Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 14:9
But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
9. but hast done evil above all that were before thee ] This must refer not only to the kings who had preceded Jeroboam, but to the cases of idolatry in the earlier days, e.g. of the Judges. There had been no such instance of sin in the lives of David or of Saul, and Solomon’s transgression had been the building of temples and the setting up of images for his strange wives, who were already idolaters.
for thou hast gone ] R.V. ‘ and thou hast gone’. The conjunction is the simple copulative.
other gods ] So certain was the making of an image, even if it was to represent Jehovah, to lead to the introduction of false worship, that God speaks of it as already effected.
and hast cast me behind thy back ] An expression indicative of the extremest contempt. It is used Neh 9:26 of the whole national sin which led to the captivity, and in Eze 23:35, where the prophet is describing the apostasy of Aholibah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Above all that were before thee – i. e., above all previous rulers of the people, whether Judges or kings. Hereto none of the rulers of Israel had set up the idolatrous worship of ephod, teraphim, and the like Jdg 18:17, as a substitute for the true religion, or sought to impose an idolatrous system on the nation. Gideons ephod became a snare contrary to his intention Jdg 8:27. Solomons high places were private – built for the use of his wives, and not designed to attract the people. Jeroboam was the first ruler who set himself to turn the Israelites away from the true worship, and established a poor counterfeit of it, which he strove to make, and succeeded in making, the religion of the great mass of his subjects.
And hast cast me behind thy back – A very strong and very rare expression, occurring again only in Eze 23:35; where it is said of the Jews generally, shortly before the captivity. The expressions in the marginal references are similar but less fearful.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Above all that were before thee; above all the former kings of my people, as Saul, and Solomon, and Rehoboam.
Other gods, and molten images, or other gods, to wit, (for so and oft signifies among the Hebrews, as hath been formerly noted,)
molten images, namely, the golden calves; which he calls others gods, not as if the Israelites esteemed the calves made of their own gold to be gods indeed, which it is incredible should find belief with any man in his wits, especially with the whole body of the Israelites, who knew that the ark and cherubims, though made by Gods special direction, were not gods, but only pledges of Gods presence, &c.; nor as if they thought them to be
other gods in a strict and proper sense; for it is apparent that they still pretended to worship the God of their fathers, as the Jews at Jerusalem did, though in a differing manner: but only because God rejected their whole worship; and howsoever they called or accounted it, he reckoned it a manifest defection from him, and a betaking of themselves to other gods, or devils, as they are called, 2Ch 11:15, by whose instigation they were led to such idolatrous practices, and whom alone they served and worshipped therein, whatsoever pretences they had to the contrary.
To provoke me to anger, i.e. whereby thou didst provoke me; for otherwise this was not Jeroboams design in it, but only to establish himself in the throne.
Cast me behind thy back; despised, and disregarded, and forsaken me, and my commands, and my worship, as we do things which we cast behind our backs.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3-11. And take with thee ten loaves,and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to himThis was apresent in unison with the peasant character she assumed. Cracknelsare a kind of sweet seed-cake. The prophet was blind, but havingreceived divine premonition of the pretended countrywoman’s coming,he addressed her as the queen the moment she appeared, apprised herof the calamities which, in consequence of the ingratitude ofJeroboam, his apostasy, and outrageous misgovernment of Israel,impended over their house, as well as over the nation which tooreadily followed his idolatrous innovations.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But hast done evil above all that were before thee,…. Not only above David, but above Saul, who never gave into idolatry, yea, even above Solomon, who, though he connived at idolatry, and might be guilty of it in some instances, yet did not attempt to draw his people into it; and if this was the latter end of Jeroboam’s reign, which is probable, Rehoboam and Abijam might be both dead; and though they were blameworthy in some things, yet not so bad as Jeroboam; though perhaps this may respect only such who had been kings of Israel before him:
for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger; the two calves of gold; for however he might colour things over, and pretend he did not look upon these as gods, but as representations of God, and that he did not worship them, but God by them, yet the Lord considered it as idolatry, than which nothing is more provoking to him:
and hast cast me behind thy back; as unworthy of his regard; or my worship, as the Targum, which he neglected, and showed no concern for.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) But hast done evil above all that were before thee.The language is strong, in the face of the many instances of the worship of false gods in the days of the Judges, and the recent apostasy of Solomonto say nothing of the idolatry of the golden calf in the wilderness, and the setting up of the idolatrous sanctuaries in olden times at Ophrah and at Dan (Jdg. 8:27; Jdg. 18:30-31). The guilt, indeed, of Jeroboams act was enhanced by the presumptuous contempt of the special promise of God, given on the sole condition of obedience. In respect of this, perhaps, he is said belowin an expression seldom used elsewhereto have cast God Himself behind his back. But probably the reference is mainly to the unprecedented effect of the sin, coming at a critical point in the history of Israel, and from that time onward poisoning the springs of national faith and worship. Other idolatries came and passed away: this continued, and at all times made Israel to sin.
