1 Kings 14:3

And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.

And take {H3947} with thee {H3027} ten {H6235} loaves {H3899}, and cracknels {H5350}, and a cruse {H1228} of honey {H1706}, and go {H935} to him: he shall tell {H5046} thee what shall become of the child {H5288}.

Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes and a jug of honey; and go to him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy."

Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the boy.”

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.

Commentary

In 1 Kings 14:3, we witness King Jeroboam's wife preparing a humble offering to take to the prophet Ahijah. This verse sets the scene for a pivotal moment in the history of the divided kingdom of Israel, highlighting the desperate measures taken by a worried parent, even a king, when facing a crisis concerning his son.

Context

This verse is part of a narrative detailing the severe illness of King Jeroboam's son, Abijah. Despite Jeroboam's rebellion against God and his establishment of idolatrous worship in Israel, he turns to a true prophet of the Lord, Ahijah of Shiloh, for divine guidance regarding his son's fate. The king sends his wife, disguised, perhaps to avoid revealing his personal distress or to circumvent the public perception of a king consulting a prophet he had previously disregarded. The gifts—ten loaves, cracknels (small cakes), and a cruse of honey—are modest, typical offerings for a prophet, reflecting a common practice of bringing a gift when seeking counsel from a man of God, as seen in 1 Samuel 9:7-8. This act underscores Jeroboam's underlying recognition of Ahijah's genuine prophetic authority, despite his own unfaithfulness.

Key Themes

  • Desperate Appeal to Divine Authority: Even those who have turned away from God, like Jeroboam, often seek His intervention in times of personal crisis. This demonstrates a fundamental human need for divine help and insight when faced with overwhelming circumstances.
  • Prophetic Insight and God's Sovereignty: The verse anticipates Ahijah's role as God's mouthpiece, through whom the Lord will reveal His will, regardless of the queen's disguise. God's knowledge and sovereignty cannot be hidden from, and He uses His chosen messengers to declare His truth.
  • Humble Offerings: The simple gifts underscore the nature of the request—a personal plea rather than a royal decree, and perhaps an attempt to appear as an ordinary person seeking a prophet's word. This contrasts with the grandeur one might expect from a king's envoy.

Linguistic Insights

The term "cracknels" (Hebrew: niqqud) refers to a kind of dry, possibly perforated or crumbled cake, often made for special occasions or as a treat. The "cruse" (Hebrew: bāqbuq) denotes a small jar or flask, typically used for liquids like water or oil, in this case, honey. These items represent common, accessible foodstuffs in ancient Israel, suitable for a modest offering to a man of God.

Practical Application

This passage reminds us that in moments of deep personal struggle or fear, even those who have ignored or defied God may instinctively turn to Him or His representatives for answers. It underscores the truth that God sees beyond our disguises and knows our hearts and circumstances. For believers, it highlights the importance of consistently seeking God's will through prayer and His Word, not just in times of crisis but as a daily practice, trusting in His wisdom and sovereignty over all outcomes. It also subtly points to the reality that the human heart is deceitful, often only seeking God when in dire need, rather than in faithful obedience and worship.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 9:7

    Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

  • 1 Samuel 9:8

    And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.

  • 2 Kings 4:42

    And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

  • 1 Kings 13:7

    And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.

  • John 4:47

    When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

  • John 4:48

    Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

  • 2 Kings 1:2

    And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that [was] in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.
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