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Ahijah

Prophet living at the time of United Monarchy

Ahijah the Shilonite was a prophet who foretold Jeroboam's rise to power and the division of the kingdom.

🗺 Places mentioned alongside Ahijah on the map →

Ahijah was a prophet from Shiloh who lived during the reigns of Solomon and Jeroboam I. He is best known for his prophecy to Jeroboam, foretelling the division of the kingdom and Jeroboam's rise as king over ten tribes of Israel. (1Ki.11.29-39)

Ahijah encountered Jeroboam and symbolically tore his new garment into twelve pieces, giving ten to Jeroboam to represent the ten tribes he would rule. Ahijah also prophesied the downfall of Solomon's dynasty due to idolatry. (1Ki.11.29-39).

Later, when Jeroboam's son Abijah fell ill, Jeroboam sent his wife in disguise to seek Ahijah's counsel. Ahijah, now blind, received a message from God and predicted the child's death and the destruction of Jeroboam's house for his idolatry. (1Ki.14.2-18)

Ahijah's prophecies concerning the division of the kingdom and the rise of Jeroboam came to pass, as recorded in both 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. (1Ki.12.15; 2Ch.10.15) His writings are mentioned as a source for the acts of Solomon. (2Ch.9.29)

Connections

Part of: Kings, prophets and the house of David

Jeroboam and Rehoboam: the kingdom divides

RoleStated in the text

Jeroboam, an Ephraimite overseer, was told by the prophet Ahijah that he would rule ten tribes; Solomon tried to kill him and he fled to Shishak of Egypt. After the split Jeroboam set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Shishak later invaded Judah in Rehoboam's fifth year.

JeroboamKing of N. IsraelRehoboamKing of JudahSolomonKing of JudahAhijahA prophetShishakA Pharaoh
Where the text shows it: 1 Kgs 11:29-40 — Ahijah's prophecy; Jeroboam flees to Shishak1 Kgs 12:25-33 — Golden calves at Bethel and Dan1 Kgs 14:25-26 — Shishak invades Judah

Sources: 1 Kgs 11:29-40 · 1 Kgs 12:25-33 · 1 Kgs 14:25-26

More background: search Wikipedia ↗

Where Ahijah appears

11 verses in 2 books · English text: BSB (change it from the menu at the top) · Strong’s H0281

1 Kings9
2 Chronicles2

Names, family links and references: STEPBible TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Short descriptions were drafted with AI assistance by STEPBible. Family links follow STEPBible’s scholarly decisions where genealogies are ambiguous.