Judgment on The House of Jeroboam

I Kings 14:1–20
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Jeroboam was the most idolatrous king in Israel’s history, the worst of the lot because of his powerful influence. Jeroboam’s son Abijah became sick. We are not told what ailed the lad. Prompted by this sickness, Jeroboam told his wife to disguise herself and go to Shiloh and visit the prophet Abijah. It isn’t stated, but perhaps the king hoped to receive another welcome prophecy that his son would recover.  Abijah had predicted Jeroboam’s coronation (11:29-39).

If Jeroboam’s wife expected to hear a message of deliverance she was in for a surprise. Instead she heard a message of doom for her husband, herself and her son. Even though Abijah was old and blind, God gave him insight into the king’s plan. The first thing he did when she came to him was confront her with her deception (v. 6). When she returned to the capital city and entered her house the son died.  God reminded the king through His prophet that it was He who had made him a leader over His people. Now God says that Jeroboam had “done more evil than all who lived before” him. The king’s idolatry had angered the Lord and because he had led the people away from God, his house would be cut off (vv. 10-11). After a reign of twenty-two years, Jeroboam died and he was succeeded by a son whose short reign was terminated violently. Jeroboam was a powerful man that ruled for so long a time but his lack of commitment to the Lord was his downfall.

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