1 Kings 12-14

The Facts (Chapter number: Verse)

1 Kings 12 - No mention of any women.

1 Kings 13 - No mention of any women.

14:1-18 - Jeroboam's son fell sick. Jeroboam told his wife to disguise herself and go to Shiloh to see the prophet Ahijah Who said that Jeroboam would be king over the people. She was to bring Ahijah ten loaves, some cakes and a jar of honey and have him tell her what is to happen to their son. Jeroboam's wife did as he asked and went to Shiloh. Ahijah could not see well because of his wage, but the Lord told him that Jeroboam's wife was coming to ask about her son and told him what to say to her. When Jeroboam's wife came she pretended to be another women but Ahijah called her to enter by name and asked why she pretended to be another. Ahijah then told her the words God spoke to him. God was upset that he had given the kingdom to Jeroboam and taken it away from David's house and yet Jeroboam had not been like David. Jeroboam had not followed his commandments and followed Him with all his heart. Worst of all Jeroboam had cast graven images and made false gods. Therefore God would bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, every male would be cut off from him and God will consume his entire house. Ahijah told Jeroboam's wife to go back to her house, and when she steps over the threshold her son will die. Israel shall mourn his passing for her alone of the Jeroboam family shall come to the grave for in him there is found something pleasing to the Lord. The Lord shall also raise up another king who will cut off the house of Jeroboam from Israel. Jeroboam's wife got up and went away, and as she came to the threshold of her house the child died. Israel mourned his passing and everything that Ahijah spoke came to pass.

My Comments

It's amazing how that entire chapter involved Jeroboam's wife and yet she does absolutely nothing during the entire thing. She listens to her husband and then the prophet and relays information between the two. That's it. Why didn't Jeroboam go himself and wear a disguise to trick Ahijah? Why did his wife need to go?

And why does God LOVE to kill children in order to punish the fathers? Plague in Egypt where all the first born are killed. God punishes David by killing Bathsheba's child. And I count God allowing Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter as a punishment. There's never a reason for why God allows this, but I think it may have something to do with Jephthah being willing to potentially sacrifice a member of his house in order to win a war. Not a good reason for the punishment (especially since it was the daughter who died) but if nothing else the Bible has given us plenty of proof that God isn't the most reasonable being out there.

So yeah, just more proof on how God loves to punish men by killing or striking ill anyone who happens to be around the man, infants and children included. What a merciful God, am I right?

Wednesday: 1 Kings 15-17