Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Kings 13:34
And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut [it] off, and to destroy [it] from off the face of the earth.
34. The Hebrew text here also is not clear. Literally it is ‘in this thing there came to be &c.’ But the A.V. and all other versions translate as though the Hebrew were the same as in the beginning of 1Ki 12:30. Probably the variation is only a slip of the scribe.
to cut it off and to destroy it] God’s judgement wrought the destruction, but yet it was the sin which called it forth. Hence the sin may be called the destroying power. Nadab the son of Jeroboam reigned only two years (1Ki 15:25), and then met a violent death at the hand of Baasha.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This persistence in wrong, after the warning given him, brought a judgment, not only on Jeroboam himself, but on his family. Jeroboams departure from the path of right forfeited the crown 1Ki 11:38; and in that forfeiture was involved naturally the destruction of his family, for in the East, as already observed, when one dynasty supplants another, the ordinary practice is for the new king to destroy all the males belonging to the house of his predecessor. See 1Ki 15:29.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 34. And this thing became sin] These abominations were too glaring, and too insulting to the Divine Majesty, to be permitted to last; therefore his house was cut off, and destroyed from the face of the earth.
A HOLY priesthood, a righteous ministry, is a blessing to any state, because it has a most powerful effect on the morals of the community; inducing order, sobriety, and habits of industry, among the people: on the contrary, the profligacy of the clergy, and false principles of religion, are the most likely to unsettle a kingdom, and to bring about destructive revolutions in the state. This is the principle on which all national establishments of religion were originally formed. The state thought proper to secure a permanency of religion, that religion might secure the safety of the state; because it was supposed from the general aversion of men from good, that, if left to themselves, they would have no religion at all. Where the religion of the country is pure, founded solely on the oracles of God, it deserves the utmost sanction of the state, as well as the attention of every individual. A Christian state has surely authority to enact, The Christian religion is and shall be the religion of this land; and, prejudice apart, should not the laws provide for the permanence of this system? Is the form of Christianity likely to be preserved in times of general profligacy, if the laws do not secure its permanence? What would our nation have been if we had not had a version of the sacred writings established by the authority of the laws: and a form of sound words for general devotion established by the same authority? Whatever the reader may do the writer thanks God for the religious establishment of his country. For abuses in church or state, he is the last to contend.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
This thing became sin; either an occasion of sin, and means of hardening all his posterity in their idolatry; or, a punishment, for so the word sin is oft used. This his obstinate continuance in his idolatry after such warnings was the utter ruin of all his family.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam,…. All the above things were sins in themselves, as building high places, and putting priests in them, whoever would; but the sense is, that these were the causes of punishment, or of evil things being inflicted on Jeroboam’s family; sin is put for the punishment of sin, as it often is:
even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth; so that it become utterly extinct; and the next thing we hear of is the sickness and death of his son.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(34) And this thing.The comment of the author of the book, evidently based on the prophetic denunciation of Ahijah in 1Ki. 14:9-11, and its subsequent fulfilment. (See 1Ki. 15:25-30.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
34. This thing became sin , in this text, is probably an error of some early transcriber, and should be , as in 1Ki 12:30. This sacrilegious impiety became the standing and crying sin of Jeroboam’s family, and led to its utter destruction.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Ki 13:34. And this thing became sin Nothing can be more striking than the blindness and ingratitude of Jeroboam. Instead of relying on the promises which God had made him, to preserve the kingdom in his family, if he continued faithful; and fearing lest his subjects should forsake him if they went to sacrifice at Jerusalem; out of a false policy he set up an idolatrous worship in his kingdom, which occasioned the ruin of his family, and, at last, the ruin of the kingdom of the ten tribes. Thus men, instead of trusting to God, in the faithful discharge of their duty, for security, have recourse to ill methods, whereby they draw upon themselves at length those very misfortunes which they mean to avoid. Ostervald.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
REFLECTIONS
My soul! pause over the perusal of this chapter, and contemplate in what a variety of views thou mayest gather spiritual improvement from it under the blessed Spirit’s teaching.
In the awful character of Jeroboam, learn the truth of that solemn scripture; though favor be showed to the wicked; yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
In the character of the false prophet, grown old in sin as well as years, what an alarming representation is held forth to what a desperately wicked state men may advance, who though ministering in holy things, never feel their power, and live and die unconscious of their influence.
In the character of the man of God acting with such faithfulness in daring the impiety of Jeroboam, and yet falling under the slender temptation of the deceiver, may we learn what a mixture of faith and unbelief makes up the characters of the Lord’s followers.
Where then, blessed Jesus, under all these views, where shall we direct our thoughts for perfection and for comfort but to thee? Thou art indeed holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Here then, dearest Lord, in thee and thy complete righteousness, may my soul direct her sole regard for acceptance and for favor. All altars, sacrifices, worship, doctrine, government, ordinances, and services, which look not to thee are alike false. But in thee all true sanctuary service finds acceptance. As a nail fastened in a sure place by the master of assemblies; on thee, thou precious Lamb of God, which takest away the sin of thy people, would I hang my life, my hope, my confidence, my all!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ki 13:34 And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut [it] off, and to destroy [it] from off the face of the earth.
Ver. 34. And this thing became sin. ] This his obstinacy and pertinacy in his abominable idolatries, became his utter ruin. Fugite ergo, reges, eiusmodi exitum, fugiendo huiusmodi flagitium, saith Ambrose, a “Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings,” and overturn not your houses by “lifting up your horns on high” against God.
a De Naboth Jezrael, chap. xi.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
became sin = became the sin. See note on 1Ki 12:30.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
became sin: 1Ki 12:30, 2Ki 10:31, 2Ki 17:21
to cut it off: 1Ki 12:26, 1Ki 14:10, 1Ki 15:29, 1Ki 15:30, Pro 13:6
Reciprocal: Exo 9:15 – cut off Lev 14:35 – a plague Deu 6:15 – destroy Jdg 17:5 – consecrated Jdg 17:12 – his priest 1Ki 14:9 – hast done 1Ki 14:16 – who did sin 1Ki 15:26 – walked 1Ki 15:34 – walked 1Ki 16:2 – thou hast walked 1Ki 16:26 – he walked 2Ki 10:29 – the sins 2Ch 17:4 – not after Psa 21:10 – General Jer 28:16 – I will Hos 8:4 – that they Hos 10:8 – the sin Amo 9:8 – and I Mic 1:13 – she
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ki 13:34. This thing became sin to the house of Jeroboam An occasion of sin, and a mean of hardening all his posterity in their idolatry; or, rather, it became a punishment, as the word sin often signifies. This his obstinate continuance in his idolatry, after such warnings, brought dreadful punishments upon his family, and these not of an ordinary kind; but such as effected its utter extirpation. We may reflect here with Ostervald, on the astonishing blindness and ingratitude of Jeroboam. Instead of relying on the promises which God had made him, to preserve the kingdom in his family, if he continued faithful, fearing lest his subjects should forsake him, if they went to worship at Jerusalem; out of a false policy he set up an idolatrous worship in his kingdom, which occasioned the ruin of his family, and at last the ruin of the kingdom of the ten tribes. Thus men, instead of trusting to God, in the faithful discharge of their duty, for security, have recourse to ill methods, whereby they draw upon themselves, at length, those very misfortunes they mean to avoid. Indeed, all those betray themselves effectually, who endeavour to support themselves or families by any sin.