◄ 1 Kings 14:4 ►
Jeroboam's wife did as instructed; she arose and went to Shiloh and arrived at Ahijah's house. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age.
Study Bible
Jeroboam’s wife did as instructed;
Jeroboam's wife followed her husband's command to seek out the prophet Ahijah. This reflects the patriarchal structure of ancient Israelite society, where women often acted under the direction of their husbands. Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, sought divine insight through Ahijah, who had previously prophesied his rise to power (1 Kings 11:29-31). This action underscores the belief in prophetic authority and the desire for divine guidance in times of crisis.

she arose and went to Shiloh
Shiloh was a significant religious center in Israel before the establishment of Jerusalem as the central place of worship. It was the location of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant during the time of the Judges (1 Samuel 1:3). The journey to Shiloh indicates the continued recognition of its spiritual importance, even after the division of the kingdom. This journey also highlights the physical and spiritual pilgrimage undertaken to seek God's will.

and arrived at Ahijah’s house.
Ahijah the prophet resided in Shiloh, and his home became a place of divine revelation. Prophets often served as intermediaries between God and the people, providing guidance and insight. Ahijah's previous prophecy concerning Jeroboam's kingship (1 Kings 11:29-31) established his credibility and authority. The arrival at his house signifies the expectation of receiving a message from God.

Now Ahijah could not see,
Ahijah's blindness is a physical condition that contrasts with his spiritual insight. In biblical literature, physical blindness often serves as a metaphor for spiritual insight or lack thereof. Despite his inability to see physically, Ahijah's prophetic vision remained clear, emphasizing the theme that true sight comes from spiritual understanding rather than physical ability.

for his eyes were dim because of his age.
The dimming of Ahijah's eyes due to age is a common biblical motif, seen also in the stories of Isaac (Genesis 27:1) and Eli (1 Samuel 3:2). This detail underscores the natural human frailty and the passage of time. Despite his physical limitations, Ahijah's role as a prophet was not diminished, highlighting the belief that God's power and wisdom transcend human weakness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeroboam
The first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy. He is known for leading Israel into idolatry.

2. Jeroboam’s Wife
She is sent by Jeroboam to the prophet Ahijah to inquire about the fate of their sick son.

3. Ahijah
A prophet of the Lord who previously prophesied that Jeroboam would become king. Despite his blindness, he receives a message from God regarding Jeroboam's family.

4. Shiloh
A significant religious site in Israel where the tabernacle was located before the temple was built in Jerusalem. It is the location of Ahijah’s residence.

5. The Event
Jeroboam’s wife disguises herself to seek a prophetic word from Ahijah concerning her son’s illness, highlighting themes of deception and divine revelation.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Disobedience
Jeroboam’s actions led to idolatry and disobedience, resulting in divine judgment. This serves as a warning about the long-term effects of turning away from God.

God’s Omniscience
Despite human attempts at deception, God sees all and reveals truth through His prophets. This reminds us of the futility of trying to hide from God.

The Role of Prophets
Prophets in the Bible often deliver difficult truths. We should be open to receiving God’s messages, even when they challenge us.

Spiritual Insight vs. Physical Sight
Ahijah’s account teaches that spiritual insight is more important than physical sight. We should seek to develop our spiritual discernment.

Faithfulness in Adversity
Ahijah remains faithful in delivering God’s message despite his blindness and the potential danger from Jeroboam’s family. We are called to be faithful in our own challenges.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jeroboam’s decision to send his wife in disguise reflect his spiritual state and relationship with God?

2. In what ways can we be tempted to "disguise" our true intentions before God, and how can we overcome this tendency?

3. How does Ahijah’s physical blindness contrast with his spiritual insight, and what does this teach us about the nature of true wisdom?

4. What are some modern-day examples of idolatry, and how can we guard against them in our own lives?

5. How can we apply the lesson of faithfulness in adversity from Ahijah’s life to our current circumstances?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 11:29-31
This passage describes Ahijah’s initial prophecy to Jeroboam about becoming king, establishing his role as a true prophet of God.

1 Samuel 3:2
Similar to Ahijah, Eli’s eyes were also dim, yet he received God’s message, illustrating that physical blindness does not hinder spiritual insight.

John 9:39-41
Jesus speaks about spiritual blindness, which can be contrasted with Ahijah’s physical blindness but spiritual clarity.
Sermons
A Good Boy and a Bad FamilyA. McAuslane, D. D.1 Kings 14:1-18
Affliction and JudgmentJ. Urquhart 1 Kings 14:1-20
Spiritual VisionJ.A. Macdonald 1 Kings 14:4-6
People
Abijah, Abijam, Ahijah, David, Israelites, Jeroboam, Naamah, Nadab, Rehoboam, Shishak, Sodomites, Solomon, Tirzah
Places
Bethel, Egypt, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Shiloh, Tirzah
Topics
Able, Age, Ahijah, Ahi'jah, Ahijah's, Dim, Entereth, Got, Jeroboam, Jeroboam's, Jerobo'am's, Reason, Riseth, Shiloh, Sight, Stood, Unable, Wife
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Kings 14:4

     1466   vision

1 Kings 14:1-6

     5837   disguise

Library
Synopsis. --The Gradual Narrowing of the Miraculous Element in the Bible by Recent Discovery and Discussion. --The Alarm Thereby Excited in the Church. --The Fallacy Which
It is barely forty years since that beloved and fearless Christian scholar, Dean Stanley, spoke thus of the miracles recorded of the prophet Elisha: "His works stand alone in the Bible in their likeness to the acts of mediaeval saints. There alone in the Sacred History the gulf between Biblical and Ecclesiastical miracles almost disappears."[5] It required some courage to say as much as this then, while the storm of persecution was raging against Bishop Colenso for his critical work on the Pentateuch. …
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion

Jeroboam
BY REV. ALFRED ROWLAND, D.D., LL.B. "Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin."--1 KINGS xiv. 16. Jeroboam's character is worthy of serious study, not only because it influenced the destiny of God's ancient people, but because it suggests lessons of the utmost value to His people still. He may be fairly regarded as a type of those who are successful men of the world. He was not an example of piety, for he had none--nor of lofty principle, for he was an opportunist who made expediency …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Whether Contention is a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that contention is not a mortal sin. For there is no mortal sin in spiritual men: and yet contention is to be found in them, according to Lk. 22:24: "And there was also a strife amongst" the disciples of Jesus, "which of them should . . . be the greatest." Therefore contention is not a mortal sin. Objection 2: Further, no well disposed man should be pleased that his neighbor commit a mortal sin. But the Apostle says (Phil. 1:17): "Some out of contention preach Christ," …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Divination by Drawing Lots is Unlawful?
Objection 1: It would seem that divination by drawing lots is not unlawful, because a gloss of Augustine on Ps. 30:16, "My lots are in Thy hands," says: "It is not wrong to cast lots, for it is a means of ascertaining the divine will when a man is in doubt." Objection 2: There is, seemingly, nothing unlawful in the observances which the Scriptures relate as being practiced by holy men. Now both in the Old and in the New Testament we find holy men practicing the casting of lots. For it is related …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Whole Heart
LET me give the principal passages in which the words "the whole heart," "all the heart," are used. A careful study of them will show how wholehearted love and service is what God has always asked, because He can, in the very nature of things, ask nothing less. The prayerful and believing acceptance of the words will waken the assurance that such wholehearted love and service is exactly the blessing the New Covenant was meant to make possible. That assurance will prepare us for turning to the Omnipotence …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). In our last chapter we considered at some length the much debated and difficult question of the human will. We have shown that the will of the natural man is neither Sovereign nor free but, instead, a servant and slave. We have argued that a right conception of the sinner's will-its servitude-is essential to a just estimate of his depravity and ruin. The utter corruption and degradation of human nature is something which …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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