Bible Commentaries

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

cruse = flask, or bottle.

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

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

door = entrance.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 = "Asherim.

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

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

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

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.

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).

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

jealousy. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

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

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

children = sons.

Shishak. Founder of the twenty-second dynasty.

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

all = "all [he could find]".

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

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

Abijam = Abijah.