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Commentary on 1 Kings 14 verses 7–20
When those that set up idols, and keep them up, go to enquire of the Lord, he determines to answer them, not according to the pretensions of their enquiry, but according to the multitude of their idols, Eze 14:4. So Jeroboam is answered here.
I. The prophet anticipates the enquiry concerning the child, and foretels the ruin of Jeroboam's house for the wickedness of it. No one else durst have carried such a message: a servant would have smothered it, but his own wife cannot be suspected of ill-will to him.
1.God calls himself the Lord God of Israel. Though Israel had forsaken God, God had not cast them off, nor given them a bill of divorce for their whoredoms. He is Israel's God, and therefore will take vengeance on him who did them the greatest mischief he could do them, debauched them and drew them away from God.
2.He upbraids Jeroboam with the great favour he had bestowed upon him, in making him king, exalting him from among the people, the common people, to be prince over God's chosen Israel, and taking the kingdom from the house of David, to bestow it upon him. Whether we keep an account of God's mercies to us or no, he does, and will set even them in order before us, if we be ungrateful, to our greater confusion; otherwise he gives and upbraids not.
3.He charges him with his impiety and apostasy, and his idolatry particularly: Thou hast done evil above all that were before thee, Kg1 14:9. Saul, that was rejected, never worshipped idols; Solomon did it but occasionally, in his dotage, and never made Israel to sin. Jeroboam's calves, though pretended to be set up in honour of the God of Israel, that brought them up out of Egypt, yet are here called other gods, or strange gods, because in them he worshipped God as the heathen worshipped their strange gods, because by them he changed the truth of God into a lie and represented him as altogether different from what he is, and because many of the ignorant worshippers terminated their devotion in the image, and did not at all regard the God of Israel. Though they were calves of gold, the richness of the metal was so far from making them acceptable to God that they provoked him to anger, designedly affronted him, under colour of pleasing him. In doing this, (1.) He had not set David before him (Kg1 14:8): Thou hast not been as my servant David, who, though he had his faults and some bad ones, yet never forsook the worship of God nor grew loose nor cold to that; his faithful adherence to that gained him this honourable character, that he followed God with all his heart, and herein he was proposed for an example to all his successors. Those did not do well that did not do like David. (2.) He had not set God before him, but (Kg1 14:9), "Thou hast cast me behind thy back, my law, my fear; thou hast neglected me, forgotten me, and preferred thy policies before my precepts."
4.He foretels the utter ruin of Jeroboam's house, Kg1 14:10, Kg1 14:11. He thought, by his idolatry, to establish his government, and by that he not only lost it, but brought destruction upon his family, the universal destruction of all the males, whether shut up or left, married or unmarried. (1.) Shameful destruction. They shall be taken away as dung, which is loathsome and which men are glad to be rid of. He worshipped dunghill-deities, and God removed his family as a great dunghill. Noble and royal families, if wicked, are no better in God's account. (2.) Unusual destruction. Their very dead bodies should be meat for the dogs in the street, or the birds of prey in the field, Kg1 14:11. Thus evil pursues sinners. See this fulfilled, Kg1 15:29.
5.He foretels the immediate death of the sick child, Kg1 14:12, Kg1 14:13.
(1.)In mercy to him, lest, if he live, he be infected with the sin, and so involved in the ruin, of his father's house. Observe the character given of him: In him was found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. He had an affection for the true worship of God and disliked the worship of the calves. Note, [1.] Those are good in whom are good things towards the Lord God of Israel, good inclinations, good intentions, good desires, towards him. [2.] Where there is but some good thing of that kind it will be found: God, who seeks it, sees it be it ever so little and is pleased with it. [3.] A little grace goes a great way with great people. It is so rare to find princes well affected to religion that, when they are so, they are worthy of double honour. [4.] Pious dispositions are in a peculiar manner amiable and acceptable when they are found in those that are young. The divine image in miniature has a peculiar beauty and lustre in it. [5.] Those that are good in bad times and places shine very brightly in the eyes of God. A good child in the house of Jeroboam is a miracle of divine grace: to be there untainted is like being in the fiery furnace unhurt, unsinged. Observe the care taken of him: he only, of all Jeroboam's family, shall die in honour, shall be buried, and shall be lamented as one that lived desired. Note, Those that are distinguished by divine grace shall be distinguished by divine providence. This hopeful child dies first of all the family, for God often takes those soonest whom he loves best. Heaven is the fittest place for them; this earth is not worthy of them.
