Ahijah
Ahijah the Shilonite was a prophet who met Jeroboam on the road and tore his own new garment into twelve pieces, giving ten to Jeroboam as a sign that God would rend the kingdom from Solomon and give him the northern tribes. Years later, when Jeroboam had turned to idolatry, the aged and blind Ahijah pronounced the doom of his house. He embodies the prophetic word that both raises and judges kings.
Biography
- Occupation
- Prophet
- Era
- United / Divided Kingdom
- Nationality
- Israelite
- Also Known As
- Ahijah the Shilonite
Did You Know?
Ahijah dramatized his prophecy by tearing a new garment into twelve pieces and handing ten to Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:30), a piece of prophetic street theater announcing the coming division of Solomon's kingdom.
Years later, old and blind, Ahijah instantly saw through the disguise of Jeroboam's wife and pronounced doom on the very dynasty he had helped raise up (1 Kings 14) - a sobering arc from kingmaker to judge.
He was based at Shiloh, the old sanctuary town where the tabernacle had once stood, linking him to Israel's earlier religious center.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
The Torn Garment
1 Kings 11:29-39
Ahijah tears his garment into twelve pieces to announce that God will divide Solomon's kingdom and give ten tribes to Jeroboam.
29nd it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:
Doom on Jeroboam's House
1 Kings 14:6-16
The blind prophet recognizes Jeroboam's disguised wife and foretells the destruction of his dynasty for its idolatry.
6nd it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.