THE DEATH OF ABIJAH, THE SON OF JEROBOAM As the kingdom was divided into the two kingdom of Judah and Israel, the book of the kings presents to us a living portrait of the corruption that dwelt on them; although there were certain reforming kings in the kingdom of Judah. In the present chapter, we are told about one of the fruits of corruption that dwelt upon Israel; and about the robbery of the treasury of the temple in Judah. 1-The illness of Abijah, the son of Jeroboam 1 - 6 2- Ahjah’s prophecy concerning bringing disaster on the house of Jeroboam 7 - 16 3-The death of Abijah, the son of Jeroboam 17 - 18 4-The death of Jeroboam 19 - 20 5-The evil committed by Rehoboam and Judah 21 - 24 6- Robbing the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the king’s house in Judah 25 - 31 1-THE ILLNESS OF ABIJAH, THE SON OF JEROBOAM: (1 – 6) Jeroboam did not learn from the lesson presented to him by the Lord on the hand of the man of God who came from Judah; and prophesied that the altar shall split apart, the ashes on it shall be poured out; and when the king’s hand, that stretched to harm the man of God, got withered, then healed by the prayers of the man of God. Now God allowed for a harsher chastisement, namely, the sickness of his own son; and having shown no repentance, God allowed for the son’s death; and the prophet Ahijah prophesied about taking the kingdom away from Jeroboam’s house. The same prophet who delivered a divine promise with a condition to Jeroboaam, now takes that promise back for his failure to realize the condition; namely for the unfaithfulness of Jeroboam. At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam became sick; and Jeroboam said to his wife, ‘Please arise and disguise yourself, that they may not recognize you as the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Indeed Ahijah the prophet https://coptic-treasures.com/ is there, who told me I would be king over this people. Also take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the child” (1-3) Calling his son ‘Abijah’, meaning (Jehovah is my Father) or (my desire), Jeroboam had the intention to stay bound to the Lord his God; but his desire to establish his kingdom away from Jerusalem and the temple there, got the upper hand on him, and led him to diversion and unfaithfulness to God. In Jeroboam’s request to his wife to go to Shiloh to meet Ahijah the prophet concerning the sickness of his son, we notice the following: (1) Although he confessed that this prophet was the one who told him that he would be king over this people; yet he did not confess that he sinned to God who chose him to reign. It was befitting of him while remembering the gift of God, to give thanks to Him, together with the spirit of repentance and obedience. (2) He asked her to disguise her appearance; when it was befitting of both of them not to change their appearance, but to change their hearts, minds, and behavior. Asking her to change her appearance, probably meant to keep the people from knowing that he resorts to the prophet, for fear that they would forsake the idolworship, follow his lead, and resort to the man of God as he did; who would exhort them to return to God. And Jeroboam probably assumed that Ahijah may refuse to meet her, on account of his anger because of his apostasy away from God. His request to his wife to change her appearance, therefore, reveals his perception of the extent of what he committed of disobedience to the Lord, and of his diversion from His worship. Yet he did not think of the only sound practical treatment of his situation. How foolish he was! He assumed that God could reveal to His prophet what would become of the child, but unable to reveal the identity of his disguised wife. (3) As the prophet Ahijah prophesied to Jeroboam the good news that he would reign over this people, he assumed that he would always carry such good news; not perceiving that a prophet only utters what God proclaims to him, whether good or bad news. We marvel how the king sent his own wife to the prophet, on account of that she, would care enough for her sick child; beside his fear that any of his men would probably deceive him, and https://coptic-treasures.com/ bring false report from the prophet. That is how it would be when someone diverts from the way of truth, he would doubt all those around him, for they are all deceptive like him. It was the custom of kings to honor the prophet and to give him befitting gifts; but intending to disguise herself as a poor woman from among the common people, and not the queen, she took to him such simple gifts. Ahijah has previously rejected Jeroboam’s gifts as the prophet Alijah did when he rejected those of Hazael (2 Kings 13); counting those gifts as filthy as the price of a dog, or the wages of a prostitute, that would never be fitting to enter into the house of the Lord, according to God’s statutes. That is why the laws of the apostles warns the bishop against receiving the gifts and