1 Kings 14:1-31

14:1-6 | In his desperation, Jeroboam attempted to manipulate a prophet of the Lord in hopes of receiving a favorable message about his ill son. Ahijah’s physical eyesight was poor, but his spiritual sight was keen. He was right through Jeroboam’s deception.

14:7-16 | Ahijah the prophet made it clear that Jeroboam’s disobedience would cost him his kingdom and his son. This is a sobering reminder that those who do not take God’s word seriously put their future in jeopardy.

14:11 | Dogs were scavengers in ancient Israel, not pets. Birds refers to vultures and ravens. The offspring of Jeroboam would not receive burial in the family tomb; instead, their bodies would be ravaged by wild animals.

14:22 | Judah served the Lord at the beginning of Rehoboam’s reign (2 Chron. 11:5-17), but Rehoboam soon turned aside from serving God, and Judah fell into apostasy (2 Chron. 12:1). As important as it is to begin well, it is even more important for God’s people to finish their lives following Him (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

14:23-24 | High places were sites of idol worship. Some scholars think the sacred pillars (standing stones that symbolized a god) had sexual connotations in connection with Canaanite religion (Deut. 16:22). Wooden images were Asherahs – obscene carvings associated with the Canaanite deity Asherah. Perverted persons were those involved in the sexual rituals of the Canaanite fertility religions. They were cult prostitutes (both male and female), dedicated to a worship that proved a severe stumbling block to Israel. The history of Israel’s faith is largely centered in the struggle between devotion to Yahweh or to Canaanite culture and religion.

14:25-27 | The southern kingdom of Judah fared no better than the northern kingdom of Israel! The beginning of its decline was evidenced by the looting of the house of the LORD by the king of Egypt. The shields that had been made of gold were taken, and King Rehoboam could only replace them with less costly bronze shields.