Reading for August 27th

 Read 1 Kings 14.1-18. In 14.1-18: The oracle against Jeroboam. In verse 3: The ten loves, some cakes, and a jar of honey are payment to a seer for revealing the future. In verse 6: Abijah, as a true man of God, know that his visitor is the wife of Jeroboam despite his blindness (v. 4) and her disguise (vv. 2, 5). In verses 7-11: These verses, a deuteronomistic insertion, focus on the fate of Jeroboam's royal house rather than on that of his ill son. Jeroboam had the opportunity to establish a dynasty like David's (v. 8), but his sin will prevent that from happening. All of Jeroboam's male heirs (v. 10, male is literally "one who urinates on a wall') will be killed by a usurper. The threat in v. 11 is drawn from a curse of non-burial. In verses 12-14: The original oracle told of the impending death of Jeroboam's son and mentioned the coming of a new royal house, but without elaboration. In verse 15: Sacred poles were fertility symbols used in the worship of the Canaanite goddess, Asherah. In verses 17-18: The fulfillment of Abijah's prophecy. Comments or Questions..