the offerings of the wicked; the way St. Peter rejected the money of Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8). “And Jeroboam’s wife did so; she arose and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were glazed by reason of his age. Now the Lord had said to Ahijah, ‘Here is the wife of Jeroboam coming to ask you something about her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus you shall say to her; for it will be when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman’. And so it was, when Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps, as she came through the door, he said, ‘Come in, wife of Jeroboam; Why do you pretend to be another person?, for I have been sent to you with bad news” (4-6) Although Ahijah lost his ability to see because of old age, yet he enjoyed the inner insight, by which he could recognize the identity of the disguised queen, who intended to enquire about what will become of her son, without telling him her true identity; for fear that he would talk to her about the diversion of her husband. Yet she heard bad news, coming directly from God Himself, something she feared to hear without the desire to solve. As it was a bitter moment to know how her deception was exposed; So it will be when the garment of hypocrisy, that bears the image and not the power of holiness, is taken off from the wicked; and their deceptive works are exposed before the divine Judge, the heavenly hosts, and all believers. God will judge us, according to our hearts, and not according to our outer appearance. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Although Ahijah’s eyes were unable to recognize the queen, but his ears, well trained on hearing the voice of God, heard the queen’s footsteps, and recognized her identity. Whoever trains his eyes on the vision of God, and his ears on listening to His voice, no one can deceive; for God reveals to him the hidden things; though not absolutely, but what is for his edification, and that of others. God allowed for the chastisement to dwell upon the son whom the king hoped to inherit the throne after him. We can say that the sickness of Abijah was the last gift presented by the mercy of the Lord to Jeroboam, with the hope that through the chastisement upon the dearest person to him, he would probably return to himself, and present repentance to regain the mercy of the Lord. 2- AHIJAH’S PROPHECY CONCERNING BRINGING DISASTER ON THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM: (7-16) “Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus says the Lord, God of Israel: ‘Because I exalted you from among the people, and made you ruler over my people Israel” (7) God calls Himself “The Lord God of Israel”. … Having given the Lord his back, He is no more his God; yet God still seeks His own people, and refers Himself to them, in the hope that they would probably return from idol-worship; as He has not yet issued a document of their divorce, because of their adultery. “and tore the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it to you; and yet you have not been as My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes” (8) “But you have done more evil than all who were before you, for you have gone and made for yourself other gods and molded images, to provoke me to anger, and have cast me behind your back” (9) God reminds Jeroboam of His generous divine gifts, which he paid back with denial and apostasy from Him. He set him a king, and could have kept his house secure if he was faithful to his covenant with God; But he committed more evil than who were before him. … Saul, David and Solomon, have all sinned, but Jeroboam was the worst of them. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Jeroboam did not follow the lead of David, who, although have sinned once, yet he knew the way to repentance, and returned to God with his whole heart. The divine voice came to rebuke Jeroboam; for Jeroboam did not follow the lead of king David: Although both have got a divine promise to have the throne, but there is a great difference between the two men. + David had a thanksgiving heart even in the midst of affliction, singing: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 24: 1). According to St. Augustine: [The Lord Christ became man for this specific goal; namely, that man would become like an angel, crying out: “I will bless the Lord …” .You are committed to bless Him when He gives you gifts; and bless Him when He takes them back from you. For, although He is the One who gives and the One who takes; Yet He would never take “Himself” from those who bless Him. Only the meek bless the Lord at all times, the meekness that the Lord taught us in His body and blood, given up for our sake; by which He set an example before our eyes]. And according to Pope Athansius the apostolic: [The way the meek David blessed the Lord in the time of his affliction, saying: “I bless the Lord at all times”; So did the apostle Paul, who