Comments on 1 Kings 14 v1-5 Jeroboam knows who the real prophet is in the land, but only resorts to him when in dire straits. When his son falls ill (v. 1), he sends his wife to Ahijah to find out his fate. The wife tries to disguise herself and go with generous reward (v. 2- 4), but the Lord warns Ahijah well in advance and tells him what to say (v. 5). v6-16 When the disguised wife walks in Ahijah confronts her directly (v. 6) and levels a curse from the Lord at Jeroboam through her (v. 7-11). Ahijah then goes on to predict the demise of their ill son (v. 12-13), the destruction of Jeroboam's line (v. 14), and the scattering of Israel (v. 15-16). v10-11 Jeroboam himself dies and is buried in v. 20, but it is his house, meaning his children, that are utterly anihilated. v13 Here we have a rather Mormon point of view in the OT. The child alone is innocent among the corruption and wickedness of those around him, cp. Mosiah 3:16-18, Moroni 8:8-24, D&C 137:10. v14 Compare 15:28-29. v17-18 The word of the Lord via Ahijah is fulfilled. I really have to wonder why the mother went home after such a prediction. She saw firsthand that he knew she was coming, yet she still apparently disregards the prediction that upon her entering the house the son will die. Would the son have been spared had she not gone home? Speculation, maybe, but an interesting question. v19-20 The close of Jeroboam's career is noted. v21-24 Just when we thought Israel was doing bad, we find out that Judah is doing even worse. v21 "Naamah an Amonitess", we know that Solomon later in life was led astray by his multitude of foreign idolatrous wives, cf. 11:1-13. The present wickedness of Judah described in v. 22-24 is connected rhetorically to that event as this is a son of such a union. Solomon permitted idolatry in Israel, and they are now reaping the consequences. v23-24 These activities are explicitly prohibited in the Law, cf. Lev. 18. v25-28 Invasion by a foreign nation is a classical covenant curse, cf. Lev. 26:16-17, Deut. 28:49-52. Their decadence leaves them weak and ripe for invasion. v29-30 Jeroboam's passing is noted. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.