1 Kings 14:9

9 but thou hast wrought evil, over all men that were before thee, and madest to thee alien gods, and welled those together, that thou shouldest excite me/thou shouldest stir me to wrathfulness, soothly thou hast cast forth me behind thy back. (but thou hast brought forth evil, more than all the men who were before thee, and madest other gods for thyself, and welded those together, so that thou shouldest stir me to anger, truly thou hast thrown me behind thy back.)

1 Kings 14:9 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 14:9

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.

1 Kings 14:9 In-Context

7 Go thou, and say to Jeroboam, The Lord God of Israel saith these things, For I enhanced thee from the midst of the people, and I gave thee (to be) duke on my people Israel (and I made thee the leader of my people Israel),
8 and I cutted the realm of the house of David, and I gave it to thee, and (yet) thou were not as my servant David, that kept my behests, and followed me in all his heart, and did that that was pleasant in my sight; (and I cut away the kingdom from the house of David, and I gave it to thee, and yet thou were not like my servant David, who obeyed my commands, and followed me with all his heart, and did what was pleasing in my sight;)
9 but thou hast wrought evil, over all men that were before thee, and madest to thee alien gods, and welled those together, that thou shouldest excite me/thou shouldest stir me to wrathfulness, soothly thou hast cast forth me behind thy back. (but thou hast brought forth evil, more than all the men who were before thee, and madest other gods for thyself, and welded those together, so that thou shouldest stir me to anger, truly thou hast thrown me behind thy back.)
10 Therefore lo! I shall bring in evils upon the house of Jeroboam, and I shall smite the house of Jeroboam unto a pisser to the wall, and unto him that is imprisoned, and the last in Israel (and I shall strike down the house of Jeroboam unto a pisser on the wall, and unto him who is imprisoned, and the last in Israel); and I shall cleanse the relics, or remnants, of the house of Jeroboam, as dung is wont to be cleansed unto purity, either cleanness ;
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.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.