(2.)In wrath to the family. [1.] It was a sign the family would be ruined when he was taken by whom it might have been reformed. The righteous are removed from the evil to come in this world, to the good to come in a better world. It is a bad omen to a family when the best in it are buried out of it; when what was valuable is picked out the rest is for the fire. [2.] It was likewise a present affliction to the family and kingdom, by which both ought to have been bettered; and this aggravated the affliction to the poor mother that she should not reach home time enough to see her son alive: When thy feet enter into the city, just then the child shall die. This was to be a sign to her of the accomplishment of the rest of the threatenings, as Sa1 2:34.
6.He foretels the setting up of another family to rule over Israel, Kg1 14:14. This was fulfilled in Baasha of Issachar, who conspired against Nadab the son of Jeroboam, in the second year of his reign, murdered him and all his family. "But what? Even now. Why do I speak of it as a thing at a distance? It is at the door. It shall be done even now." Sometimes God makes quick work with sinners; he did so with the house of Jeroboam. It was not twenty-four years from his first elevation to the final extirpation of his family.
7.He foretels the judgments which should come upon the people of Israel for conforming to the worship which Jeroboam had established. If the blind lead the blind, both the blind leaders and the blind followers shall fall into the ditch. It is here foretold, Kg1 14:15, (1.) That they should never be easy, nor rightly settled in their land, but continually shaken like a reed in the water. After they left the house of David, the government never continued long in one family, but one undermined and destroyed another, which must needs occasion great disorders and disturbances among the people. (2.) That they should, ere long, be totally expelled out of their land, that good land, and given up to ruin, Kg1 14:16. This was fulfilled in the captivity of the ten tribes by the king of Assyria. Families and kingdoms are ruined by sin, ruined by the wickedness of the heads of them. Jeroboam did sin, and made Israel to sin. If great men do wickedly, they involve many others both in the guilt and in the snare; multitudes follow their pernicious ways. They go to hell with a long train, and their condemnation will be the more intolerable, for they must answer, not only for their own sins, but for the sins which others have been drawn into and kept in by their influence.
II. Jeroboam's wife has nothing to say against the word of the Lord, but she goes home with a heavy heart to their house in Tirzah, a sweet delightful place, so the name signifies, famed for its beauty, Sol 6:4. But death, which will stain its beauty and embitter all its delights, cannot be shut out from it. Hither she came, and here we leave her attending the funeral of her son, and expecting the fate of her family. 1. The child died (Kg1 14:17), and justly did all Israel mourn, not only for the loss of so hopeful a prince, whom they were not worthy of, but because his death plucked up the flood-gates, and made a breach, at which an inundation of judgments broke in. 2. Jeroboam himself died soon after, Kg1 14:20. It is said (Ch2 13:20), The Lord struck him with some sore disease, so that he died miserably, when he had reigned twenty-two years, and left his crown to a son who lost it, and his life too, and all the lives of his family, within two years after. For a further account of him the reader is referred to the annals of his reign, drawn up by his own secretaries, or to the public records, like those in the Tower, called here, The Book or register, of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, to which recourse might then be had; but, not being divinely inspired, these records are long since lost.
[The Scripture] calls “something pleasing” the fact that [Jeroboam] sent his wife to the prophet of God and not to the impostors and diviners. We must constantly admire the mercy of God, who increases many times over every good [action] performed by mortals and then returns it to them. This is quite evident from what he did for that father of the error of the calves and protector of the iniquity of Baal, namely, Ahab. Because of his fast of one day, and the night in which he slept in sackcloth, punishment was averted from his house and his kingdom for three years in order to show [God’s] mercy and exhort sinners to repentance.
