The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 311

been God's messeI1ger to announce to him mission was too delicate to be entrusted to his future reign over the ten tribes, that the a stranger. "None might know it but his de11th of the youth whom he had destined own bosom, and she that lay in it" (Bp. Hall). Jeroboam evidently suspected that to sncceed him was but the beginning of this sickness was punitive, and he would sorrows, and foreshadowed tho speedy and not have others think so too], Arise, I pray shameful extinction of his family (ver. 14). thee, and disguise [lit., change. The word Be too, like Solomon, has sown to the suggests that the disguise was to be effected wind and now reaps to the whirlwind, This by e. change of garmen/JJ. " She must put off her robes o.nd put on a russet coat" (ib.) section is omitted in the Vat. LXX. Possibly the queen was not unknown to Ver. 1.-At that time [or about (:;l) that the prophet (ver. 4)] thyself, that thou time. The king is now settled at Tirzah [Observe the archaic form 'l:l~ for J:l~, (ver. 17). In eh. xiL 25 we left him resid- which latter the Keri would substitute, quite ing o.t Shechem. The time referred to is needlessly, here] be not known [Heb. and that somewhat indefinite period mentioned they (i.e., those whom she met, not the in eh. xiii. vers. 33, 34. These opening prophet only) shall not know that thou art, words clearly connect the sickness with &c.] to be the wt!e of Jeroboam; and get J'eroboam's impenitence. What led the king thee to Shiloh [the modem Seililn. '' There to move his Court to Tirza.h, Shechem is no site in the country fixed with greater being, o.s we ha.ve already seen, not only certainty than that of Shiloh" (Uonder, the co.pita.I of Ephraim, but " the natural p. 44. See Judg. x..xi. 19). The identifica- capital of Palestine," "its central situa- tion, however, was only effected in 18:l8. tion, its accessibility, and its wonderfully Conder gives some interesting pa.rticula.ra fine water supply" giving it " advantages which lead him to believe that we can not enjoyed by o.ny other city in the land" identify the ,ery site of the tabernacle. (Conder), we are not told; but it is in- For its history, see Josh. xvi. 5; xviii. teresting and instructive to find that it has 1-10; Judg. xviii. 31 ; x..xi. 19; 1 Sam. iv. one conspicuous disadvantage as a ea.pita.I, 3; J er. xii. 5. Presuming that Tirzah is viz., that it is "co=anded by e. hill on to be identified with Teiasir (see on ver.17) either side so close to the town, that the Shiloh would be over thirty miles' distant- old geographer, Marino Sanuto, in the four- more than o. day's journey to the queen, as teenth century, considers the place to be the road involves some toilsome climbing] : untenable by o.ny military force, because behold, there 1s Ahija.h the prophet [see on stones might be rolled down upon the oh. xi. 29. Shiloh was probably the birth- houses, from either Ebo.I or Oerizim" plo.ce, as well as the residence, of Abijah. (Conder, p.16. Cf. Judg. ix. 36). It is very It wo.s in the territory of Ephraim (Josh. probable that this consideration suggested xvi. 6), o.nd at no great distance from Bethel. the transfer, of which Ewald despaired of dis- We can only explain Ahijo.h's contiuueu covering the cause (" Hist. Israel," iv. 23)] residence there, after the migmtion of the AblJa.h [Rawlinson sees in the name, which God-fearing Israelites to the southern king- means "Jehovo.h is his father," an indication dom, not by his great o.ge, but by the sup- that Jeroboam "did not intend to desert the position tLat, ho.ting been concerned in the worship of Jehovah." But the name was transfer of the kingdom to J eroboo.m, he probably bestowed long before the schism, felt it a duty to stay and wa.tch his ca.reer. possibly in Egypt. It is more likely that And the time ho.s now come when he can it connects itself, if with anything, with the be useful. His relations with Jeroboam message of Jehovah to him (oh. xi. 28). But had appa.rently so fa.r been good. He had the name was not uncommon-it was borne not protested, so for o.s we know, ago.inst by a son of Rehoboam (ver. 31; compare the calf-worship, but then God ha.d sent .A.hijah, below), o.nd inferences from no.mes another prophet to do that], which told me must necessarily be precarious] the son of that I should be king [Heb. he spake of me Jeroboam fell sick. [The historian un- for king] over this people. [So th11t he doubtedly means us to see the finger of God had already proved himself a true prophet, in this sickness. This wo.s one of the and so fe.r a prophet of good.] penalties of disobedience (Deut. xxviii. 22, Ver. 3.-And take with thee [Heb. in 68-61; Exod, xxiii. 25]. thine hand] ten loaves [Ten would seem Ver. 2.-And Jeroboam said to his Wife to have been o. usual number (1 S11m. xvii. [_Conscious that his proceedings would merit 18). On the subject of gifts or fees to pro- Ahijo.h's reproof, he is afraid to go in per- phets, judges, &c., see on eh. xiii. 7], and son. And his wife-ii in this particular we cracknels [or cakes, as mo.rg. '!'he original may trust the LXX., o.n Egyptian princess- word Cl•')~~ (1~~ pt1p11git) means" pricked," could be more readily disguised. The com- or "spotted." It is the word tHnslated e1, THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [oa. ::m-. 1-20.