A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Commentary on 1 and 2 Kings · Chapter 14
1 Kings. CHAP. XIV.
THIS Chapter is a Commemoration of the two firſt Kings of Iſrael and Judah, deſcribing their Acts, Lives and Deaths. The firſt is of Jeroboam, the two laſt Verſes of the foregoing Chapter, and here from ver. 1, to ver. 20. The ſecond is of Rehoboam, from ver. 21, to ver. 31. Firſt, of the firſt:
Remark the Firſt: All thoſe wonderful Works for warning Jeroboam to break off his Sins by Repentance and Reformation, were as God's Hammers, which did but beat upon cold Iron; 'twas all loſt Labour, making no Impreſſion at all, ver. 33, 34, of Chap. 13.
The Cauſe of his Obſtinacy (ſaith P. Martyr) was his Ambition. He made his Hedge Prieſts by Bribery, without any Regard to Learning or Honeſty, to Tribe or Family, being reſolved to carry on his Idolatry (notwithſtanding his ſhew of Repentance which he made, Chap. 13.6.7.) becauſe the Renouncing of that evil way would (as he ſaid, Chap. 12.26, 27, 28.) endanger his Kingdom. Thus wicked Men was worſe and worſe, 2 Tim. 3.13.
Remark the Second: Though Jeroboam perſiſted in this indelible Evil of Idolatry, and proſpered better than the true Heirs of David, (for he lived to ſee three Succeſſions upon the Throne of Judah;) yet God's Favour is not to be meaſured by the line of worldly Welfare. The ſame Divine Power which before had ſtricken his Hand, now ſtrikes his Son, his beſt Son and Heir of the Crown Abijah, ver. 1. The Father walked contrary unto God, and now God alſo walks as contrary to him, and ſcourgeth him upon his Son's back, who was a piece of himſelf in another Skin.
Remark the Third: Jeroboam is ſorry for his ſick Son. Bad Men may have natural Affections, which even brute Beaſts have towards their own Young: Yet he thinks not on God to pacifie his Anger, but only of his Prophet, for the Recovery of his Son, as he had foretold him of his being King, vainly reſpecting the Servant more than the Maſter. 'Tis a wonder he made not his moan to the old Prophet at hand in Bethel: No, in his Extremity he is driven to this true Prophet, ver. 2. that as the Prayers of a Prophet had healed his Hand, ſo might they no leſs ſave his Son; and none muſt be the Meſſenger but his Wife, and that diſguiſed too, upon a double Account; the Firſt is, The Meſſenger muſt not be known to the People, leſt they ſhould on all Occaſions, go to the true Prophets and Prieſts of the Lord, as he himſelf did, Regis ad exemplum, &c. If he forſake his new Gods, as Dunghill Deities, why may not we? they might ſay. And Secondly, nor muſt it be known to the Prophet, from whom he could expect no other Anſwer, ſave what Jehoram had from Eliſha, 2 Kings 3.13. no Prophet of God could ſpeak comfortably to a Founder of Idolatry; ſhe therefore goes to Shilo in the Dreſs of a Peaſant, and not of a Queen, with a poor Country-Preſent, ver. 3. that ſhe might ſeem none other than a plain Country Woman, yet grateful to the Prophet; for ſhe would not go to God's Seer without a Gift; as 1 Sam. 9.7.
Remark the Fourth, is the Event of this Diſguiſe, ver. 4, 5, 6.
Mark 1. The ſame Prophet, Ahijah, that had foretold Jeroboam of his coming to the Kingdom, was now retired into the ſolitary Place of Shilo, there to bewail the Idolatry of Iſrael, (ſaith P. Martyr) which weeping might further the failure of his Eyes, which might well be wept out with much weeping.
Mark 2. Though Jeroboam's Wife was a Queen, yet, partly out of Obedience to her Husband, and partly out of natural Affection to her Son, ſhe is contented to go on foot all alone, a masked Pilgrimage to Shiloh, wherein ſhe expoſed her ſelf to manifold Hazards, either of that Lion in the way, that had lately torn the good Prophet, or of Robbers in the High way, or of being Raviſhed as Dinah, Jacob's Daughter was by Shechem when all alone; yet caſts ſhe off all thoſe fears.
Mark 3. Ahijah the Seer now could not ſee, having his Eyes now ſet in his Head, and therefore her Diſguiſe was now needleſs, (all dreſſes being alike to a blind Man) however needful before among the Courtiers. Hence ſome ſuppoſe this muſt be done at the latter end of Jeroboam's Reign, when Ahijah was blind with Age.
