1 Kings 14:17

KJV

And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: [and] when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;

KJV (with Strong's)

And Jeroboam's {H3379} wife {H802} arose {H6965}, and departed {H3212}, and came {H935} to Tirzah {H8656}: and when she came {H935} to the threshold {H5592} of the door {H1004}, the child {H5288} died {H4191};

Complete Jewish Bible

Yarov'am's wife got up, left and went to Tirtzah. The moment she reached the threshold of the house, the boy died.

Berean Standard Bible

Then Jeroboam’s wife got up and departed for Tirzah, and as soon as she stepped over the threshold of the house, the boy died.

American Standard Version

And Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: andas she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse tragically records the precise and immediate fulfillment of the divine prophecy delivered by the prophet Ahijah against the house of King Jeroboam. As Jeroboam's wife, returning in disguise from her encounter with the prophet, stepped across the threshold of her home in Tirzah, her critically ill son, Abijah, breathed his last. This stark event serves as a powerful testament to the unwavering certainty of God's word and the severe consequences of persistent disobedience and idolatry.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the grim culmination of a prophetic declaration against King Jeroboam, found in [1 Kings 14](/1_kings/14 "1 Kings 14 - Ahijah's Prophecy Against Jeroboam"). The narrative immediately preceding this verse details Jeroboam's desperate attempt to inquire of the Lord concerning his sick son, Abijah, by sending his wife in disguise to the aged and blind prophet Ahijah in Shiloh ([1 Kings 14:1-5](/1_kings/14-1 "1 Kings 14:1-5 - Jeroboam's Wife Seeks Ahijah")). Despite the disguise, God revealed Jeroboam's wife to Ahijah, who then delivered a devastating message of judgment against Jeroboam's dynasty, specifically foretelling the death of the child upon his mother's return to the city ([1 Kings 14:6-16](/1_kings/14-6 "1 Kings 14:6-16 - Ahijah's Prophecy of Judgment")). Verse 17 directly records the chilling, instantaneous fulfillment of this prophecy, underscoring the absolute authority and precision of God's word. The subsequent verses describe the child's burial and the lamentation, further solidifying the tragic reality of the judgment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who led ten tribes in secession from the Davidic monarchy after Solomon's death ([1 Kings 12:16-20](/1_kings/12-16 "1 Kings 12:16-20 - The Division of the Kingdom")). To prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem for worship, he established idolatrous cult centers at Dan and Bethel, setting up golden calves ([1 Kings 12:26-30](/1_kings/12-26 "1 Kings 12:26-30 - Jeroboam's Idolatry")). This act of national apostasy became the "sin of Jeroboam" that plagued subsequent northern kings. Tirzah, mentioned in this verse, was the initial capital of the northern kingdom of Israel before Omri moved it to Samaria ([1 Kings 16:23-24](/1_kings/16-23 "1 Kings 16:23-24 - Omri Founds Samaria")). The act of sending a wife in disguise to a prophet was a common cultural practice for seeking divine guidance, but Jeroboam's attempt to deceive highlights his desire to avoid direct confrontation with God's word while still seeking His favor for his son. The immediate death upon crossing the "threshold" would have been understood as a clear, unmistakable sign of divine intervention and judgment, leaving no room for doubt about the prophecy's authenticity or God's absolute control.

* **Key Themes:** The central theme in [1 Kings 14](/1_kings/14 "1 Kings 14 - Ahijah's Prophecy") and indeed much of the book of [1 Kings](/1_kings "The Book of 1 Kings") is the **consequences of obedience and disobedience to God's covenant**. Jeroboam's story exemplifies severe divine judgment against idolatry and leading a nation astray. The immediate death of Abijah highlights the **infallibility and precision of prophetic fulfillment**, demonstrating God's absolute **sovereignty over life and death**. This event also subtly introduces the theme of **mercy within judgment**, as Abijah is noted as the only one of Jeroboam's family who would receive a proper burial because "in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel" ([1 Kings 14:13](/1_kings/14-13 "1 Kings 14:13 - Abijah's Righteousness")). This provides a poignant contrast to the impending doom of Jeroboam's entire lineage, emphasizing that even in severe judgment, God discerns and responds to individual righteousness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Tirzah (Hebrew, _Tirtsah'_):** This city, meaning "pleasantness" or "delight," served as the first capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. Its mention here grounds the prophecy's fulfillment in a specific, known location, emphasizing the reality and public nature of the event. The journey to Tirzah from Shiloh (where Ahijah resided) would have taken time, making the precise timing of the child's death upon arrival even more miraculous and indicative of divine orchestration.
* **Threshold (Hebrew, _sap_):** Literally meaning "sill" or "entrance," the threshold of the door carries significant symbolic weight. It represents a boundary, a point of transition between the outside world and the private space of the home. In this context, it marks the exact, divinely appointed moment for the prophecy's fulfillment. The child's death precisely at this point underscores the absolute precision and unalterable nature of God's word, leaving no room for human intervention or delay.
* **Died (Hebrew, _mot_):** The verb "died" is stark and final. Its placement at the end of the clause delivers the ultimate, tragic outcome. In the context of the prophecy, it signifies not merely a natural death but a divinely ordained cessation of life, a direct consequence of Jeroboam's sin and God's judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah:":** This clause sets the scene, detailing the arduous journey of Jeroboam's wife from Shiloh, where she received the devastating prophecy from Ahijah, back to her home in Tirzah. Her departure signifies the beginning of the countdown to the prophecy's fulfillment, a journey laden with dread and the weight of impending doom.
* **"and when she came to the threshold of the door,":** This phrase pinpoints the exact moment of the prophecy's execution. The "threshold" is not merely a physical barrier but a divinely appointed marker in time and space. It highlights God's meticulous control and the precision with which His word is fulfilled, down to the very instant of entry into the domestic sphere.
* **"the child died;":** This final, concise statement delivers the tragic outcome. The child, Abijah, who was the subject of the inquiry and the prophecy, succumbs to his illness at the precise moment foretold. This immediate death serves as irrefutable proof of Ahijah's divine commission and the unyielding truth of God's judgment against Jeroboam's apostasy.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Foreshadowing** is central, as the entire chapter builds towards this moment of precise fulfillment, following Ahijah's detailed prophecy. The narrative creates a sense of inevitable doom as Jeroboam's wife makes her journey. There is a profound **Irony** in Jeroboam's attempt to deceive the prophet by sending his wife in disguise, only for God to reveal her identity and deliver an even more severe message than he might have anticipated. The very act of deception ironically leads to the immediate and public display of God's omniscience and power. The "threshold" functions as powerful **Symbolism**, representing not just a physical entrance but a boundary between life and death, a point of no return where divine judgment is executed with absolute precision. This moment underscores the **Dramatic Tension** that builds throughout the journey, culminating in the sudden, shocking death.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The death of Abijah in 1 Kings 14:17 stands as a stark reminder of the gravity of sin and the unwavering certainty of God's word. It demonstrates that God is not mocked and that His pronouncements, whether of blessing or judgment, will inevitably come to pass. This event underscores divine sovereignty over life and death, revealing that even the most intimate moments of human existence are subject to God's ultimate decree. While tragic, the narrative also subtly highlights God's justice, which, though severe, is always precise and often contains elements of mercy, as seen in Abijah's unique status among Jeroboam's doomed lineage.

