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1 Kings 14

31 verses

TL;DR

Jeroboam's son falls ill, prompting a prophetic judgment on Jeroboam’s reign and Israel’s future, while Rehoboam’s rule in Judah faces conflict, idolatry, and an Egyptian raid.

Summary

Jeroboam’s son Abijah falls ill, leading Jeroboam to seek the prophet Ahijah at Shiloh. Ahijah delivers a harsh judgment: Jeroboam’s sins of idolatry will bring death to his child and future destruction of his house. The child dies, Israel mourns, and the divine decree predicts Jeroboam’s house will be cut off. The chapter then shifts to Rehoboam in Judah, who also sins by building high places and idolatry. In Rehoboam’s fifth year, Shishak of Egypt attacks Jerusalem, plundering the temple’s treasures. Rehoboam constructs bronze shields to replace the lost gold. The text concludes with a summary of Rehoboam’s reign, his conflict with Jeroboam, and his burial in the city of David.

Outline
  1. Jeroboam seeks prophetic counsel over his son’s illness and receives judgment of doom.
  2. The child dies, Israel mourns, and divine decree foretells Jeroboam’s house’s demise.
  3. Rehoboam’s reign in Judah is described, including idolatry, an Egyptian raid, and ongoing conflict with Jeroboam.
Themes
Divine judgment for idolatry and covenant violationPolitical division and inter‑kingdom conflictProphetic warning and the consequences of disobedience
Keywords
kingdomprophetjudgmentsicknessdivine wrathIsraelJerusalemEgyptRehoboam
People
AbijahJeroboamAhijahRehoboamSolomonNadabNaamahShishak
Places
ShilohTirzahJerusalemthe city of David
Things
ten loavescracknelshoneykingdommolten imagesshields of goldshields of bronzedogsbirds
Key Verses
  • 1 Kings 14:8: Illustrates the divine judgment against Jeroboam’s idolatry and its impact on his household.
  • 1 Kings 14:17: Records the fulfillment of the prophecy with the child’s death, underscoring the severity of divine warning.
  • 1 Kings 14:25: Marks the Egyptian invasion, showing external consequences of Judah’s disobedience and the broader theme of judgment.
Questions
  • How does the judgment against Jeroboam reflect Israel’s covenant relationship with God?
  • What parallels can be drawn between Jeroboam’s and Rehoboam’s idolatry and the political consequences that follow?
  • In what ways does the text use the death of a child as a motif for divine judgment?
Sentiment

negative
Divine judgment, human sorrow, and warnings of impending destruction dominate the tone.