Mark 4. What a fooliſh thing is the Diſguiſe of Hypocriſie. She feigns her ſelf here to be another Woman, not preſenting to the Prophet Jewels, or Gold, or ſuch Preſents as Naaman did to Eliſha, 2 Kings 5.5, 15. this would have diſcovered her to be ſome Perſon of Quality, but only ſome Country Commodities, to make him think ſhe was ſome Country Bumkin, to cozen the Seer if ſhe could: But this blind Prophet had inward Viſions from God, ſo that as ſoon as he hears the ſound of her Feet, ſhe hears from him the ſound of her Name, [Come in thou Wife of Jeroboam;] whereby he diſcovered her Deceit, that ſhe might (ſaith P. Martyr) the better believe his following ſad Oracle. N. B. Thus Hypocrites would cozen the God of Heaven if they could, but the Lord laughs at thoſe double-minded Diſſemblers, and both Detects and Defeats them.
Remark the Fifth; The hard Meſſage God gave to Jeroboam, for hardning his own Heart againſt God's Fear, firſt denounced, and after inflicted upon his Son and upon his Family, ver. 7, to 18.
Mark 1. The diſcovery of her Name under this Diſguiſe, muſt needs ſtrike her with Aſtoniſhment, and prepared her for her following diſmal Doom: God upbraids her wicked Husband, with his notorious Ingratitude (who in no other caſe upbraideth any Man, James 1.5.) in marring God's own People by his Idolatry; tho Iſrael had caſt off God thereby, yet God had not caſt off them, but ſtill calls them [My People Iſrael.] And the ſame Ahijah that had foretold his Riſe (from being a Peaſant, Chap. 11.28. a Servant, to make him a Prince, &c.) doth now as earneſtly foretel his Ruine.
Mark 2. God arraigns him here of his Diabolical Recompencing God evil for good, illuſtrating it by both, falling far ſhort of David (who, though he ſinned, yet cordially repented of his involuntary Infirmities, ſo was the beſt of Kings, and alſo by his becoming far worſe than the worſt of thoſe Kings that went before him, ver. 7, 8, 9. Wicked Saul never ſet up falſe Gods as he hath done, no Sin incenſeth God to Anger more than Idolatry, He hath cast me behind his back, as not worth regarding.
Mark 3. The direful Doom denounced againſt his whole Family in general; not ſo much as a Dog of Jeroboam's ſhall eſcape, ver. 10, 11. God will ſweep his Houſe clean, from all the Dung and Defilements, even with a Beſom of Deſtruction, to make the Pavement pure. Though the Royal Palace (ſaith P. Martyr) looked ſplendidly to Men, yet was it as noiſom as Dung to God, for his placing Idols before his Eyes, and turning the true God to his backſide; and therefore thoſe that would ſecure themſelves in strong Holds, ſhall the Dogs eat alive, and ſuch as hide themſelves in the Fields and Woods, ſhall the Fowls devour. N. B. Oh ſad Sentence that this diſguiſed Princeſs muſt carry home to her Husband: But, becauſe theſe Judgments, (though grievous, yet might be remote) therefore for a preſent hanſel of Vengeance (ſaith Dr. Hall) ſhe is diſmiſſed with the ſad Tidings of her Son's Death, ver. 12. N. B. To loſe him was bad, but not to ſee him before he died was worſe, which muſt needs pierce through a Mother's Breaſt as a Sword, Luke 2.35. eſpecially conſidering this was her only good Son, ver. 13. She muſt loſe him, that was gracious, to afflict her, and keep thoſe that were graceleſs, to afflict her alſo. N. B. God's Darlings oft die betimes, to be delivered from evil to come, Iſa. 57.1. when worſe Men are preſerved, or rather reſerved for more Miſchief to them: Thorns and Thiſtles wither not ſo ſoon as Lilies and Roſes. Yet this good Son ſhall have an honourable Burial, but all others of the Family, of all ſorts, ſhall die unburied, ſave in the Bellys of Dogs and Fowls.
Mark 4. This heavy Doom hath [a moreover;] That Baaſhah is now buſie to lay his Plots for the Kingdom, ver. 14. that he may cut off Jeroboam's Family, Chap. 15.27, 28, 29, 30. Nor ſhall this be all, but the Ten Tribes (for conſenting to Jeroboam's Sins) ſhall become as a Reed that never reſteth, but is in continual Motion by Wind and Water; as they have been carried away into Jeroboam's Idolatry, ſo they ſhall likewiſe be carried away into the Babyloniſh Captivity, ver. 15, 16.