did not cease to give thanks to God in all his epistles. In his time of comfort, as well as in his time of affliction, he did not cease to bless and glorify the Lord; knowing that “tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character hope; Now hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5: 3). I wish we, as well, followers of those saints, will not cease to give thanks to God at all times; for, according to St. Gregory the Nezianzen: [Our thanksgiving to God is more important than our breathing; …. Everything has its time, as Solomon teaches us, and as I also believe; but thanksgiving is due at all times]. + David did not seek the kingdom, but his desire was to serve the people of God; Whereas Jeroboam, seeking it with every human way, provoked Solomon to have him killed; and he fled to Egypt. + Jeroboam intended to establish his throne, not by godliness, but through setting two centers of worship; even if it is against the commandment of God. “Therefore, behold I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free, and I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone” (10) https://coptic-treasures.com/ Having hidden her face by a veil, God revealed to His prophet, not only her face to recognize her, but what is in her heart, as well, to present to her and her husband a serious divine message. Jeroboam became a serious example of the denying heart; and to St. Erinaos, an example of whoever split the church and destroys her unity. to get from God the same punishment on Jeroboam. “The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field, for the Lord has spoken it” (11) Having reproached God, his reproach came back upon him, as well as upon his household, that their corpses would became food for the dogs and the bird of the air; both of which are very common in the Near East While for the righteous, death is a divine gift; For the wicked it is something horrible. Hence it is said: “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his” (Numbers 23: 10).; and, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” Psalm 23: 4); and, “Blessed is the man whom You chose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts forever” (Psalm 65: 4) + “There are no pangs in their death” (Psalm 73: 4). After we labor hard, and get greatly preoccupied in doing something, we choose to lie down and have rest; But the wicked who have committed horrible iniquities, will never lie down and have rest; about whom it is written: “Pour out Your indignation upon them; and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them” (Psalm 69: 24). For those who do not get attached to Christ, will not raise themselves up to heavens; “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6: 5); and. “The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; and sustain him on his sickbed” (Psalm 41: 3). (St. Ambrose) “Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child will die. And all Israel shall mourn https://coptic-treasures.com/ for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam” (12, 13) Saul, the first king of Israel sinned, yet he did not worship the idols, nor made his people do…. King David sinned, yet he presented repentance and returned to God. … And Solomon sinned, and built high places for his women, yet he did not make his people partake of idolworship. But Jeroboam made the two golden calves; brought the hearts of the people back to the land of servitude, where the calf ‘Ebis’ was worshipped; and did his best to keep them from going up to Jerusalem to worship the true God. Because in Abijah the son of Jeroboam something good was found, although his heart was not completely with God, God gave him mercy by his death, to be buried in honor, and not in shame and reproach like his father and the rest of the family. For death in the time of evil is counted as a gift from God, who takes the face of the righteous away from evil. According to some Jewish scholars the people of Israel mourned for Abijah on account of that he stood against his father when he set the two golden calves; and of that he often helped those who intended to go up to Jerusalem for worship. “Moreover the Lord will raise up for himself a king over Israel who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam; This is the day, even now . For the Lord will strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water. He will uproot Israel from this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their wooden images, provoking the Lord to anger” (14, 15) Jeroboam cast the Lord behind his back, disregarded the divine presence, despised the divine commandment and the fear of the Lord; And preferred his political ambitions with human mind to the kingdom of God. As Moses has warned the people that God will uproot them from the promised land in case they disobey Him (Deuteronomy 29: 27); That was https://coptic-treasures.com/ the first time that warning was repeated. If God, by a strong hand and a