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1 Kings 14 · a question people ask

Why did Jeroboam send his wife in disguise?

In the text

The chapter gives only the aim he says: "disguise yourself, so that you won’t be recognized as Jeroboam’s wife" (14:2). It doesn't say why he didn't want her known, or why he didn't go himself, and these notes don't guess. It does show what he still believed about Ahijah: "Ahijah the prophet is there, who said that I would be king over this people" (14:2), and "He will tell you what will become of the child" (14:3). And it shows that the disguise hid nothing: the LORD had told Ahijah, "Behold, Jeroboam’s wife is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick" (14:5). His first words to her are her name: "Come in, Jeroboam’s wife!" (14:6).

The verses

“Jeroboam said to his wife, “Please get up and disguise yourself, so that you won’t be recognized as Jeroboam’s wife. Go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said that I would be king over this people. Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the child.””
1 Kings 14:2-3 · World English Bible
“The LORD said to Ahijah, “Behold, Jeroboam’s wife is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Tell her such and such; for it will be, when she comes in, that she will pretend to be another woman.” So when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, Jeroboam’s wife! Why do you pretend to be another? For I am sent to you with heavy news.”
1 Kings 14:5-6 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Kings 14

1 Kings 14: Known at the door

Jeroboam's wife came to Ahijah in disguise, but the LORD had told the prophet who could not see who was coming (14:5). And in a word of judgment on the whole house of Jeroboam, "some good thing toward the LORD" was found in one child (14:13), the only one of that house who "will come to the grave" (14:13), mourned by all Israel (14:18).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions