Topical Bible: Disease: Jeroboam

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Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy, is a significant figure in biblical history. His reign is marked by political and religious changes, as well as divine judgment, which includes instances of disease as a form of punishment and warning.

Background and Reign

Jeroboam was an Ephraimite, the son of Nebat, and initially a servant of King Solomon. He rose to prominence when the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite prophesied that he would rule over ten of the twelve tribes of Israel (1 Kings 11:29-31). After Solomon's death, Jeroboam led a successful revolt against Solomon's son, Rehoboam, resulting in the division of the kingdom (1 Kings 12:20).

Religious Apostasy and Divine Judgment

Jeroboam's reign is notably characterized by his establishment of alternative worship centers in Bethel and Dan, where he set up golden calves, leading Israel into idolatry (1 Kings 12:28-30). This act was a direct violation of the covenantal laws given to Israel, which prohibited idolatry and centralized worship in Jerusalem.

In response to Jeroboam's apostasy, God sent a prophet to Bethel to pronounce judgment against the altar he had built. The prophet's words were accompanied by a miraculous sign: the altar was split apart, and its ashes poured out (1 Kings 13:3-5).

Disease as a Form of Judgment

One of the most direct instances of disease as divine judgment in Jeroboam's life occurs when his hand withers. As Jeroboam stretched out his hand against the man of God who prophesied against the altar, his hand suddenly became paralyzed and withered, rendering it useless (1 Kings 13:4). This immediate affliction served as a powerful sign of God's displeasure with Jeroboam's actions.

Jeroboam pleaded with the man of God to intercede with the LORD to restore his hand. The man of God prayed, and Jeroboam's hand was miraculously restored (1 Kings 13:6). Despite this miraculous healing, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil ways, continuing in his idolatrous practices.

The Illness of Jeroboam's Son

Another significant episode involving disease in Jeroboam's family is the illness of his son, Abijah. When Abijah fell sick, Jeroboam sent his wife in disguise to the prophet Ahijah to inquire about the boy's fate (1 Kings 14:1-3). Ahijah, though blind due to old age, received a revelation from God about the visit and delivered a message of judgment against Jeroboam's house.

Ahijah prophesied that Abijah would die, and indeed, as soon as Jeroboam's wife returned home, the child died (1 Kings 14:12-17). This event was part of a broader divine judgment against Jeroboam's dynasty due to his sins and the idolatry he led Israel into.

Legacy

Jeroboam's reign and the associated instances of disease highlight the biblical theme of divine retribution for idolatry and disobedience. His actions set a precedent for the northern kingdom's continued departure from the worship of Yahweh, leading to further judgments and eventual exile. The accounts of disease in Jeroboam's life serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments.

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2 Chronicles 13:20
Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.
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Library

National Apostasy
... diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease
he sought ... been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 8 national apostasy.htm

In his Room Abiud his Son Held the Kingdom at Jerusalem for Six ...
... that, when suffering from disease in his feet, he sought a remedy, not from God,
but from the physicians. In the beginning of his reign died Jeroboam, king of ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xlii in his room.htm

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... of Rehoboam, and was permitted to gain a great victory over Jeroboam, but he ... the
youngest, Ahaziah; and lastly, by a loathsome and deadly disease, which ended ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

Concerning Ahaziah; the King of Israel; and Again Concerning the ...
... wicked man, and in all respects like to both his parents and to Jeroboam, who first ...
to bid them return and tell the king that he would not escape this disease. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 2 concerning ahaziah the.htm

The Secret of victory
... 'As the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass that God smote Jeroboam and all ... The
truth that is in 'Christian Science' is that many forms of disease yield to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the secret of victory.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... it seem to me otherwise but that Benhadad immediately recovered of his disease,
as the ... Lord; and that he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

Of the Two Kinds of Trials, which Come Upon us in a Three-Fold Way ...
... sees there is no remedy left which can be applied to their disease, the Lord ... And
these we plainly see were inflicted on Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and Baasha ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xi of the two.htm

The Assyrian Captivity
... wrought ruin in his kingdom, continued in "the sins of Jeroboam the son ... in the siege
that followed, multitudes perished miserably of hunger and disease as well ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

On Helping the Poor.
... that by the feebleness of old age, or the incidence of a disease, or the ... which the
Lord had forbid him," [2946] because of the impiety of Jeroboam, was slain ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on helping the poor.htm

How the Bishop is to Treat the Innocent, the Guilty, and the ...
... will grow sceptical, and, indulging the same disease, will be compelled to perish
with him; as was the case of the people joining with Jeroboam, [2637] and ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec iii how the bishop is.htm