Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 14
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Kings 14
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Kings 14
"At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick." — 1 Kings 14:1 (ASV)
At that time - This phrase connects the following narrative with Jeroboam’s persistence in his evil ways. The event described is the first judgment on him for his stubbornness, the beginning of his family line being cut off from the face of the earth.
Abijah - We see by this name that Jeroboam did not intend to abandon the worship of Yahweh, since its meaning is “Yahweh is my father,” or “Yahweh is my desire” (Job 34:36).
"And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spake concerning me that I should be king over this people." — 1 Kings 14:2 (ASV)
Disguise yourself - Jeroboam fears that even Ahijah the Shilonite, who in a way made him king, will scarcely give his queen a favorable answer. The king’s conscience tells him that he has not performed the conditions on which he was promised “a sure house” (1 Kings 11:38).
"And take with thee ten loaves, and cakes, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he will tell thee what shall become of the child." — 1 Kings 14:3 (ASV)
The presents were selected for the purpose of deception, as they were the kind of gifts a poor country person would likely bring. Jeroboam also counted on Ahijah’s blindness (1 Kings 14:4) to aid his deceptive plan (compare Genesis 27:1, 22).
Cracknels – The Hebrew word is thought to mean a kind of cake that crumbled easily.
"And Jehovah said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to inquire of thee concerning her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her; for it will be, when she cometh in, that she will feign herself to be another woman." — 1 Kings 14:5 (ASV)
Feign herself to be another woman - This literally means, “she shall make herself strange,” that is, “she shall come in disguised.” See 1 Kings 14:6.
"And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings." — 1 Kings 14:6 (ASV)
For I am sent to you - Rather, “I also am sent to you.” As you have a message to me from your husband, so I have a message to you from the Lord.
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