Other gods and molten images.See in 1Ki. 11:28 the repetition of the older declaration in the wilderness, These be thy gods, O Israel. Jeroboam would have justified the use of the calves as simply emblems of the true God; Ahijah rejects the plea, holding these molten images, expressly forbidden in the Law, to be really objects of worshipother gods,as, indeed, all experience shows that such forbidden emblems eventually tend to become. Moreover, from 1Ki. 14:15 it appears that the foul worship of the Asherah (groves) associated itself with the idolatry of Jeroboam.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Cast me behind thy back An expression the exact opposite of having God before one’s eyes, and denoting in the strongest manner the utter rejection of the counsels of Jehovah. Compare Ezekiel xxiii, 35.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 14:9 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
Ver. 9. But hast done evil above all that were before thee. ] Not Saul and Solomon only, but the kings of the heathens also, – as Tostatus maketh the sense, – because they knew no better: but he fell with eyes open.
And hast cast me behind thy back.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
all Not merely kings, but all other rulers. No anachronism.
other gods. Jehovah does not recognize the calves as being what Jeroboam intended, mere political expedients. See note on 1Ki 14:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
hast done: 1Ki 14:16, 1Ki 12:28, 1Ki 13:33, 1Ki 13:34, 1Ki 15:34, 1Ki 16:31
thou hast gone: Deu 32:16, Deu 32:17, Deu 32:21, Jdg 5:8, 2Ch 11:15, Psa 106:19, Psa 106:20, Psa 115:4-8, Isa 44:9-20, Jer 10:14-16
to provoke: 1Ki 14:22, Deu 9:8-16, Deu 9:24, 2Ki 21:3, 2Ki 23:26, 2Ch 33:6, Psa 78:40, Psa 78:56, Psa 106:29, Jer 7:9, Jer 7:10, Eze 8:3, Eze 8:17, 1Co 10:22
cast me: Neh 9:26, Psa 50:17, Eze 23:35
Reciprocal: 1Ki 14:15 – provoking 1Ki 15:29 – he left not 1Ki 15:30 – the sins 1Ki 16:25 – did worse 1Ki 16:30 – above 1Ki 22:52 – and in the way 2Ch 13:8 – with you golden 2Ch 21:11 – caused 2Ch 24:18 – And they left Jer 32:18 – recompensest Eze 23:5 – Aholah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 14:9. But hast done evil above all that were before thee Above all the judges and former kings of my people, none of whom set up images, and persuaded the people to worship them. For thou hast made thee other gods, and molten images Namely, the golden calves: not as if they thought them to be other gods in a proper sense, but only representations of the true God; for it is apparent they still pretended to worship the God of their fathers; but because God rejected their whole worship, and, howsoever they accounted it, he reckoned it a manifest defection from him, and a betaking themselves to other gods, or devils, as they are called 2Ch 11:15, whom alone they served and worshipped therein, whatsoever pretences they had to the contrary. To provoke Whereby thou didst provoke me. For otherwise this was not Jeroboams design in it, but only to establish himself in the throne. And hast cast me behind thy back Despised and forsaken me, and my commands, and my worship, as we do things which we cast behind our backs.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
14:9 But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and {i} molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
(i) That is, two calves.