The mission of Jero boam's wife to Ahijah His tion of the overthrow of Jero house § 62. Ahijah's Prophecy against Jeroboam, I Kgs. 141-18 Late Prophetic Narrative I Kgs. 14 1At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray you, and disguise yourself, that you may not be known to be the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. There is Ahijah the prophet who predicted that I should become kingw over this people. 3 And take with you ten loaves and cakes and a jar of honey, and go to him; he will tell you what shall become of the child. And Jeroboam's wife did so; arising, she went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes had become dim because of his age. 5 But Jehovah had said to the aged Ahijah, The wife of Jeroboam cometh now to inquire of theex concerning her son, for he is sick; thus and thus shalt thou say to her. And when she came in, she pretended to be another woman. "But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, predic- he said, Come in, wife of Jeroboam; why do you pretend to be another? seeing that I am sent to you with heavy tidings. Go, tell Jeroboam, ‘Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: "Because I exalted thee from among the people and made thee prince over my people Israel, and rent the kingdom boam's away from the house of David and gave it to thee, and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my command and followed me with all his heart to do that only which was right in mine eyes, but hast done evil more than all that were before thee, and hast gone and made thee other gods and molten images to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: 10therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male child-him that is shut up and him that is left at largea in Israel-and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweepeth away refuse, until it is gone. 11Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat, and him that dieth in the field shall the birds of the heavens eat; for Jehovah hath spoken it."' 12 Now rise up, go to your house; and when your feet enter the city, the child shall die. 13 And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam. 14Moreover Jehovah will raise up for himself a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day. But even nowb 15 Jehovah will smite Israel, and they shall be shaken as a reed is shaken in the water, and he will root 862 The language and point of view of this story is that of the late prophetic editor of Kgs. In 15 the exile of the Northern Israelites is predicted. The data in 1-7, 17, 18, however, were probably drawn by the editor from older sources to which he had access, and therefore the narrative probably has certain historical as well as religious value. v 142 Heb., that they shall not know, i.e., the impersonal verb equivalent to a passive. 142 Following a pointing suggested by the versions. Heb., he spoke of me for king. 145 Heb., to seek an oracle. y 145 So the versions. In the Heb. the words are spoken by Jehovah, but they more naturally come from the narrator. The difference in the Heb. is merely one of pointing. 1410 I.e., everyone. The exact application of the phrase is in doubt. Under and over age, bond and free, or married and celibate have been suggested. b 1414 The Heb. is doubtful and the versions are obscure. The above rendering preserves the original thought. 1415 Modern commentators generally agree that Heb. has lost a clause needed as the ground of comparison. Late Prophetic Narrative up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River [Euphrates], because they have made their Ashtartes, provoking Jehovah to anger. 16 And he will give up Israel because of the sins of Jeroboam which he has committed, and with which he has made Israel sin. of 17Then Jeroboam's wife arose and departed and came to Tirzah. And Death as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died. 18And all Israel Jeroburied him and mourned for him, according to the word of Jehovah which boam's he spoke by his servant Ahijah the prophet. § 63. Death of Jeroboam and Reign of his Son Nadab, I Kgs. 1419, 20, 1525-31 Annals of Israel son I Kgs. 14 19Now the other acts of Jeroboam, how he carried on wars, how he Jeroruled, they are already recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. 20 And the boam's time during which Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years. Then he slept with his reign fathers, and Nadab his son became king in his place. and death sination 15 25 And Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king in the second year of Asa king Naof Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 26 And he did that which displeased dab's Jehovah, and followed in the way of his father, and in his sin whereby he made Israel sin. rule and 27 And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against assashim, and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, by while Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. 28So in the Baasha third year of Asa king of Judah Baasha slew him, and became king in his place. 29But as soon as he became king, he smote all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave of Jeroboam's house a single soul which he did not destroy. According to the word of Jehovah, which he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 30because of the sins which Jeroboam committed and by which he made Israel to sin, so that he provoked Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger. 31 Now the other acts of Nadab and all that he did, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? § 64. Baasha's Reign, I Kgs. 1532-167 Late Prophetic Editorial Summary vah's of I Kgs. 15 33In the third year of Asa king of Judah Baasha the son of JehoAhijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah, and reigned twenty-four years. disap 32 And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days. proval 34 And he displeased Jehovah, and followed in the way of Jeroboam and in Baahis sin with which he made Israel to sin. 16 1And the following word of policy Jehovah came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, 2Forasmuch as I have raised thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel, § 63 In 1527-29 a brief extract from the annals is found. Otherwise the record is cast in the familiar language of the late prophetic editor. d 1530 A Heb. scribe has added the awkward gloss, by his provocation. § 64 The fact that Jehu prophesied against Baasha may have been derived from an earlier source, but all of the data in the present section is cast in the language of the late prophetic editor. 