1 Kings 14 · Adam Clarke
Introduction Abijah, son of Jeroboam, falls sick, 1Kgs 14:1 . Jeroboam sends his wife disguised to Ahijah the prophet, and with her a present, to inquire concerning his son, 1Kgs 14:2-4 . Ahijah discovers her by a Divine intimation and delivers to her a heavy message concerning the destruction of Jeroboam's house, and the death of her son, 1Kgs 14:5-16 . The child dies, according to the prediction of Ahijah, 1Kgs 14:17 . Jeroboam's reign and death, 1Kgs 14:18-20 . Rehoboam's bad reign, and the apostasy of Judah, 1Kgs 14:21-24 . Shishak, king of Egypt, invades Judea, spoils the temple, and takes away the golden shields made by Solomon; instead of which Rehoboam makes others of brass, 1Kgs 14:25-28 . Rehoboam's reign and death, 1Kgs 14:29-31 . Verse 1 Abijah - fell sick - This was but a prelude to the miseries which fell on the house of Jeroboam; but it was another merciful warning, intended to turn him from his idolatry and wickedness.
Verse 3 Ten loaves - Probably common or household bread. Cracknels - נקדים nikkuddim, spotted, or perforated bread; thin cakes, pierced through with many holes, the same as is called Jews' bread to the present day, and used by them at the passover. It was customary to give presents to all great personages; and no person consulted a prophet without bringing something in his hand.
Verse 5 Feign herself to be another woman - It would have been discreditable to Jeroboam's calves, if it had been known that he had consulted a prophet of Jehovah.
Verse 8 And rent the kingdom away from the house of David - That is, permitted it to be rent, because of the folly and insolence of Rehoboam.
Verse 10 Him that pisseth against the wall - Every male. The phrase should be thus rendered wherever it occurs.
Verse 11 Shall the dogs eat - They shall not have an honorable burial: and shall not come into the sepulchres of their fathers.
Verse 13 In him there is found some good thing - Far be it from God to destroy the righteous with the wicked; God respects even a little good, because it is a seed from himself. The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed.
Verse 15 For the Lord shall smite Israel - See this prophecy fulfilled, 1Kgs 15:28-30 , when Baasha destroyed all the house and posterity of Jeroboam.
Verse 19 The rest of the acts of Jeroboam - are written in the - chronicles - For some important particulars relative to this reign, see 2 Chronicles 13:1-20.
Verse 24 There were also sodomites in the land - קדשים kedeshim, consecrated persons; persons who had devoted themselves, in practices of the greatest impurity, to the service of the most impure idols.
Verse 26 He took away the treasures - All the treasures which Solomon had amassed, both in the temple and in his own houses; a booty the most immense ever acquired in one place. All the shields of gold which Solomon had made - These were three hundred in number, and were all made of beaten gold. See a computation of their value in the note on 1Kgs 10:17 (note).
Verse 28 The guard bare them - The guard probably were just three hundred, answering to the number of the shields.