Remark the Sixth, is, The Execution of the firſt Hanſel of this Prophet's predicted Vengeance, to certifie the accompliſhment of all the other Branches thereof in aftertimes, ver. 17, 18. N. B. 'Tis eaſie to imagin, that this miſerable Queen trudged homeward with a ſad Heart all alone, giving many a ſorrowful ſigh, and wiſhing her Country Habit were now changed into mourning Weeds of Sack-Cloth, carrying the heavy load of unwelcom News to her Husband, and that from the ſame Seer that had ſpoke the truth concerning his Advancement, and therefore ought not to be diſtruſted in his Predictions concerning his Abaſement, and utter Deſtruction. And as an Addition of her Burden, ſhe muſt ſee her Son no more, even her moſt hopeful Son; for, returning to Tirzah (a beautiful City, Cant. 6.4. and whither this ſick Son was removed from Shechem for his Recovery) ſhe muſt not receive his laſt Breath with a Kiſs, nor cloſe his Eyes, which would have mitigated her Grief, and ſomewhat allayed her Loſs, &c.
Remark the Seventh concerning Jeroboam, is, Though his Wars in general only be mentioned, ver. 19. and his Death and Succeſſor, ver. 20. where we are told, that he Reigned Two and twenty Years, Reigning Seventeen Years in Rehoboam's time, ver. 21. and Three Years in Abijam's, Chap. 15.1, 2. and Two Years in Aſa's, Chap. 15.9. yet have we a particular Account of Jeroboam's Wars with Abijam, Reboboam's Son and Succeſſor, 2 Chron. 13. all through; where, N. B. He brought Eight hundred thouſand Men into the Field to fight for Idolatry, but half ſo many of Judah ſlay Five hundred thouſand of them. Joſephus ſaith, That Jeroboam began the War, in hope to Vanquiſh young Abijam in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth of his Two and twenty Years: Abijam, in a Parley before that Battle, made an excellent Oration, to diſſwade Iſrael from fighting againſt God, and againſt his Covenant of Salt, aggravating their ſins to the utmoſt, &c. ver. 4, to 13. N. B. When Jeroboam would have ſurpriz'd Judah with his Ambuſhments, they cried unto the Lord, ver. 14. and then God ſmote Jeroboam with a panick Fear, and with Furies in his own Conſcience; yea, and his prodigious Army with the Terrour of the Lord upon them (as Gen. 35.5.) ſo that they fled, and were ſlain with a monſtrous and matchleſs ſlaughter, even 500000 of them, the greateſt number that ever we read of ſlain all of one ſide in any Battle, either in Civil or Sacred Record: Nor was this all; N. B. but God ſtruck Jeroboam himſelf at laſt with ſome grievous Diſeaſe, whereof (Nabal-like, 1 Sam. 25.38.) at length he died, 2 Chron. 13.15.20. what the Prophet Abijah had Propheſied to his Wife concerning him and Iſrael (that ſinned with him) came to paſs: The Phraſe importeth, that he died not the common Death of all Men, but by ſome extraordinary ſtroke of divine Vengeance.
The Second Part of this Chapter concerns Rehoboam, from ver. 21, to 31. wherein,
Mark 1. We find a deſcription of Rehoboam's Parents; his Mother's Name was Naamah, an Ammoniteſs. N. B. Suppoſed to profeſs the true Religion at the firſt, as well as Pharaoh's Daughter, Chap. 3.1. becauſe the Match was made in David's Time: But after Solomon was drawn to Idolatry by his other Outlandiſh Wives, ſhe then might fall off to her Country Idols, and be a means to debauch her Son, and Rehoboam's wicked Wife Maacah, might well puſh this Debauchery farther.
Mark 2. He is deſcribed by his Age, being Forty-one Years old when he began to Reign, ſo that he was old enough to be more wiſe: Yet his Son alledgeth, that Jeroboam's Rebellion was raiſed againſt him while he was young and tender-hearted, 2 Chron. 13.7. which cannot be meant in Age, but in Experience. He was but a Child, and not a Man in Ʋnderſtanding, 1 Cor. 14.20. beſide, he was tenderly brought up under a Prince of Peace, not at all exerciſed in Military Diſcipline; ſo like a tender Plant, he was the more eaſily pluck'd up by his Rebellious Subjects, &c. N. B. Ariſtotle well obſerves, Such as are married Young, do ſeldom bring forth Great Men: This is verified in Rehoboam (begot by Solomon about his Nineteenth Year of Age) who was accounted a Child when he was above Forty Years old; and made as many Confuſions in his Life, as he had made Rejoycings at his Birth, &c.
