◄ 1 Kings 14:16 ►
So He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit."
Study Bible
And He will give Israel over
This phrase signifies a divine act of judgment. The Hebrew root for "give over" is "נָתַן" (natan), which means to deliver or hand over. In the context of ancient Israel, this implies a transfer of protection and favor from God to a state of vulnerability and exposure to enemies. Historically, this reflects the period when Israel was divided and weakened, leading to its eventual conquest. Theologically, it underscores the principle that God’s protection is contingent upon the faithfulness of His people.

on account of the sins
The Hebrew word for "sins" is "חַטָּאָה" (chatta'ah), which refers to offenses or transgressions against God’s law. This phrase highlights the cause-and-effect relationship between sin and divine judgment. In the conservative Christian perspective, it serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and its consequences. It also reflects the biblical theme that sin not only affects the individual but can have corporate ramifications for a community or nation.

Jeroboam has committed
Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, is a central figure in this narrative. His actions, particularly the establishment of idol worship (1 Kings 12:28-30), are seen as a direct violation of the first commandment. The Hebrew root for "committed" is "עָשָׂה" (asah), meaning to do or make, indicating deliberate action. Jeroboam’s leadership set a precedent for idolatry, which had lasting negative impacts on Israel’s spiritual state.

and has caused Israel to commit
This phrase emphasizes the influence of leadership on a nation’s spiritual direction. The Hebrew root "חָטָא" (chata) for "commit" suggests leading into sin or causing to sin. Jeroboam’s actions led the people away from true worship, illustrating the biblical principle that leaders bear responsibility not only for their own actions but also for the spiritual welfare of those they lead. This serves as a cautionary tale about the power of influence and the importance of godly leadership.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeroboam
The first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the division of the united monarchy. He is known for leading Israel into idolatry by setting up golden calves in Bethel and Dan.

2. Israel
The northern kingdom consisting of ten tribes that separated from Judah and Benjamin after Solomon's reign. This passage speaks to the spiritual and political consequences of their idolatry.

3. Ahijah the Prophet
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Ahijah plays a crucial role in the account by prophesying the downfall of Jeroboam's house due to his sins.

4. Bethel and Dan
Locations where Jeroboam set up golden calves for worship, leading Israel into sin.

5. The LORD (Yahweh)
The God of Israel, who holds Jeroboam accountable for his actions and the resulting sin of the nation.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Leadership
Leaders bear significant responsibility for their actions and the influence they have on others. Jeroboam's sin led an entire nation astray, reminding us of the weight of leadership.

The Danger of Idolatry
Idolatry is a recurring sin that leads to separation from God. We must guard our hearts against modern forms of idolatry, such as materialism or self-worship.

God's Justice and Mercy
While God is just and punishes sin, His warnings through prophets like Ahijah also demonstrate His desire for repentance and restoration.

Corporate Responsibility
The sins of a leader can have widespread effects on a community or nation. This calls for prayer and discernment in choosing and supporting leaders.

Repentance and Return
Despite the judgment pronounced, there is always an opportunity for repentance. We should seek to turn back to God when we recognize sin in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jeroboam's leadership style and decisions impact the spiritual state of Israel, and what can we learn about the influence of leaders today?

2. In what ways do modern forms of idolatry manifest in our lives, and how can we guard against them?

3. How does the account of Jeroboam and Israel illustrate the principles found in Deuteronomy 28 regarding obedience and disobedience?

4. What role do prophets like Ahijah play in calling people back to God, and how can we apply this prophetic voice in our communities today?

5. Reflect on a time when you faced the consequences of a poor decision. How did you experience God's justice and mercy in that situation?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 32
The incident of the golden calf at Mount Sinai parallels Jeroboam's sin, highlighting the recurring theme of idolatry and its consequences for Israel.

1 Kings 12:25-33
Provides context for Jeroboam's actions in setting up the golden calves, which directly led to the events described in 1 Kings 14:16.

