John Gill Commentary


John Gill Commentary
"but hast done evil above all that were before thee, and hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:" — 1 Kings 14:9 (ASV)
But have done evil above all that were before you
Not only above David, but above Saul, who never gave into idolatry, yes, even above Solomon, who, though he connived at idolatry, and might be guilty of it in some instances, yet did not attempt to draw his people into it; and if this was the latter end of Jeroboam's reign, which is probable, Rehoboam and Abijam might be both dead; and though they were blameworthy in some things, yet not so bad as Jeroboam; though perhaps this may respect only such who had been kings of Israel before him:
for you have gone and made you other gods, and molten images, to
provoke me to anger ;
the two calves of gold; for however he might color things over, and pretend he did not look upon these as gods, but as representations of God, and that he did not worship them, but God by them, yet the Lord considered it as idolatry, than which nothing is more provoking to him:
and have cast me behind your back ;
as unworthy of his regard; or my worship, as the Targum, which he neglected, and showed no concern for.