Mark 3. The degenerate Eſtate of Judah (as well as of Iſrael) both in Religion and Manners, ver. 22, 23, 24. This muſt be ſuppoſed to be after a little time, 2 Chron. 11.17. for it was after three Years that Rehoboam changed his Father's Religion (as he did his Shields) from Gold to Braſs, and the reſt of his ſeventeen Years were ſpent in Impiety, being in…enced by a bad Mother, who had the Breeding of him, a curſed Ammoniteſs, Deut. 23.3. Nehem. 13.1. and by as bad a Wife, who ſet up an Idol in a Grove, 1 Kings 15.2, 13. but more of that in the next Chapter. Rehoboam, like his Father Solomon, began his Reign graciouſly, but following his Father's ſteps, he fell into foul Idolatry, and Judah with him; Qualis Rex, talis Grex, Like Prince, like People. Regis ad exemplum, &c. People dreſs themſelves by the Looking-glaſs of their Prince. Judah built them high Places, though they had the Temple and holy Levites to inſtruct them, which Iſrael wanted, therefore was it worſe in them; and their Idolatry uſher'd in Sodomy, done in Honour to their Idols; therefore in the greateſt Scorn, thoſe Sodomites in Hebrew are called [Kedeſh] Holy Ones, as conſecrated to Venus or Priapus, acting unnaturally in a pretence of Worſhip, N. B. God had no viſible Church upon Earth but here, and oh what a miſerable Proſpect hath ſhe now, when Iſrael Worſhipped Jeroboam's Calves, and Judah was corrupted with Idolatry and Sodomy. Oh how low is ſhe ſometimes brought, and as the Moon waneth away, yet recovers and riſes again, &c.
Mark 4. Judah Sins, and God puniſhes, ver. 25, 26, &c. [In the fifth Year God ſends Shiſhak King of Egypt, to puniſh Judah.] (1ſt. not Iſrael, for ſparing Justice, and Impunity hardned and ripened them to a total Deſtruction, but Judah's Chaſtizing Mercy brought them to be humbled, and ſo preſerved, 2 Chron. 12.6, 7. God grants them ſome deliverance. Rehoboam hired Shiſak off with his Treaſures and golden Shields (as Hezekiah did Senacherib, 2 Kings 18.14, 15.) and he did not plunder Jeruſalem, as Joſephus ſaith. (2dly) This was not done till the Fifth Year of Rehoboam. P. Martyr ſays, in his three firſt Years Religion flouriſhed, in his fourth it was corrupted, and in his fifth Year he was puniſhed, becauſe they had tranſgreſſed against the Lord, 2 Chron. 12. 2, 8, &c. (3dly) Jeroboam had lived in the Court of Shiſhak, and married a Wife there (as ſome ſay) of the Blood Royal, who after was forced to diſguiſe her ſelf, &c. as before; her Husband ſtirred up this King of Egypt to Invade Rehoboam's Country▪ which he could not do, until Judah had ſinned, and even then in Wrath God remembred Mercy, Hab. 3.2.
Mark 5. Theſe Branches alſo: 1st, Jeruſalem was ſo ſtrong, that neither Nebuchadnezzar nor Titus Veſpaſian could take it, but by a long Siege; yet now God ſmote them with ſuch a fear for their Sins, that they ſoon gave it up to Shiſhak upon Compoſition. 2dly, Rebohoam got ſome good by his Affliction, for he frequented the Houſe of the Lord, ver. 28. here (not the High Places;) yet even there he feared Treachery, therefore had he Men with brazen Shields to guard him. 3dly, Though no invaſive War with Armies was betwixt Judah and Iſrael all Rehoboam's Reign, after it was forbid by God, Chap. 12.24. and not revived till Abijam's Reign, 2 Chron. 13. yet were there frequent Skirmiſhes in defenſive Acts of Hoſtility betwixt the Parties of Rehoboam and Jeroboam, upon the Borders of each their Kingdoms, &c. ver. 30. God had not forbid (ſaith P. Martyr) their own defence.