mighty arm has delivered to them a land already preoccupied by great nations; Now their sin makes them like reed shaken in the water, and they will be taken away captives to Assyria (2 Kings 15: 29; 17: 23; 18: 11). “And He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned and made Israel sin” (16) 3-THE DEATH OF ABIJAH THE SON OF JEROBOAM: (17-18) “Then Jeroboam’s wife arose and departed, and came to Tirzah. When she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. And they buried, and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke through His servant Ahijah the prophet” (17, 18) The prophet presented to her a clear sign, to assure her and her husband of the truth of what he prophesied, in the hope that she and her husband would probably return back from what they did. He spoke to her about things of the future, that Jeroboam’s house will be destroyed, And presented to her some fast action, that she would never see her son alive; for once she comes to the threshold of the city, her son will die. Jeroboam has already moved his capital from Shechem to Tirzah, one of the ancient beautiful Canaanite cities (Joshua 12: 24). In the midst of mountain, about 9 miles far from Shechim (Nables); that city was probably a recreation resort for the king, more than being the capital of the state; and remained as such until Omri built Samaria (1 Kings 24, 16: 23). Before the captivation, this city appeared again as the city of Menahem who murdered Shallum and replaced him (2 kings 15: 14). The queen went back to Tirzah, known for its beauty (Songs 16: 4); but the death of her son denied her the enjoyment of the beauty of the location. Tirzah, most probably is Talluza, north of Shechem (Joshua 12: 24). There is a great difference between the entrance of Jeroboam’s wife into the city, and the entrance of the Virgin St. Mary into the city of Judah (Luke 1: 39). Once the feet of Jeroboam’s wife enter the city, her son died and grief dwelt upon the royal household and all Israel; Whereas, https://coptic-treasures.com/ once the feet of the Virgin St. Mary entered the house of Zechariah, the priest, Elizabeth’s babe exulted in her womb, she was filled with the Holy Spirit, and her tongue together with her heart praised God. While Jeroboam’s wife came back carrying bitter news and harsh chastisement; The Virgin St. Mary carried good news for the whole world. The children of darkness provoke the spirit of bitterness into humanity; Whereas the children of light, presenting the Lord Christ the source of joy; provoke the spirit of praise and exultation; and open the door of hope before all. I wish, in our visits to others, we carry to them our holy Christ to bring gladness to their inner beings, to ignite His Holy Spirit in them, to exult their souls by Him; Instead of carrying to them evil thoughts and judgmental words, that fill them with the spirit of darkness, and quench the spirit inside them. 4-THE DEATH OF JEROBOAM: (19-20) “Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he made war, and how he reigned, indeed they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. The period that Jeroboam reigned was 22 years. So he rested with his fathers. Then Nadab his son reigned in his place” (19, 20) Jeroboam died (2 Chronicles 13: 20), struck by a serious illness by the Lord. He reigned 22 years; and died miserable after losing his son whom he hoped to reign after him. 5-THE EVIL COMMITTED BY REHOBOAM AND JUDAH: (21-24) “And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king. He reigned 17 years in Jerusalem, the city which the Lord has chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put His name there, His mother’s name was Naama, an Ammonitess” (21). Now Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins which they committed more than all that their fathers have done” (22) https://coptic-treasures.com/ God allowed for the kingdom of Israel to be torn apart because of the foolishness and violence of Rehoboam; Now He allows for the house of Rehoboam to be torn apart, for he committed greater evils. It was befitting of him to follow the lead of king David, who, although have sinned, yet he enjoyed the divine promises and exalted gifts through his true repentance. “For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on every high hill and under every green tree” (23) Although many leaders of the people in the past sinned, whether judges or kings, yet none of them pushed the people with all his strength to idol-worship; And even if idol-worship sometimes crawled in, no judges nor kings made it the official worship of the people. Now, not only Israel but Judah as well built for themselves high places, sacred pillars and wooden images, on every high hill and under every green tree. They practiced idol-worship side by side with their worship of God in the temple. They chose the tops of the high hills, to draw the attention of the surrounding locations; and held them under every green tree on