1 Kings 14: Egypt invades

Synopsis:

Jeroboam’s son falls sick so he sends his wife to see the prophet Ahijah, who tells her – the boy is going to die because of the sins of the father making molten images. And Jeroboam is cursed. Sure enough, the kid dies and Jeroboam’s reign is filled with war. He reigns 22  years and then his son Nadab takes over. Meanwhile in Judah, reigns for 17 years and in that time, they also provoked the Lord to jealous with other gods and sodomites. In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, King Shishak of Egypt invades and takes all the treasures of the house of the Lord away, including the shields of god which Solomon had made. So Rehobaum replaced them with brass shields and put guards over the temple. Throughout their reigns, Rehoboam and Jeroboam warred with each other. Rehoboam was succeeded by his son Abijam.

In other words:

While the kings of Judah and Israel are fighting, king of Egypt comes and steals all their stuff.

Favorite bit:

The curse of Jeroboam (1 Kings 14:10,11) Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the Lord hath spoken it.

2nd favorite bit:

1 Kings 14:17-19 – God is really upset that he exalted Jeroboam and made him king and how does Jeroboam repay him?  By making golden images. You are nothing like David!

3rd favorite bit:

1 Kings 14: 22-24 – And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they provoked him to jealousy. (The other king isn’t any better – God sure is a bad judge of character).

Funniest bit:

1 Kings 14:25,26 – While Rehoboam and Jeroboam are fighting the king of Egypt comes and steals all their stuff

Most annoying bit:

1 Kings 14:19 and 1 Kings 14:29 – the rest of the acts of these kings were written in the chronicles.  So – you are already supposed to know what all happened, it’s not going to be repeated here.  I realize this is a transcription if a verbal story, but still – I kind of want to know what all they did.

Moral Lesson Learned:

• Find out what people are really like before you hire them (1 Kings 14) 
• Never forget who your real enemy is (1 Kings 14)