1 Kings 14:13

13 All Yisra'el shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Yarov`am shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, in the house of Yarov`am.

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 Him who dies of Yarov`am in the city shall the dogs eat; and him who dies in the field shall the birds of the sky eat: for the LORD has spoken it.
12 Arise you therefore, get you to your house: [and] when your feet enter into the city, the child shall die.
13 All Yisra'el shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Yarov`am shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, in the house of Yarov`am.
14 Moreover the LORD will raise him up a king over Yisra'el, who shall cut off the house of Yarov`am that day: but what? even now.
15 For the LORD will strike Yisra'el, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Yisra'el out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking the LORD to anger.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.