1 Kings 11 29

1 Kings 11:29 kjv

And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

1 Kings 11:29 nkjv

Now it happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two were alone in the field.

1 Kings 11:29 niv

About that time Jeroboam was going out of Jerusalem, and Ahijah the prophet of Shiloh met him on the way, wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone out in the country,

1 Kings 11:29 esv

And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country.

1 Kings 11:29 nlt

One day as Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him along the way. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone in a field,

1 Kings 11 verses

1 Kings 11 29 Meaning

1 Kings 11:29 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of the Israelite kingdom. It describes a divinely orchestrated encounter in an isolated setting between Jeroboam, a highly capable official of King Solomon, and Ahijah the prophet from Shiloh. This clandestine meeting, identified by the specific detail of a new cloak involved, served as the immediate prelude to Ahijah’s momentous prophecy of the division of Solomon’s kingdom, directly commissioned by God.

1 Kings 11 29 Context

1 Kings chapter 11 details King Solomon's grievous apostasy due to his numerous foreign wives leading him into idolatry, contrary to God's commandments (vv. 1-8). As a consequence, God declares His intention to tear the kingdom away from Solomon's line, though delaying it until after Solomon's reign and reserving one tribe for David's sake (vv. 9-13). Following this divine decree, God raises up adversaries against Solomon, including Hadad the Edomite, Rezon of Zobah (vv. 14-25), and most significantly, Jeroboam son of Nebat (vv. 26-28). Jeroboam is portrayed as an energetic and competent Ephraimite whom Solomon had entrusted with a significant task. It is within this deteriorating context of royal unfaithfulness and divinely ordained judgment that 1 Kings 11:29 sets the stage for God's prophetic word to be delivered to Jeroboam, solidifying his role as the chosen leader of the northern tribes. Historically, this encounter marks the critical precursor to the divided monarchy, shaping the political and religious landscape of Israel for centuries to come, laying the groundwork for the future kingdoms of Israel (North) and Judah (South). The privacy of the encounter was essential to circumvent premature conflict with Solomon while underscoring its divine authority.

1 Kings 11 29 Word analysis

• Now it came about at that time: This temporal phrase signals a moment of significant importance in the narrative, highlighting a precise juncture when God's pre-ordained plan for the kingdom's division would begin to unfold through direct revelation.
• when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem: Describes Jeroboam's physical movement, which strategically places him on a path where the divine encounter can occur discreetly. "Jerusalem" here signifies the seat of Solomon's power and a place from which divine judgment is departing.
• that Ahijah the Shilonite the prophet:
  • Ahijah: The prophet (נָבִיא, navi), whose name means "Yah is my brother" or "brother of Yah," emphasizing his close relationship with God.
  • the Shilonite: Links Ahijah to Shiloh, once a prominent religious center (Josh 18:1; Judg 18:31) where the tabernacle was located for a significant period. By this time, Shiloh had likely been abandoned or fallen into disgrace due to Eli's sons' corruption and Philistine raids (1 Sam 4; Jer 7:12), making a prophet from Shiloh represent an older, uncorrupted prophetic lineage or a new voice from a place that experienced God's judgment firsthand. This background would lend him particular authority in prophesying judgment upon Solomon.
  • the prophet: (נָבִיא, navi) refers to one who speaks on behalf of God, chosen by God to deliver His message to humanity. This highlights Ahijah's divine authorization.
• found him on the road: This indicates not a chance encounter, but a divinely orchestrated rendezvous. "Road" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) often symbolizes a person's course, journey, or destiny, suggesting that this meeting was precisely positioned along Jeroboam's pre-appointed path by God.
• wearing a new cloak: (שִׂמְלָה חֲדָשָׁה, simlāḥ ḥaḏāšāh). This "new cloak" is later identified as Ahijah's own garment (v. 30), and its "newness" is crucial. It symbolizes freshness, a new beginning, or a pristine canvas upon which a new, significant act will be performed. The intact nature of the cloak before its tearing underscores the significance of the symbolic act to follow, representing the uncorrupted initial state of God's covenant with Israel before its division.
• and the two of them were alone in the field: This detail emphasizes the solitude and privacy required for the momentous divine revelation that would take place. "Field" (שָׂדֶה, śāḏeh) suggests an open, unpopulated area, away from prying eyes and the reach of King Solomon’s officials, underscoring the clandestine and highly sensitive nature of the message. This solitude highlights that the word was from God alone, not a political conspiracy.

1 Kings 11 29 Bonus section

The scene described in 1 Kings 11:29 illustrates God's proactive sovereignty in selecting His instruments and executing His will, even when it involves challenging established earthly powers. It reinforces the theme that prophetic ministry often involves inconvenient and dangerous truths, necessitating discreet or symbolic delivery. The detailed imagery of the new cloak, later torn into twelve pieces (v. 30), serves as a powerful and concrete visual aid, typical of Old Testament prophecy, ensuring the divine message would be fully grasped and remembered by Jeroboam and subsequent readers. This interaction also highlights the profound consequences of breaking God's covenant, even for a divinely favored king like Solomon; God's judgment, though deferred, ultimately arrives through a dramatic political realignment initiated by a prophetic word given in secret.

1 Kings 11 29 Commentary

1 Kings 11:29 acts as the narrative trigger for the prophesied division of the Israelite kingdom. It masterfully sets the stage for a crucial divine intervention by carefully detailing the encounter's participants, setting, and circumstances. The selection of Ahijah, a prophet from Shiloh, highlights God's choice to speak through diverse and sometimes unexpected channels, embodying divine justice that arises even from a forgotten place. The "new cloak" foreshadows the impending symbolic act that will graphically illustrate the fragmentation of the kingdom. Crucially, the isolation of Jeroboam and Ahijah in an open "field" underscores the deeply serious and sensitive nature of the message to be delivered, a message challenging the reigning monarchy. This divinely orchestrated privacy emphasizes that the division of the kingdom was not a mere political revolt, but a direct, sovereign act of God in response to Solomon's profound spiritual failure.