15 is clearly out of its logical position, which is after 3. sha's His con tion and death Late Prophetic Editorial Summary and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam and hast made my people Israel to sin, so that they have provoked me to anger with their sins, 3I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Whoever belonging to Baasha dies in the city, him shall the dogs eat, and whoever of his dies in the field, him shall the birds of the heavens eat. 5Now the other acts of Baasha, and what he did and his mighty deeds, demna- are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? Moreover, by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani the word of Jehovah came against Baasha and against his house, both because of the evil that he did in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he smote him. 6And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah, and Elah his son became king in his place. con spiracy Elah house Annals of Israel § 65. Elah's Reign, I Kgs. 168-14 Zimri's I Kgs. 16 In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah Elah the son of Baasha became king over Israel in Tirzah, and reigned two years. 9And his servant Zimri, against commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. While he was in and his Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, the royal chamberlain in Tirzah, 10Zimri went in and smote and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and became king in his place. 11But as soon as he became king and had seated himself on the throne, he smote all the house of Baasha; he left him not a single male, either of his kinsfolks or of his friends. 12Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of his son Elah, which they committed and with which they made Israel sin, to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities. 14Now the other acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? Elec tion of Omri king and over throw of Zimri Annals of Israel § 66. Brief Reign of Zimri, I Kgs. 1615-20 I Kgs. 16 15In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were besieging Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. 16And the people who were engaged in the siege heard the report, Zimri has conspired and has also smitten the king; therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. 17So Omri went up from Gibbethon and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. 18When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he 65 The account of the conspiracy of Zimri, which is taken from a primitive source, well illustrates the orientalism of the age and the civil dissensions which during this epoch wasted the rich resources of the northern kingdom. § 66 Although Zimri reigned only seven days, the editor of Kgs. pronounces upon him the same formal condemnation as upon all the kings of Israel. Into his epitome he has introduced a brief quotation telling of the overthrow of the conspirator. Annals of Israel went into the castle of the royal palace, and burnt the royal palace over him. Thus he died for his sins which he committed in doing that which displeased Jehovah, in following in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he did, to make Israel sin. 20Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his conspiracy which he made, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? II RULE OF THE HOUSE OF OMRI AND THE WORK OF ELIJAH § 67. Omri's Accession and Reign, I Kgs. 1621-28 Annals of Israel victory over his Tibni I Kgs. 16 21Then the people of Israel were divided. Half of the people Omri's followed Tibni the son of Ginath and made him king, and the other half followed Omri. 22But the people with Omri were stronger than the people rival with Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni and his brother Joram died, and Omri became king. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah Omri began to reign over Israel, and reigned twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. 24Then he bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; Estaband he built on the hill and named the city which he built Samaria, after ment of the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. lish Sama his 25 And Omri did that which displeased Jehovah, and was more wicked than all his ria as predecessors. For he followed altogether in the steps of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, capital and in that with which he made Israel to sin, so that by their heathen practices they angered Jehovah the God of Israel. 27Now the rest of the acts of Omri, and all His that he did and his mighty deeds, are they not recorded in the Chronicles of the evil reKings of Israel? 28So Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. And ligious policy Ahab his son became king in his place. Rule of the House of Omri and the Work of Elijah and Elisha.