Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

The rest of the acts of Jeroboam - are written in the - chronicles - For some important particulars relative to this reign, see 2 Chronicles 13:1-20.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The wars of Jeroboam may be divided into:

(1) his wars with Rehoboam (see 1 Kings 14:25, 1 Kings 14:30); and

(2) his war with Abijam (see the marginal reference).

The book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel - (of Judah, 1 Kings 14:29). See the Introduction.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

A SUMMARY OF THE TWENTY-TWO YEAR REIGN OF JEROBOAM

"And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nada his son reigned in his stead."

What a short history of a reign that lasted nearly a quarter of a century! We shall frequently see this type of summary regarding the reigns of the kings in both Israel and Judah as we continue this study in Kings, the reason being that the sole importance of any of them regarded their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God. Their wars, their building projects, and many other things that occupied them were of no eternal importance whatever.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred,.... As he did with Rehoboam, 1 Kings 14:30, and with Abijam his son, who was an more than a match for him, see 2 Chronicles 13:1.

and how he reigned; over the people of Israel, whether wisely, and justly, and in clemency, or not:

behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel; not in that canonical book of Scripture, so called, for in that there is very little account of the reign of Jeroboam; but in the annals and diaries of the kings of Israel, written by persons appointed for that purpose, and out of which it is generally thought that inspired writers, by divine direction, took what was thought proper to be transmitted to future times. So with the Romans, from their very beginning to the times of Mutius, all the events of every year were committed to writing by the order of the Pontifex Maximus, and lay open to be read by the people in common; and these, as Tully^F12De Oratore, l. 2. c. 34. says, were what are called annals.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

the rest of the acts of Jeroboam — None of the threatenings denounced against this family produced any change in his policy or government.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

The chronicles — not that canonical book of chronicles; for that was written long after this book: but a book of civil records, the annals, wherein all remarkable passages were recorded by the king's command from day to day; out of which the sacred penman by the direction of God's spirit, took those passages which were most useful for God's honour, and mens edification.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

1 Kings 14:19 And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

Ver. 19. Written in the book of the chronicles.] These were annals or public records, out of which, likely, were composed the Books of Chronicles, now part of the holy Scriptures.

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

1 Kings 14:19. The Book of the Chronicles— By this is meant a book, in which were contained the annals of the kings of Israel; and not either of those which we have under this title.

REFLECTIONS.—Jeroboam's wife is bid to carry to her husband tidings of bitter woe. The God of Israel, whom he had so dishonoured, and whose people he had so injured, will avenge their quarrel upon him.

1. He upbraids him with his base ingratitude, and impious apostacy. God, who had so highly distinguished him, might justly expect a return of fidelity; but lo! he had exceeded all that went before him in wickedness. David had sins, great ones; but he never turned unto idols. Solomon for a time was unfaithful, but (we trust) repented: even Saul added not this to his iniquities. But Jeroboam had opened the flood-gates of idolatry, and not only sinned himself, but involved the people in this mortal sin. Note; (1.) The greater the mercies we have received, the greater the guilt of unfaithfulness to God. (2.) They who cause others to sin, heap up the measure of vengeance against themselves.

2. He denounces the approaching ruin on Jeroboam's house, chap. 1 Kings 15:29. His family should be utterly extirpated, and their dead bodies lie unburied, as dung on the earth. Nor was the day distant when God would raise up another king to the throne, who should execute his vengeance: even now the judgment was at the door. Note; (1.) Sudden destruction often overtakes sinners in the midst of their career. (2.) Their carcases in the day of God shall be thus cast out, as an abhorring to all flesh, Isaiah 66:24.