the road, to make it handy for the travelers who happen to take rest on the road. “And there were also perverted persons in the land. They did according to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel” (24) That was realized when ‘Baasha’ killed all males in the house of Jeroboam (1 kings 29; 15: 28) 6- ROBBING THE TREASURES OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD AND THE TREASURES OFTHE KING’S HOUSE:: (25-31) “Now it happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem” (25) Called ‘Sousakim’ in the Septuagint version, and ‘Aesonchosis’ by Jusabius; It came in the Egyptian documents that ‘Sheshonk’ (945-924 B.C.), the founder of the twenty-second dynasty, was the most serious outside enemy to invade the land of Israel since the days of king Saul; And in the temple of Karnak are images of the conquest of Egypt over Judah. Shishak’ always boasted that he caused troubles to the king of Judah; A study of his engravings in Karnak, indicates that out of 15 cities fortified by Rehoboam at the beginning of his reign (2 Chronicles 11: 5-12), the following three were taken over by Shishak:: Shoco, Adoraim, and Aijalon; beside two https://coptic-treasures.com/ other cities of Judah or Benjamin. After that he took over a great number of cities under Jeroboam, whether ex-Canaanite, or of the Levites. In the four years following the dissension, Rehoboam had great dominion over his competitor Jeroboam. When some of the ex-Cannanite, and Levites cities rebelled against Jeroboam, the later resorted to Shishak to support him to submit those cities; which he completely did. In the temple of Karnak, there is an engraving of more than 130 armor-covered persons, led with their hands tied behind their backs; by god Ammon, and god Muth; symbolizing the fortified cities taken over by the king. Under one of them was engraved ‘Yodeh-Malek’ (King of Judah); which, according to some does not literally mean (king of Judah), but rather the name of a Palestinian city, unknown to us. “And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house; he took away everything. He also took away all the gold shields which Solomon had made” (26) The people of Judah used to keep their jewelry and precious things, either buried under ground, or deposited in the temple; that was like a general treasury bank of Israel. Shishal took all of them away. “Then king Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guards, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house” (27) “And so it was, whenever the king went into the house of the Lord, that the guards carried them, then brought them back into the guard chamber” (28) There were probably 300 guards according to the number of shields. “Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah” (29) “And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days” (30) That was realized until Samaria fell in the year 722 on the hand of the Assyrians; and Jerusalem fell in the year 586/5 on the hand of the Babylonians. https://coptic-treasures.com/ “So Rehoboam rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother’s name was ‘Naamah’, an Ammonitess. Then Abijam his son reigned in his place” (31) For the second time the name of the queen mother was mentioned, as an indication of her personal influence upon her son the king, and his government. Two queen mothers appeared in Judah with such a great role (1 kings 15: 13; 2 kings 11: 1-20). ------------------------------ AN INSPIRATION FROM 1 Kings 14 LET THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM BE SCATTERED AND LET REHOBOAM LOSE HIS AUTHORITY + Jeroboam’s wife assumed that she could disguise her identity before the prophet Ahijah; He, to whom the future is not hidden; He who previously prophesied that her husband will be a king; She came to inquire from him about what will happen to her sick son; And disregarded the people who were ill because of her husband; He who cast the Lord behind his back, and provoked the people to evil; Behold, her son will die, once her feet enter the city; And the Lord will destroy Jeroboam’s house in disgrace and reproach. + Rehoboam the son of Solomon walked along the way of his Ammonitess mother Behold, Shishak king of Egypt robs the treasuries of Jerusalem; Jeroboam and Rehoboam in continuous wars; Both of them hated the Lord, and loved evil + How should I assume that I can disguise myself before the men of God? Let me return to God with my whole heart, to heal my sick soul; To bring me forth into my holy city; and be no more in reproach; Let me give the Lord the face and not the back; So that I would live, and so would my family; So that I would enjoy the Lord, the secret of my life, together with my beloved. + No foreigner can enter into my holy Jerusalem; https://coptic-treasures.com/ No enemy can touch the treasures of my soul; For they are in the hand of my Savior, my Keeper, and my shield; Peace dwells in my depths, and my soul exults by the joy of heaven.
Welcome