1 Kings 14:1-13 ▼

1 Right at that time, Jeroboam's son Abijah became ill,

2 so Jeroboam suggested to his wife, |Get up, disguise yourself so that no one will know that you're Jeroboam's wife, and go to Shiloh where the prophet Ahijah lives. He's the one who told me that I would be king over this people.

3 Take ten loaves with you, some cakes, and a jar of honey and go visit him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.|

4 So that's what Jeroboam's wife did. She got up, went to Shiloh, and found Ahijah's home. Ahijah was blind, because his eyes could not focus due to his age.

5 Meanwhile, the LORD had spoken to Ahijah, |Be on your guard! Jeroboam's wife is coming to ask you about her son, because he is ill. You're to say such and such to her. When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else!|

6 When she arrived, Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came through the doorway. He said this to her: |Come in, wife of Jeroboam. What is this pretension at being someone else? I have some harsh news.

7 Go tell Jeroboam: 'I raised you up from among the people. 'I made you Commander-in-Chief over my people Israel.

8 I tore the kingdom away from David's dynasty. 'Then I gave it to you. But you have not lived like my servant David, who kept my commands with all his heart, and did only what I considered to be right.

9 Instead, you have done more evil than everyone who lived before you. 'You have gone out and crafted other gods for yourself. 'You made cast images. 'You have provoked me to anger. 'You have thrown me behind your back.

10 Therefore, watch while I bring calamity on Jeroboam's dynasty! 'I will eliminate every male, both slave and free in Israel, from Jeroboam. 'I will burn up Jeroboam's dynasty, as a man burns up manure until it is gone.

11 Dogs will eat anyone who dies in the city that belongs to Jeroboam's household. The birds of the sky will eat anyone who dies in the open field, because the LORD has determined it.'

12 |Now get up and go home. When your feet cross the city line, your child will die.

13 Everyone in Israel will mourn for him and will bury him, because he alone from Jeroboam's family will receive a decent burial, because something good was observed in him with respect to the LORD God of Israel out of all the household of Jeroboam!