Bible Commentaries
1 Kings 14

Verse 2

get thee to Shiloh. He had no confidence in his own gods. They were only political expedients.

Verse 3

cruse = flask, or bottle.

he. Some codices, with Septuagint, read "and he".

Verse 4

were set. Compare 1 Samuel 4:15 . One of the nine afflicted with blindness. See note on Genesis 19:11 .

Verse 6

door = entrance.

Verse 9

all Not merely kings, but all other rulers. No anachronism.

other gods. Jehovah does not recognize the calves as being what Jeroboam intended, mere political expedients. See note on 1 Kings 14:2 .

Verse 10

him that, &c. = every male.

shut up and left. The commentators speak of the text being obscure or corrupt. But 'azab is a Homonym, meaning: (1) to leave (as in Genesis 2:24 ; Genesis 39:6 . Nehemiah 5:10 . Psalms 49:10 . Mai. 1 Kings 4:1 ); and (2) to restore, repair, fortify (as in Nehemiah 3:8 . Exodus 23:5 (see note there). Deuteronomy 32:36 . Deuteronomy 14:10 . 2 Kings 14:26 . Jeremiah 49:25 ). Here it means "strengthened and fortified": i.e. they will not escape. Compare 1 Kings 21:21 . 2 Kings 9:8 .

as = according as.

Verse 13

grave = a burying-place. Hebrew. keber, not sheol.

Verse 14

but what? even now. Here again the text is supposed to be obscure. It is on account of the Figures of speech ( App-6 ) used: (1) Ellipsis = "But what [am I saying That day'? ] Even now [hath He raised him up]". (2) Note the Figure of speech Amphidiorthosis. App-6 .

Verse 15

smite Israel, [shaking him] as a reed is shaken, &c. The Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) to be thus supplied.

this good land. Occurs only here and Joshua 23:13 , Joshua 23:15 . the river: i.e. the Euphrates.

groves = ' A sherim.

Verse 16

made Israel to sin. The first of twenty-one occurrences in these two books: 1 Kings 14:16 ; 1 Kings 15:26 , 1Ki 15:30 , 1 Kings 15:34 ; 1 Kings 16:19 , 1Ki 16:26 ; 1 Kings 21:22 ; 1 Kings 22:52 . 2Ki 3:3 ; 2 Kings 10:29 , 2 Kings 10:31 ; 2Ki 13:2 , 2 Kings 13:6 , 2 Kings 13:11 ; 2Ki 14:24 ; 2 Kings 15:9 , 2 Kings 15:18 , 2Ki 15:24 , 2 Kings 15:28 ; 2 Kings 16:13 ; 2Ki 17:21 ; 2 Kings 23:15 .

Verse 17

Tirzah. Afterward made the capital by Baasha (1 Kings 15:21 ), till Samaria was built by Omri (1 Kings 15:33 ; 1Ki 16:8 , 1 Kings 16:15 , 1 Kings 16:23 , 1 Kings 16:24 ).

Verse 19

the rest. See 2 Chronicles 13:3-20 .

Verse 20

two and twenty years. In 1 Kings 15:25 Nadab reigned two years, and began in the second year of Asa, which was the twenty-first of Jeroboam, so that Nadab's two years fall within the time of his father's twenty-two. But from 2 Chronicles 13:20 we learn that Jeroboam was stricken with a languishing disease, in which time Nadab reigned with him, and died the same year as his father. The number "twentytwo" is associated with disorganization and disintegration (= 2x11). It is associated with the worst two reigns: Jeroboam, here; and Ahab in 1 Kings 16:29 .

slept with his fathers = died. See notes on Deuteronomy 31:16 . Said of the wicked Jeroboam and Ahab, as well as of good David and Jehoshaphat.

Verse 21

mother's name. Mentioned here and in the case of each successive king (Compare 1 Kings 15:10 ; 1 Kings 22:42 . 2 Kings 8:26 , &c.); because the king's character stands connected with the mother ; and because of the position which the queen dowager occupied (Compare 1 Kings 2:19 , 1 Kings 15:13 .Jeremiah 13:18; Jeremiah 13:18 ).

Ammonitess. Twice mentioned, and in connection with Jerusalem. See 1 Kings 14:31 .

Verse 22

jealousy. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

Verse 23

groves. See note on Exodus 34:13 , and App-42 .

Verse 24

sodomites. Committers of the sin of Sodom (Genesis 19:0 ). Male prostitutes, dedicated to idolatry involving this sin. Connected with the 'Asherah. App-42 . Compare Deuteronomy 23:17 . Deuteronomy 15:12 ; Deu 22:46 .

children = sons.

Verse 25

Shishak. Founder of the twenty-second dynasty.

against. See note on Judges 1:8 , and App-53 .

Verse 26

all = "all [he could find]".

all the shields. Some codices, with three early printed editions, and Vulgate, omit "all".

Verse 30

Rehoboam. Being named first he was probably the aggressor, contrary to 1 Kings 12:24 .

Verse 31

Abijam = Abijah.