1 Kings 14:2

And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there [is] Ahijah the prophet, which told me that [I should be] king over this people.

And Jeroboam {H3379} said {H559} to his wife {H802}, Arise {H6965}, I pray thee, and disguise {H8138} thyself, that thou be not known {H3045} to be the wife {H802} of Jeroboam {H3379}; and get {H1980} thee to Shiloh {H7887}: behold, there is Ahijah {H281} the prophet {H5030}, which told {H1696} me that I should be king {H4428} over this people {H5971}.

Yarov'am said to his wife, "Please come, and disguise yourself, so that you won't be recognized as Yarov'am's wife, and go to Shiloh. Achiyah the prophet is there, the one who said that I would be king over these people.

and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Now get up, disguise yourself so they will not recognize you as my wife, and go to Shiloh. For Ahijah the prophet is there; it was he who spoke about my kingship over this people.

And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spake concerning me that I should be king over this people.

Commentary

Context

This verse opens a pivotal moment in the reign of King Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy. Following King Solomon's death, the kingdom split, and Jeroboam was divinely appointed to rule over ten tribes, as prophesied by Ahijah the prophet (see 1 Kings 11:29-39). However, fearing that regular pilgrimages to Jerusalem would lead his people back to the southern kingdom of Judah, Jeroboam established new centers of worship in Dan and Bethel, introducing golden calves for his people to worship (1 Kings 12:28-30). This act of idolatry marked a profound spiritual decline for Israel. In 1 Kings 14:2, Jeroboam's son, Abijah, falls gravely ill, prompting the king's desperate and deceptive action.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy and Deception: Jeroboam's instruction for his wife to "disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam" reveals a profound hypocrisy. He sought divine counsel from a true prophet, Ahijah, whom he knew had spoken for God previously, yet he tried to do so secretly. This suggests he wanted to avoid the prophet's direct condemnation for his widespread idolatry and rebellion against God, or perhaps hoped for a more favorable word if his identity was unknown. This act highlights a common human tendency to seek God's blessings without repenting of sin.
  • Seeking God's Word in Crisis: Despite his apostasy and the establishment of idol worship throughout his kingdom, Jeroboam still recognized the legitimate prophetic authority of Ahijah. When faced with a personal crisis (his son's illness), he turned to the very source of divine truth he had largely ignored or defied. This illustrates how even those who stray far from God may still acknowledge His power and seek His intervention in times of distress.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The underlying tension in this verse points to the inevitable consequences of Jeroboam's disobedience. He had been promised a lasting dynasty if he obeyed God's commands (1 Kings 11:38), but his actions had already set a course for divine judgment, which Ahijah would soon pronounce.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version phrasing "Arise, I pray thee" is a common Hebrew idiom, conveying a polite but urgent request. There are no complex original language nuances that fundamentally alter the meaning of this verse for a general audience. The emphasis is on Jeroboam's strategic and deceptive intent rather than a particular word meaning.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder that we cannot deceive God. Our attempts to hide our true intentions or spiritual state from Him are futile. Like Jeroboam, we might seek God's help in times of trouble, but true reconciliation and peace come from genuine repentance and obedience, not from attempts to manipulate or hide our identity. It challenges believers to live authentically before God, recognizing that He sees beyond our outward appearance and knows the heart.

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 28:8 (5 votes)

    And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto thee.

  • 2 Samuel 14:2 (5 votes)

    And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:

  • 1 Kings 11:29 (5 votes)

    And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two [were] alone in the field:

  • 1 Kings 11:38 (5 votes)

    And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do [that is] right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

  • 2 Chronicles 18:29 (4 votes)

    And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.

  • Luke 12:2 (3 votes)

    For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

  • 1 Kings 14:5 (3 votes)

    And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he [is] sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself [to be] another [woman].