1 Kings 12:24 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Book Notes

1 Kings 12:24

22 But ^athe word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

23 “Speak to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,

24 ‘Thus says the Lord: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, ^afor this thing is from Me.” ’ ” Therefore they obeyed the word of the Lord, and turned back, according to the word of the Lord.

Jeroboam’s Gold Calves

25 Then Jeroboam ^abuilt Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and dwelt there. Also he went out from there and built ^bPenuel.

26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David:

27 If these people ^ago up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.”

28 Therefore the king asked advice, ^amade two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. ^bHere are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!”

Book Notes:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Book Notes

I & II Kings

THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF KINGS, in the ancient copies of the Hebrew Bible, constitute one book. Various titles have been given them; in the Septuagint and the Vulgate they are called the Third and Fourth Books of Kings. The authorship of these books is unknown; but the prevailing opinion is that they were compiled by Ezra, or one of the later prophets, from the ancient documents that are so frequently referred to in the course of the history as of public and established authority. Their inspired character was acknowledged by the Jewish Church, which ranked them in the sacred canon; and, besides, it is attested by our Lord, who frequently quotes from them (compare I Kings 17:9; II Kings 5:14 with Luke 4:24-27; I Kings 10:1 with Matthew 12:42).