-Five primary sources are represented in the subsequent sections. From the annals of Israel the editor of Kgs. made a few brief quotations. The longer extracts in I Kgs. 20, 22 he apparently drew from an early Ahab history, and in II Kgs. 914-1027 from a Jehu history. These citations he supplemented by the long and valuable extracts from the early Elijah stories, I Kgs. 17-19, 21, If Kgs. 11-8, 17a and by the stories taken from the popular Elisha cycles, II Kgs. 21-913. Excepting a few notices regarding Judah in I Kgs. 2241-50 and II Kgs. 816-29, the attention of the reader is entirely fixed in these sixteen chapters upon the important events in Northern Israel. The epoch is chiefly important because in the person of the great Elijah the prophets began to assume an active and commanding position in the social and religious life of the period, and that open struggle with the native religions of Canaan was inaugurated which was destined to end in the complete separation of the Israelitish race and the victory of the exalted ethical conceptions of Jehovah and his demands, which were so courageously advocated by his prophets. §67 The references to the conquest of Moab by Omri in the Mesha inscription (cf. Appendix IV), and the fact that even after his family had ceased to rule over Israel, the Assyrians referred to the northern kingdom as the house of Omri, indicate the importance of the man and his reign. What David did for united Israel, Omri appears to have done in a lesser degree for his kingdom. Instead of weakened by war and subject to the Arameans, he left it united and organized, thus preparing the way for the brilliant reign of Ahab. These facts were either not recorded in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel or did not seem important to the editor; for, aside from two brief but significant quotations, he simply gives his usual adverse judgment regarding Omri and his reign. a1621 So Gk, and Luc. The Heb. through dittography adds, into two parts. b 1622 So Gk. and Luc. It is so circumstantial that it appears to be original, although not found in the Heb. 162 Heb., vanities. Ahab's mar sanc tion of § 68. Ahab's Accession and Policy, I Kgs. 1629-34 Annals of Israel I Kgs. 16 29Now in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in riage with Samaria twenty-two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did that which displeased Jezebel Jehovah more than all his predecessors. 31Furthermore, as if it had been a slight thing and his for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and turned them to serve Baal and worshipped him. 32 And he erected an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab also made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to anger Jehovah the God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who preceded him. 34In his days Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. He laid its foundation ing of with the loss of Abiram his eldest, and set up the gates with the loss of his Jericho youngest son Segub, as Jehovah had spoken by Joshua the son of Nun. Baal ism Rebuild An § 69. The Drought Announced by Elijah the Tishbite, I Kgs. 17 Early Ephraimite Elijah Stories I Kgs. 17 1Now Elijah the Tishbite of Tishbef in Gilead, said to Ahab, nounce- As Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, whom I serve, there shall be neither the dew nor rain these years, except according to my word. ment of drought Elijah by the Brook Cherith 2Then the word of Jehovah came to him, saying, 3Depart from here and turn eastward and hide thyself by the Brook Cherith, that is east of Jordan. 4Then thou shalt drink out of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5So he went and obeyed the command of Jehovah anda dwelt by the Brook Cherith that is east of Jordan. 6And the ravens brought him bread every morning and fleshi every evening, and he used to drink out of the brook. 7But after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. § 68 The editor introduces the history of Ahab with a review of his reign and two extracts from the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. Cf. Josh. 62% for the prediction referred to in 34. d 1630 So Gk. and Luc. and the stereotyped idiom elsewhere. A word has by mistake fallen out of the Heb. 1633 Probably a more elaborate representation of the deity than the sacred poles referred to in 1415 and frequently elsewhere. In II Kgs. 234, as in Judg. 37, Asherah seems to be equivalent to the female goddess Ashtarte. $69 The characteristics and approximate date of the early Elijah stories which are here introduced, have already been considered in the Introd., pp. 17, 18. The abruptness with which Elijah is ushered into the history in Kgs. is in perfect keeping with his character, but it is doubtless due to the fact that we have here only a torso. The complete Elijah biography probably localized the opening scene (cf. 3, from here) and told of the persecution of the prophets by Jezebel, which is merely alluded to in 1813, and of the fulfilment of the divine command to anoint Hazael (1915). No critical reader of these stories would maintain that they present a contemporary portrait of the great prophet. They have all the characteristic marks of popular stories. It would be remarkable if oral transmission during seventy or eighty years had not obscured certain facts and introduced some unhistorical elements. Even the latter, however, are significant, for they are the concrete testimony of later generations to the unquestioned greatness of the man and his work. Their courageous, uncompromising spirit, the dramatic incidents, and the vivid, forcible literary style place these stories among the masterpieces of the O.T. error. f 171 So Gk. and Luc. The Heb., of the sojourners in, is clearly due to a slight scribal # 171 Josephus, Ant. VIII, 132, quotes from Meander the statement that this famine occurred during the reign of Ittobaal of Tyre and lasted one full year. h 175 So Gk. The Heb. adds, and he went, but this is probably a scribal repetition of the preceding expression. i 176 So Gk. and Luc. |