* [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is Not a Man That He Should Lie")
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Will Not Return Empty")
* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Consequences of Disobedience")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The tragic death of Jeroboam's son, Abijah, at the very threshold of his home, serves as a profound and sobering reminder of the absolute reliability of God's word and the severe consequences of persistent disobedience. In a world often characterized by skepticism and a casual approach to spiritual matters, this passage calls us to a deep reverence for God's pronouncements. It challenges us to examine our own lives: are we living in alignment with God's revealed will, or are we, like Jeroboam, attempting to circumvent divine truth for our own convenience or perceived security? This verse compels us to trust in God's perfect timing and His unwavering justice, recognizing that His plans are not subject to human manipulation or delay. It also invites us to consider the ripple effects of our choices, particularly for those we lead or influence, reminding us that sin has far-reaching consequences beyond ourselves.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the precision of Abijah's death at the threshold impact your understanding of God's sovereignty and the infallibility of His word?**
* **What "idols" or forms of disobedience in your own life might be leading to unseen consequences, similar to Jeroboam's actions?**
* **How does the balance of God's judgment and mercy (as seen in Abijah's character) challenge or comfort you?**

### FAQ
**Why was the child Abijah the only one of Jeroboam's family to receive a proper burial?**

Answer: The text explicitly states in [1 Kings 14:13](/1_kings/14-13 "1 Kings 14:13 - Abijah's Righteousness") that "in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel." This indicates that despite his father's pervasive idolatry and the general wickedness of the royal house, Abijah possessed a measure of personal righteousness or devotion to the true God. His early death, though a judgment on Jeroboam's house, was also an act of mercy for Abijah, sparing him from witnessing the full, brutal destruction of his family line and the subsequent suffering that would befall them.

**What is the significance of the child dying "when she came to the threshold of the door"?**

Answer: The detail of the child dying precisely at the "threshold of the door" is crucial for emphasizing the exact and immediate fulfillment of the prophecy delivered by Ahijah. It underscores God's absolute control over life and death and the unalterable nature of His word. It leaves no doubt that the death was not a mere coincidence or a natural progression of illness, but a direct, divinely orchestrated event, confirming the prophet's message and God's unwavering judgment against Jeroboam's apostasy. This precision serves as a powerful demonstration of God's omniscience and omnipotence.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Kings 14:17 records a moment of divine judgment and the tragic fulfillment of prophecy, its Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the ultimate demonstration of God's sovereignty and the certainty of His word, but now in the context of salvation. Just as the word concerning Abijah's death was fulfilled precisely, so too were the myriad prophecies concerning the Messiah. Jesus, the true Son of David, came not to bring judgment upon His own house, but to bear the judgment for the "sin of Jeroboam" and all humanity. He crossed the ultimate "threshold" – from life to death on the cross, and then from death to life in the resurrection – to secure eternal life for those who believe ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). The precision with which Abijah's death occurred foreshadows the divine timing and exact fulfillment of Christ's redemptive work, from His birth in Bethlehem ([Micah 5:2](/micah/5-2 "Micah 5:2 - Prophecy of Bethlehem")) to His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant")). In Christ, God's sovereign word is revealed not primarily in judgment, but in the ultimate promise of grace and new life for all who step by faith across the threshold into His kingdom ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 15:33

In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.

1 Kings 16:23

In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.

1 Kings 15:21

And it came to pass, when Baasha heard [thereof], that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.

1 Kings 16:15

¶ In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people [were] encamped against Gibbethon, which [belonged] to the Philistines.

Song Of Solomon 6:4

¶ Thou [art] beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as [an army] with banners.

1 Samuel 4:18

And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

1 Samuel 4:20

And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard [it].