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SUMMARY
1 Kings 14:13 unveils a singular act of divine mercy and precise justice amidst the sweeping judgment pronounced upon the apostate house of King Jeroboam. It records the unique privilege granted to Jeroboam's son, Abijah, who alone among his lineage would receive a proper burial and national mourning. This exceptional favor is attributed to a "good thing" found within him by the LORD God of Israel, a profound testament to God's omniscience and His ability to discern genuine spiritual inclination even within a household steeped in profound idolatry and rebellion.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. Contrast is paramount, setting Abijah's fate in stark opposition to the utter destruction and dishonor prophesied for the rest of Jeroboam's house. This highlights the exceptional nature of God's mercy towards an individual amidst corporate judgment. There is also a strong element of irony in the phrase "good thing... in the house of Jeroboam," as Jeroboam's household was the epitome of wickedness and rebellion against the LORD. The presence of any "good thing" within such a context is unexpected and underscores God's ability to find and honor genuine faith even in the most unlikely and corrupt places. Furthermore, the act of proper burial serves as a powerful symbolism of divine favor, peace, and honor, contrasting sharply with the symbolic disgrace of unburied bodies and the ultimate rejection by God. The entire narrative also functions as a prophecy, with Ahijah's words precisely foretelling Abijah's death and burial, thereby validating the prophet's authority and God's sovereign control over human events.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the tension between corporate judgment and individual accountability, revealing God's character as both perfectly just and infinitely merciful. While the consequences of Jeroboam's apostasy were dire and extended to his entire lineage, God's discerning eye recognized a unique spiritual inclination in Abijah. This demonstrates that God's judgment is not a blind sweep but a precise and personal assessment of the heart. It underscores the biblical truth that God sees beyond outward appearances and family associations, valuing genuine, internal devotion even when it is hidden or imperfect. This encourages believers to cultivate an authentic relationship with the LORD, knowing that even small acts of faithfulness or a sincere heart orientation towards Him are seen and honored.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Kings 14:13 offers a powerful message of hope and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that God's grace and discernment extend to individuals, even when they are part of a spiritually compromised family, community, or society. Abijah's story emphasizes the profound value of personal piety: even a "some good thing" in the heart, a genuine turning towards God, is recognized and honored by Him. This encourages us to cultivate an authentic relationship with the LORD, regardless of our surroundings, knowing that our internal disposition matters deeply to God. For those who find themselves in environments hostile to faith, Abijah's example shows that personal integrity and devotion to God can still be maintained and will be acknowledged. It also serves as a sobering reminder that while God's judgment for corporate and national sin is real, His justice is also highly individualized, recognizing the heart of each person. We are called to live with integrity, knowing that God sees our hearts and honors genuine faith, even when it is unseen by others, offering a profound comfort that our sincere efforts to please Him are never overlooked.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was Abijah the only one of Jeroboam's house to receive a proper burial?
Answer: Abijah was uniquely favored because God found "some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel" in him. This indicates a genuine, though perhaps private, spiritual inclination or devotion to the true God, which stood in stark contrast to the pervasive idolatry and wickedness of his father Jeroboam and the rest of the household. God's omniscience allowed Him to discern this internal disposition, distinguishing Abijah from his family who were under severe divine judgment for their apostasy.
What exactly was this "good thing" found in Abijah?
Answer: The Bible does not specify the exact nature of this "good thing." It likely refers to a genuine, perhaps nascent or private, reverence for the LORD, a turning of his heart towards the covenant God of Israel, or actions consistent with such a disposition. It was not necessarily a grand public act of righteousness, but an internal spiritual quality that God recognized and honored. This contrasts sharply with Jeroboam's deliberate and public rejection of the LORD in favor of idol worship, as detailed in 1 Kings 12.
Does this mean God is unfair to Jeroboam's other descendants who did not receive proper burial?
Answer: No, it does not imply unfairness. Instead, it highlights God's mercy and discernment towards Abijah. The judgment on Jeroboam's house was a just consequence of their widespread and persistent sin of leading Israel into idolatry. The ignominious deaths prophesied for the rest of the family were a deserved outcome for their rebellion. Abijah's proper burial was an exception, a specific act of grace based on God's unique perception of his heart, demonstrating that God's justice is precise and His mercy is sovereign, even amidst corporate judgment. This aligns with the principle that God's ways are always just, as seen throughout the biblical narrative, for example, in Deuteronomy 32:4.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The "good thing" found in Abijah, which garnered God's unique favor and a proper burial, points forward to the ultimate "good thing" in the person of Jesus Christ. While Abijah's goodness was partial and imperfect, Christ embodied perfect righteousness and complete devotion "toward the LORD God." In Jesus, God found not "some good thing," but the absolute and perfect good, the very Son who perfectly pleased the Father (Matthew 3:17). Abijah's burial was an act of mercy for one individual, but Christ's death and burial on the cross secured eternal life and spiritual burial for all who believe, taking away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Through faith in Him, we are not merely found with "some good thing," but are clothed in His perfect righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). The divine discernment that saw Abijah's heart now sees those who are "in Christ," granting them not just a physical grave but an eternal inheritance and resurrection life, fulfilling God's ultimate plan of justice and mercy through the perfect sacrifice of His Son (Romans 6:4). This ultimate act of divine favor through Christ far surpasses any earthly burial, offering eternal peace and communion with God.