but the prophet refused, he had his orders from God. First, prophets must not be for sale, and secondly, Jeroboam was an apostate (1 Corinthians 5:9ff). “Sharing in the meal would be a sign of close fellowship. This prophet was to leave no doubt that the God he served had repudiated the northern calf cult” (Smith p. 474). 13:11-13 While devout worshippers of God had emigrated to Judah (2 Chronicles 11:13-16), at least one old prophet remained in Bethel. Clearly, he had compromised himself (for God wasn’t using him), in addition he will tell an outright lie to the prophet that had come from Judah. “If he were a prophet of God, he was certainly now derelict of his duties, neither contending against the calf worship at Bethel nor raising his prophetic voice in defense of the ancient order at Jerusalem. In addition, his sons appear to have actively practiced the sin of Jeroboam, being present and aware of all the events that had transpired at the altar” (Winters p. 108).

13:14-18 The old prophet lies to this unnamed prophet, and says that an angel had given him new information.

“An angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord” (18): Sound familiar?

Joseph Smith also claimed that an angel had spoken to him (Galatians 1:6-9). Here we learn that God does not contradict Himself and that He expects us to test those whose claim they are speaking for Him, with what He has said in the past (Acts 17:11). God is not offended when we test those who claim to represent Him (Revelation 2:2). Sincerely believing a lie does not make up for neglecting the truth. People will try to deceive us, there are many people claiming that God is speaking through them today. God will allow us to believe a lie if we do not trust Him (2 Thess.

2:10-12). “The unnamed prophet knew God’s command. He also knew that God does not contradict His own Word…So when a prophet said that an angel said that he could eat and drink in Israel, his heart should have detected the hiss of the Serpent (“you shall not die” Genesis 3:1ff) and his lips should have cried out, NO!!” (Whitcomb p. 26).

13:20-22 God immediately pronounces judgment against the unnamed prophet. Because the man of God had disobeyed the full counsel of God, he would not be buried in the tomb of his father; this meant that he would meet a violent death along the way home (23-24). Many would 2

argue that his disobedience was in such a tiny matter, after all had he not confronted Jeroboam, had he not obeyed 90% of what God had told him? Yet, God judged him sternly. Remember, any command that God gives is important or He wouldn’t have given it, and disobedience to any command of God, to any detail in any command is a sin. Don’t let anyone tell you that as long as you have warm feelings for God and generally do what is right that you can ignore the commands of God. Even though the old prophet had lied to him, God still held this man accountable for believing a lie that contradicted His truth. How many people today are believing that baptism isn’t essential to salvation because some religious leader has told them so? Also note that God didn’t strike Jeroboam or the old prophet—rather He immediately punished the man who had previously been faithful.

13:23-25 “That this death was no accident is indicated by the peculiar behavior of the donkey and the lion, both of which simply stood near the corpse of the fallen prophet” (Smith p. 475). 13:26-32 The old prophet who had lied goes and retrieves the body and shows profound respect for the unnamed prophet by placing his body in his own grave. Apparently, the old man was now convinced that the predictions regarding the Bethel altar and other sanctuaries in the north would come to pass” (Smith pp.

475-476). Yet nothing is said about this old man turning to God, or repenting of his falsehood.

“What an indictment this is against false teachers and their doctrines!

Jesus described them as wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15-21).

Paul warned of false teachers entering the church (Acts 20:28-32), gospel perverters (Galatians 1:6-11), and false prophets (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) (who looked like faithful and sincere members)…Despite these warnings, many still contend, ‘It does not matter what one believes just as long as he is sincere’. But it was a matter of life and death with this young prophet, and the same it true of us (2 Thess. 2:10-12; 2 John 9-11)” (Winters p. 109).

Chapter 14 14:1 “After Jeroboam’s encounter with the man of God, an ominous cloud quickly overshadowed his idolatrous household” (Winters p. 112).

When people abandon God, they forget that they are very vulnerable without Him. “For twenty -two years the unrepentant Jeroboam ruled the young Northern Kingdom, first from his early capital at Shechem and apparently in later years from the city of Tizrah about seven miles to the northeast of Shechem…The king’s concern for his (his son’s) recovery 3

leads some interpreters to believe Abijah (a BUY jah) was the oldest son and therefore the heir to the throne” (Dilday p. 170).

14:2-3 It is ironic that Jeroboam seeks help from the very prophet who predicted his rise to power yet who also warned him to keep the Lord’s commands (1 Kings 11:29-39). It is also ironic that Jeroboam believes that Ahijah can foretell the future, but that he can’t recognize Jeroboam’s disguised wife! Why didn’t Jeroboam consult any of the “prophets” in Northern Israel? What about the leaders among his own man-made religion? Sin makes us so blind to reality. “How the king and queen could expect a prophet of God to know the future and yet not to be able to see through a disguise is somewhat incomprehensible” (Vos p. 98). When the chips are down—sinners do know who is preaching the truth.

Jeroboam knew God didn’t speak through any of his priests or prophets!

Jeroboam at this point reminds me of denominational leaders who won’t preach baptism as necessary for salvation, but they will sneak off and be baptized themselves!

14:4-5 Yet the all-knowing God of the universe told the blind prophet that the queen was coming and exactly what to say to her. Ahijah’s physical sight has failed due to age, and perhaps this fact helps explain why Jeroboam thought he could be fooled. 14:6-9 For His part, God had graciously elevated Jeroboam to the kingship at the expense of the unity of the Davidic empire. But He had done so on the condition of Jeroboam’s faithfulness to Him (1 Kings 11:38). Jeroboam, for his part, had not been faithful to God as David had been, and even worse, he had done more evil than all his predecessors. Jeroboam had been worse than King Saul and worse than even Solomon who had built shrines for his heathen wives. When one departs from God and places other things ahead of God, one is casting God behind their backs, and one is also treating God with contempt. “Despite God’s goodness to him, Jeroboam had utterly despised God and committed gross sin” (Gaebelein p. 122).

