Ahijah, a prophet in the Old Testament, plays a significant role in the narrative of the divided kingdom of Israel. His account is primarily found in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. Ahijah is most notably recognized for his interactions with Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel.

Background and Role

Ahijah the Shilonite, as he is often referred to, was a prophet from Shiloh, an ancient city in the territory of Ephraim. His prophetic ministry occurred during the reign of Solomon and extended into the early years of the divided monarchy. Ahijah's role as a prophet was to convey God's messages, often concerning the future of Israel and its leaders.

Prophecy to Jeroboam

Ahijah's most significant prophetic act is recorded in 1 Kings 11:29-39. During the reign of Solomon, Ahijah met Jeroboam, a servant of Solomon, on the road. In a symbolic act, Ahijah tore his new cloak into twelve pieces and gave ten pieces to Jeroboam. This act symbolized the division of the kingdom, with ten tribes being given to Jeroboam. Ahijah declared, "Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and give you ten tribes’" (1 Kings 11:31). This prophecy was a direct consequence of Solomon's idolatry and disobedience to God.

Further Involvement with Jeroboam

Ahijah's involvement with Jeroboam continued as Jeroboam became king. In 1 Kings 14, Jeroboam's wife visited Ahijah to inquire about the health of their son. Despite his old age and blindness, Ahijah received a message from the LORD concerning Jeroboam's house. He prophesied the downfall of Jeroboam's dynasty due to the king's sins and idolatry, stating, "I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam; I will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, slave or free" (1 Kings 14:10). This prophecy was fulfilled as Jeroboam's lineage was eventually eradicated.

Legacy and Significance

Ahijah's prophecies were pivotal in shaping the history of Israel. His messages from God were instrumental in the division of the united monarchy and the establishment of the northern kingdom. Ahijah's role underscores the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of idolatry and disobedience. His life and prophecies serve as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His word.

Ahijah's account is a testament to the role of prophets in guiding and warning the leaders of Israel. His interactions with Jeroboam highlight the prophetic office's critical function in communicating divine will and judgment.1 Kings 11:29
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:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 12:15
Why the king listened not to the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 9:29
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Divided Kingdom.
... Ahijah, the prophet, had made known to him that, upon the death of Solomon, he ... Bether
and Gilgal with their sites of their schools of the prophets were all in ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xiii the divided kingdom.htm

The New Garment Bent
... We have heard nothing of prophets during Solomon's reign; but now this man from
Shiloh ... It was probably merely some loose square of cloth which Ahijah tore, with ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the new garment bent.htm

National Apostasy
... the saying of the Lord, which He spake by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite ... Of "the
prophets of Baal" there were "four hundred and fifty," besides four hundred ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 8 national apostasy.htm

Kings
... The part played by Ahijah at the time of the disruption of the kingdom, by ... dealt
with so fully as to suggest that biographies of the prophets, written possibly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/kings.htm

The Judicial Severity of Christ and the Tenderness of the Creator ...
... an example to betake himself to God who was working in His prophets. ... tribes, [4886]
which, having been alienated [4887] by the prophet Ahijah, [4888] Jeroboam ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxxv the judicial severity of.htm

Jeroboam
... Even before the death of Jeroboam, Ahijah, the aged prophet at Shiloh who many ... Through
His prophets He gave them every opportunity to stay the tide of apostasy ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 7 jeroboam.htm

Solomon's Reign.
... It is significant that the prophet Ahijah of Shiloh encouraged Jeroboam by telling ...
This indicates that the prophets saw that disunion alone would preserve the ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xii solomons reign.htm

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah," the Lord ... Elisha was
divinely directed to send one of the sons of the prophets to Ramothgilead to ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
... of Samuel and onward there was a flourishing school of the prophets at hand ... of Solomon,
"the book of Nathan the prophet, the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xv formation and history.htm

The Rending of the Kingdom
... known as "a mighty man of valor," and to whom the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite ... From
time to time mighty prophets arose to strengthen the hands of the rulers ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 6 the rending of.htm

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