Jeraboam's son Abijah got sick. He tells his wife to disguise herself and take some goodies to to the prophet Ahijah in Shiloh to find out what will happen to him. The Lord speaks through Ahijah, saying that He exalted him above all and made him ruler of Israel, but because he made for strange gods and molten images, He will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam's line, ending the male line, and when one dies, dogs will devour him in the street. He tells him to go home and when she returns, he will die "and all Israel will mourn him and bury him, for he alone of Jeroboam's line will be laid in the grave, since in him alone of Jeroboam's house has something pleasing to the LORD, the God of Israel, been found." This happens; Jeroboam's reign was 22 years. Rehoboam, son of Solomon, reigned in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem.
Judah was evil in the Lord's sight as well. They built high places, pillars, and sacred poles, upon every high hill and under every green tree, and there was a cult of prostitutes.
In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak, king of Egypt, attacked Jerusalem, and he took everything. The gold shields had to be replaced with bronze (not as pretty, but sturdier, I'm sure). There was constant warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. When Rehoboam died, his son Abijam succeeded him as king.
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Jeroboam's son became ill so he sent his wife to Ahijah, the prophet, to find out what would happen to him. He had her dress like a farmer's wife and take a gift of 10 loaves of bread as a disguise. Notes indicate that this demonstrates:
1-He was aware of his guilt of being a vile king, having turned from God
2-He believed that prophesy was magical
3-His confused but real respect for God's prophet
The disguise was unnecessary since Ahijah was blind. However, he greeted the queen upon hearing her footsteps (as God told him to) to prove God's presence, power, and message.
Ahijah revealed that the prince would die as would all male offspring because of Jeroboam's wicked, almost pagan, rule. Not only would they die but their bodies would be eaten by vultures so they couldn't even receive an honorable burial. God was taking his son because he was the only good one in the whole family and God was sparing him from the punishments of the future.
15 Part of the punishment was for making "Asherah poles" which were some kind of monument to a goddess, Asherah, maybe like a totem pole.
Jeroboam was king 22 years then his son, Nadab, took over.
21 Rehoboam became king when he was 41 and was born just before David's death. He was king 17 years. There are more details of his reign in 2 Chronicles 11&12.
He, too, was evil and, among other things, had male prostitutes in all the shrines. Egypt attacked and took away all the treasures of the temple. More of this is also in 2 Chron 12.
To me, this demonstrates the extent of disaster that can befall someone of God who knowingly and intentionally abandons him. God made these men kings. They knew this and were fully aware of their heritage and how to know and follow God's will, but they didn't do it. God makes us kings of our lives; fathers, husbands, leaders of people, friends. We must seek and know God's will just as much as these kings as this account of their mistakes serve as a warning.
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