God will harshly judge those who betray Him (Hebrews 10:26ff). The person who turns from God, the Christian who apostasies or gives up, will find that God is not merciful to them. God expects people to appreciate what He has done for them. When I read the above passages and those that follow, I shudder at what God is going to say at the judgment to the unfaithful Christian or the person who tried to blame their problems on faithful Christians.

14:10-11 God will cut off every male of Jeroboam’s line. “Perhaps meaning married or unmarried, and destroy every trace of the existence of his house with shameful and utter extermination as one ‘burns dung 4

until it is gone’” (Vos p. 99). “The expression ‘as one takes away dung’ indicates the contempt with which the members of the royal house would be treated in the day of judgment. The corpses of those pathetic princes would be left unburied. Those who fell in the city would be eaten by roving packs of savage dogs….To the eastern mind, to be left unburied was the ultimate disgrace” (Smith p. 485). Sin is contagious, especially in families. If we are unfaithful, such can affect our children and grandchildren. In the Bible there are times that God eliminated entire families! As parents, let us be a blessing to our children and descendants, rather than a curse.

14:12-13 The son that died would be the only descendant of Jeroboam who would have a proper burial. The reason for this, “because in him something good was found”. Hence, God is showing mercy to Abijah, the boy’s early death makes him fortunate, since he will not have to suffer horrible death and the humiliation of not being buried. “These words almost suggest that Abjiah dissented from his father’s religious policies” (Smith p. 485). 14:14 To accomplish His divine purposes against the family of Jeroboam, God would raise up a king which later history reveals to be Baasha (1 Kings 15:29). Judgment would begin that very day with the death of Abijah (14:14).

14:15-16 Jeroboam’s idolatry had affected not only his family, but it would bring judgment upon the entire nation! This last prediction will find fulfillment in 722 B.C. (about 200 years from this chapter). But God’s longrange promises are just as certain as the short-range promises. Right up until the end, Israel is still worshipping the golden calves which Jeroboam had constructed (2 Kings 17:16). “Thus God would smite Israel and sweep it away as easily and swiftly as a reed might be swept down a turbulent stream” (Smith p. 486). People forget that they can lead an entire family or congregation into apostasy. False doctrine affects far more people than just the person who is spreading it.14:17-18 Everything happened just as God had said---but neither Jeroboam nor his wife turn to God! In fact, nothing is said about the mother of Abijah pleading with the Lord for mercy, offering to repent, or confronting her husband about his sins which had brought the death of her firstborn son! People often blame God for their problems and are blind to the real cause.

14:19-20 Jeroboam will rule for 22 years (930-909 B.C. “Under Divine guidance the author of the books of Kings has selected information about Jeroboam that especially underscores his spiritual apostasy. Other information about his military involvements and political administration were available in the ‘annals of the kings of Israel’, records kept in the national archives” (Vos p. 100). “Before returning to his report of 5

Rehoboam in Judah, the author announced that Nadab, Jeroboam’s son, took over the throne of Israel. But we already know from the prophecy in verse 14 what will happen to him” (Dilday p. 172).

Rehoboam’s Reign 14:21-31 14:21 Rehoboam will reign for 17 years (ca. 930-913). He was 41 when he began ruling, which means that he was born just before Solomon became king. According to 2 Chronicles chapters 10-12, Rehoboam started off well. During the first three years of his rule, he led the kingdom in ways of righteousness. But then a rapid decline set in, and idolatrous high places and groves began to appear everywhere. We are always simply one generation or one decision away from apostasy. Error must be continually challenged and opposed, for it is relentless, and the slope of apostasy is very steep. In Chronicles we find that on the heels of spiritual error comes extreme immorality, for male cult prostitutes start surfacing in the land. Some people think that tolerance for homosexuality is the sign of an enlightened and healthy culture, but according to the Bible, such practices are condoned only when a culture is on the brink of destruction (Genesis 19; Romans 1:18-28). The name of Rehoboam’s mother, simply reminds us that Solomon had made the grave error of loving foreign women—women who never became believers in God. 14:22-24 Here is a good description of the slippery slope. The people whom God had called to be a holy people, had adopted all of the corrupt practices of the Canaanites in a couple of years! 14:25-26 Toward the end of Egypt’s weak and divided Twenty-First Dynasty, mention is made of a Libyan who through marriage and favorable dealings with the high priest finally gained control of the government founding the Twenty-Second Dynasty. Shishak (SHIGH shak), reigned from about 940-915 B.C. In about 926 B.C., he invaded Judah, and according to his own records, he claims to have taken 150 cities in Palestine.

According to the book of Second Chronicles, Jerusalem itself was severely looted and that only the repentance of Rehoboam and his leaders at God’s rebuke through Shemaiah, the prophet, saved the land and the people from total destruction (see 2 Chronicles 12:1-12).

14:27 Sin will always cost us something. 14:30 There were constant confrontations between Israel and Judah. We also learn that Rehoboam was influenced by the bad example of his father, and had a large harem of 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chronicles 11:21).

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“What a contrast! From mighty Solomon with all his wisdom, wealth, and power to spineless Rehoboam with his shallow judgment, his cheap bronze shields, and a kingdom subjected to Egypt…The account ends with the note that Rehoboam’s mother was Naamah, an Ammonitess. Is this not the writer’s way of reminding us that it was Solomon’s marriage to foreign wives that started the precipitous decline in the first place?”

(Dilday p. 174).

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