3. The death of the heir of his throne (who was sick) as soon as she reached the city, should be the prelude and earnest of the judgments which approached. In one thing he shall be distinguished from his ungodly relations; he shall go to his grave with honour; and this, because in him alone some good thing was found towards the Lord God of Israel. When all the rest apostatised, he shewed the gracious symptoms of a heart inclined to God, and which cleaved to his worship. Note; (1.) Every gracious desire that God implants he will take notice of. (2.) Youthful piety is peculiarly amiable. (3.) A little grace in bad times shines bright. The light is heightened by the dark shades around it. (4.) God in mercy removes the righteous from the evil to come. (5.) The darling child is often snatched away for a warning to the family. (6.) The soul which is early ripe for glory, God gathers, like a sweet flower, into his bosom.

4. Though the king shall bear the heaviest burden, his apostate subjects, who followed his wicked ways, shall not be unpunished. The prophet foretels their tumultuous, unsettled state, torn with faction, and frequently changing their kings, till, weakened by intestine division, they would become an easier prey to foreign enemies, and be carried away captive beyond the river Euphrates. Note; (1.) Though we may have examples never so great to plead for our sin, it will not screen us from punishment. (2.) Ruin is not far from a kingdom when righteousness is expelled, and iniquity triumphant.

5. The prophesy begins to receive an immediate accomplishment in the death of Abijah, who, according to the word of the prophet, died as soon as Jeroboam's wife entered the palace at Tirzah. His amiable dispositions, as well as his dignity, made him much lamented, and occasioned, no doubt, dire forebodings of the approaching evil. Note; Death pays no more respect to palaces, than to the clay-built hut.

6. Jeroboam himself, after a reign of twenty-two years, finished a wicked life by a miserable death, see 2 Chronicles 13:20; struck with some dire disease, which brought him to his grave, and leaving his tottering crown to his unhappy son Nadab, who, following his father's wicked ways, soon filled up the measure of the iniquity of his family.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Heb. in the book of the words or things of the days, & c. By which you are not to understand that canonical book of the Chronicles, for that was written long after this book; but a book of civil records, the annals, wherein all remarkable passages were recorded by the king’s command from day to day; out of which the sacred penman, by the direction of God’s Spirit, took those passages which were most considerable and useful for God’s honour, and men’s edification.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

CLOSE OF JEROBOAM’S REIGN, 1 Kings 14:19-20.

19.How he warred — With Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:30, and 1 Kings 15:6) and Abijam, (1 Kings 15:7,) and perhaps with others.

Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Israel — Literally, book of the words of the kings of Israel. This book was doubtless the public official state papers containing all the annals of the kings as prepared and kept by the scribe and recorder. See notes on 2 Samuel 8:16-17, and Introduction. 20.

Nadab — See at 1 Kings 15:25.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

1 Kings 14:19. Behold, they are written in the book of the Chronicles — Not that canonical book of Chronicles, for that was written long after this book; but a book of civil records, the annals, wherein all remarkable passages were recorded by the king’s command from day to day; out of which the sacred penman, by the direction of God’s spirit, took those passages which were most useful for God’s honour, and men’s edification.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

The book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel. This book, which is often mentioned in the Book of Kings, is long since lost. For as to the books of Paralipomenon, or Chronicles, (which the Hebrews call the words of the days) they were certainly written after the Book of Kings, since they frequently refer to them; (Challoner) and they also remit us to these journals for farther information. (Haydock)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

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

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

The rest of the acts of Jeroboam. None of the threatenings denounced against this family produced any change in his policy or government.}

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(19) And the rest.—The preceding verse closes the detailed record of Jeroboam’s reign. His exaltation and the promise to him, his idolatry and its punishment, are all that the historian cares to narrate. All else is summed up in the words “how he warred” (see below, 1 Kings 14:30, and 1 Kings 15:6) and “how he reigned.” It is probable that his reign was prosperous enough in peace and war, though his attempt to subdue Judah failed. (See 2 Chronicles 13) But all this the Scriptural record passes over, and only commemorates him as “Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.”

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

A. M. 3029-3050. B.C. 975-954. how he warred

30; 2 Chronicles 13:2-20

book

29; 15:31; 16:5,14,20,27; 22:39; 1 Chronicles 27:24; Esther 6:1