_ABIJAH, THE SON OF JEROBOAM, IS SICK; JEROBOAM SENDS HIS WIFE DISGUISED, WITH PRESENTS TO THE PROPHET AHIJAH, WHO, BEING FOREWARNED OF HER COMING, DENOUNCETH GOD'S JUDGMENTS AGAINST THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM, WHO DIES AFTER A REIGN OF TWENTY-TWO YEARS. REHOBOAM DIES AFTER A REIGN OF SEVENTEEN YEARS, AN... [ Continue Reading ]
ARISE, I PRAY THEE, AND DISGUISE THYSELF— Jeroboam most probably sent his _wife_ to consult the prophet at Shiloh, because this was a secret not to be intrusted with any body else; a secret which, had it been divulged, might have endangered his whole government; because, if once his subjects came to... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE WITH THEE TEN LOAVES, &C.— What the presents were which were made to the ancient prophets, we are not always told; but all the particulars of that made to Ahijah, by Jeroboam's queen, are here given us. I very much question, however, whether that was any part of the disguise that she assumed, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AHIJAH COULD NOT SEE, FOR HIS EYES WERE SET BY REASON OF HIS AGE— The more nearly we examine the structure of the human body, and the more attentively we consider it, the more we are struck with admiration. All, even the hardest parts, as the bones and cartilages, derive their origin from a fluid ma... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIM THAT IS SHUT UP AND LEFT IN ISRAEL— _That which in Israel seems laid up and safe._ Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE IN HIM THERE IS FOUND SOME GOOD THING TOWARD THE LORD— It appears evidently from the same mode of expression, 2 Chronicles 19:3., that the meaning here must be, that he was the only person in the family, who had expressed a dislike to the worship of the calves; an inclination and intention t... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHAT? EVEN NOW— Houbigant renders this, _and at this very time;_ observing that the Hebrew particle מה _meh,_ is not always interrogative.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIVER— _The river Euphrates._... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES— By this is meant a book, in which were contained the annals of the kings of Israel; and not either of those which we have under this title. REFLECTIONS.—Jeroboam's wife is bid to carry to her husband tidings of bitter woe. The God of Israel, whom he had so dishonoured, a... [ Continue Reading ]
SHISHAK, KING OF EGYPT— It may seem something strange, that Shishak, who was so nearly allied to Rehoboam, should come up against him and take his royal city; but Rehoboam, we must remember, was not the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and therefore no relation to Shishak. But even had he been never so ne... [ Continue Reading ]
REHOBOAM MADE IN THEIR STEAD BRASEN SHIELDS— This shews to what a low condition the kingdom of Judah was reduced. Those shields were a matter of state and grandeur; and therefore it concerned them, if they were able, to have them of the same value that they were before, as they were carried before t... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS WAR BETWEEN REHOBOAM AND JEROBOAM ALL THEIR DAYS— But how does this agree with chap. 1 Kings 12:23, &c. where God commands Rehoboam and his people not to fight against the Israelites? We must observe, that though the Jews were commanded not to make war upon the Israelites, yet they were no... [ Continue Reading ]