1 Kings 14:13

13 And all Israel shall bewail him, and shall bury him; for this child alone of Jeroboam shall be borne into the sepulchre, for a good word is found on him of the Lord God of Israel, in (all) the house of Jeroboam. (And all Israel shall bewail, or mourn, him, and shall bury him; for only this child of Jeroboam shall have a proper burial, because only in him is there found any good toward the Lord God of Israel, in all the house of Jeroboam.)

1 Kings 14:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 14:13

And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him
Give him an honourable interment, and follow him to the grave with lamentation, because he was the heir apparent to the throne, and an hopeful prince, of whom they had raised expectations; that when he came to the throne things would take a different turn, especially in matters of religion, and they might fear, he being removed, things would grow worse instead of better:

for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave;
or be buried, the rest should be devoured by dogs or fowls:

because in him there is found some good thing towards the Lord God of
Israel in the house of Jeroboam;
the principles of grace were implanted, and seeds of piety and religion sown in his heart; and there appeared a disposition of mind, and desires in him to the name of God, and the remembrance of it; or to his pure worship and service; it might be discerned that he had a dislike of idolatry, and a desire to have true religion restored. The Jews say F11 that this good thing in him was, that he was the means of removing the watch or guards that were placed in the way to hinder the Israelites from going up to the feasts of the Lord.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 T. Bab. Moed Katon, fol. 28. 2.

1 Kings 14:13 In-Context

11 soothly dogs shall eat them, that shall die of the house of Jeroboam in the city; and birds of the air shall devour them, that shall die in the field; for the Lord spake. (truly the dogs shall eat those of the house of Jeroboam who shall die in the city; and the birds of the air shall devour those who shall die in the field; for the Lord hath spoken.)
12 Therefore rise thou, and go into thine house; and in that entering of thy feet into the city, the child shall die. (And so rise thou up, and go to thy house; and with the entry of thy feet into the city, the child shall die.)
13 And all Israel shall bewail him, and shall bury him; for this child alone of Jeroboam shall be borne into the sepulchre, for a good word is found on him of the Lord God of Israel, in (all) the house of Jeroboam. (And all Israel shall bewail, or mourn, him, and shall bury him; for only this child of Jeroboam shall have a proper burial, because only in him is there found any good toward the Lord God of Israel, in all the house of Jeroboam.)
14 Forsooth the Lord shall ordain to him(self) a king upon Israel, that shall smite the house of Jeroboam, in this day, and in this time, that is, of nigh; (And the Lord shall ordain for himself a king upon Israel, who shall strike the house of Jeroboam, on this day, and at this time, that is, very soon;)
15 and the Lord God of Israel shall smite, as a reed in the water is wont to be moved; and he shall draw out Israel from this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and he shall winnow them over the flood, for they made to them maumet woods, that they should stir the Lord to ire. (and the Lord God shall strike Israel, like a reed in the water is wont to be shaken; and he shall pull Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their forefathers, and he shall scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, for they made for themselves sacred groves, and poles, and stirred the Lord to anger.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.