Study Desk

So the king did not listen to the people. The Lord had let this happen, that He might keep His Word, which the Lord spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who ruled over those who were made to work, and all Israel killed him with stones. So King Rehoboam got on his war-wagon in a hurry to go to Jerusalem.

'This is what the Lord says. "You must not go up and fight against your brothers the sons of Israel. Every man return to his house. For I have let this thing happen."'" So they listened to the word of the Lord, and returned, as the Lord told them.

Jeroboam said in his heart, "Now the nation will return to the family of David.

Then he went up to the altar he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day he chose in his own heart. He made a special supper for the people of Israel, and went up to the altar to burn special perfume.

The man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, "O altar, altar, this is what the Lord says. ‘See, a son will be born to the family of David. His name will be Josiah. On you he will burn the religious leaders of the high places who burn special perfume on you. Human bones will be burned on you.'"

When King Jeroboam heard the words the man of God cried against the altar in Bethel, he put out his hand from the altar, saying, "Take hold of him!" But his hand which he put out against him dried up. So he could not pull it back to himself.

Now an old man who spoke for God was living in Bethel. His sons came and told him all the things which the man of God had done that day in Bethel. And they told their father the words which the man had spoken to the king.

Their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" Now his sons had seen the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone.

Then he said to his sons, "Get the donkey ready for me." So they got the donkey ready for him, and he went away on it.

So he returned with him, and ate bread in his house, and drank water.

When he had gone, a lion met him on the way and killed him. His body was thrown on the road, with the donkey standing beside it. The lion stood beside the body also.

Then he said to his sons, "Get the donkey ready for me." And they got it ready.

Then he went and found his body thrown on the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had not eaten the body or torn the donkey.

He laid his body in his own grave, and they had sorrow for him, saying, "O, my brother!"

After he had buried him, he said to his sons, "When I die, bury me in the grave where the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones.

After this, Jeroboam did not return from his sinful way. Again he made religious leaders of the high places from among all the people. He set apart any of them who were willing to be religious leaders of the high places.

And Jeroboam said to his wife, "Get ready and dress yourself so no one will know that you are the wife of Jeroboam. Then go to Shiloh. Ahijah the man who speaks for God is there. He is the one who said that I would be king over these people.

Jeroboam's wife did so. She got ready and went to Shiloh, and came to Ahijah's house. Now Ahijah could not see. His eyes were weak because he was old.

I tore the nation away from the family of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like My servant David. He kept My Laws and followed Me with all his heart. He did only what was right in My eyes.