2 Kings 17:21-23
Describes the eventual downfall of the northern kingdom due to persistent idolatry, fulfilling the warning given in 1 Kings 14:16.

Deuteronomy 28
Lists blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, which frame the consequences faced by Israel in this passage.
Sermons
The Sin of Making Others to SinT. Binney.1 Kings 14:16
A Good Boy and a Bad FamilyA. McAuslane, D. D.1 Kings 14:1-18
Affliction and JudgmentJ. Urquhart 1 Kings 14:1-20
The Future of IsraelJ.A. Macdonald 1 Kings 14:15-16
People
Abijah, Abijam, Ahijah, David, Israelites, Jeroboam, Naamah, Nadab, Rehoboam, Shishak, Sodomites, Solomon, Tirzah
Places
Bethel, Egypt, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Shiloh, Tirzah
Topics
Account, Caused, Commit, Committed, Giveth, Jeroboam, Jerobo'am, Sin, Sinned, Sins, Wherewith
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Kings 14:6-16

     1431   prophecy, OT methods

1 Kings 14:15-16

     1025   God, anger of
     8829   superstition

Library
Synopsis. --The Gradual Narrowing of the Miraculous Element in the Bible by Recent Discovery and Discussion. --The Alarm Thereby Excited in the Church. --The Fallacy Which
It is barely forty years since that beloved and fearless Christian scholar, Dean Stanley, spoke thus of the miracles recorded of the prophet Elisha: "His works stand alone in the Bible in their likeness to the acts of mediaeval saints. There alone in the Sacred History the gulf between Biblical and Ecclesiastical miracles almost disappears."[5] It required some courage to say as much as this then, while the storm of persecution was raging against Bishop Colenso for his critical work on the Pentateuch. …
James Morris Whiton—Miracles and Supernatural Religion

Jeroboam
BY REV. ALFRED ROWLAND, D.D., LL.B. "Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin."--1 KINGS xiv. 16. Jeroboam's character is worthy of serious study, not only because it influenced the destiny of God's ancient people, but because it suggests lessons of the utmost value to His people still. He may be fairly regarded as a type of those who are successful men of the world. He was not an example of piety, for he had none--nor of lofty principle, for he was an opportunist who made expediency …
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Whether Contention is a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that contention is not a mortal sin. For there is no mortal sin in spiritual men: and yet contention is to be found in them, according to Lk. 22:24: "And there was also a strife amongst" the disciples of Jesus, "which of them should . . . be the greatest." Therefore contention is not a mortal sin. Objection 2: Further, no well disposed man should be pleased that his neighbor commit a mortal sin. But the Apostle says (Phil. 1:17): "Some out of contention preach Christ," …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Divination by Drawing Lots is Unlawful?
Objection 1: It would seem that divination by drawing lots is not unlawful, because a gloss of Augustine on Ps. 30:16, "My lots are in Thy hands," says: "It is not wrong to cast lots, for it is a means of ascertaining the divine will when a man is in doubt." Objection 2: There is, seemingly, nothing unlawful in the observances which the Scriptures relate as being practiced by holy men. Now both in the Old and in the New Testament we find holy men practicing the casting of lots. For it is related …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Whole Heart
LET me give the principal passages in which the words "the whole heart," "all the heart," are used. A careful study of them will show how wholehearted love and service is what God has always asked, because He can, in the very nature of things, ask nothing less. The prayerful and believing acceptance of the words will waken the assurance that such wholehearted love and service is exactly the blessing the New Covenant was meant to make possible. That assurance will prepare us for turning to the Omnipotence …
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). In our last chapter we considered at some length the much debated and difficult question of the human will. We have shown that the will of the natural man is neither Sovereign nor free but, instead, a servant and slave. We have argued that a right conception of the sinner's will-its servitude-is essential to a just estimate of his depravity and ruin. The utter corruption and degradation of human nature is something which …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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