1 Kings 12:24-33

On the addition in the LXX. after 1 Kings 12:24

This long passage has many peculiarities not only in the arrangement, which differs considerably from that of the narrative of the Hebrew text, but also in some portions of its contents. It takes up the history at 1 Kings 11:43 with Solomon's death and Rehoboam's accession. But it gives different numbers, both for the age of Rehoboam when he began to reign and for the duration of his reign, from those in the Hebrew text. Instead of 41 years old (as in 1 Kings 14:21) he is here stated to have been 16, and to have reigned 12 and not 17 years. It must be owned that the conduct of Rehoboam is much more like that of a very young man than of one who had passed middle-age. The LXX. continues the history with an account of Jeroboam, stating that his mother's name was Sarira, γυνὴ πόρνη, and that he was put over the levy of the house of Joseph. And Jeroboam built for Solomon a city, also called Sarira, in the hill country of Ephraim, and was employed in the buildings around Jerusalem, and began to aspire to the kingdom. Then follows Solomon's attempt to kill him, and his flight into Egypt, the king of which is Shishak (Σουσακίμ). After this the story is an exact parallel of what is given in the Hebrew about Hadad (1 Kings 11:19-22). Jeroboam finds favour with Shishak, and marries Ano, the elder sister of Thekemina, the wife of the king. He seeks to return, but is hardly allowed to go. At length he comes back to Sarira, gathers the people and fortifies the place. After this follows the sickness of his son and his wife's visit to Ahijah, somewhat like the narrative in 1 Kings 14:1-13. Next we are told of a gathering at Shechem where both Rehoboam and Jeroboam are present, and it is said that on this occasion Shemaiah the prophet (and not Ahijah) rent his garment and gave ten parts to Jeroboam to signify the ten tribes over which he was hereafter to be king. Next comes the account of the popular petition to Rehoboam, and his delay and final answer; then his flight from Shechem to Jerusalem and the preparations for war, which is forbidden by Shemaiah.

Among other peculiarities of this form of the story may be added that the Egyptian wife is said to have been given to Jeroboam after his first request to be allowed to depart, apparently with a view to make him more contented. In the account of the visit of inquiry about the sick child, Ahijah says, -Thou shalt go forth from me, and it shall be when thou enterest into the city, into Sarira, that thy maidens shall come out to meet thee, and shall say, -The child is dead," and further on it is added -and the cry of mourning came to meet her." There is an addition also to the complaint which is presented to Rehoboam, -Thy father made his yoke heavy upon us", καὶ ἐβάρυνε τὰ βρώματα τῆς τραπέζης αὐτοῦ, -and he made burdensome the meat of his table"; a sentence which seems to relate to the demands made so largely on the various districts for the supply of Solomon's table. A different form is given also when the revolt begins, -And all the people spake, as one man, each to his neighbour, and they all cried out, saying, We have no part in David &c.… Each of you to your tents, O Israel, for this man is not to be our prince or our leader." It is also said that Rehoboam's preparation for war was made ἐνισταμένου τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ, -when the year came round": a phrase which has very close parallels in the Greek of 2 Samuel 11:1; 1Ki 20:22; 1 Kings 20:26; and is so completely after the Hebrew manner that from this and much beside in the passage we can hardly doubt that it is derived from some Hebrew original. But the numerous inconsistencies found in it make it unworthy to be put in comparison with the story as recorded in the sacred text. It partakes very much of the character of those additions which we find made in the LXX. to the story of Ezra and Daniel, and, though of interest as a specimen of this kind of literature, cannot be accepted as raising any serious questions about the general correctness of the Massoretic text in the history of Jeroboam.