Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice how the prophetess doesn't offer a magic cure or even a guarantee of healing for the sick child. Instead, the focus is entirely on receiving a message from God through the prophet, highlighting that even in crises, God's word and wisdom are what truly matter. This reminds us that sometimes, God's answer isn't a quick fix but a clear word to guide us through the struggle.
Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeroboam, the king of Israel, sends his wife in disguise to the prophet Ahijah, hoping to get news about his sick son. He’s worried because Ahijah had previously prophesied against Jeroboam's dynasty, so he doesn't want the prophet to recognize his wife. Ahijah, however, already knows who she is and why she’s come, preparing to deliver a harsh prophecy concerning their family's future.
Ahijah, the old prophet, is sick and blind. Yet, God chooses him to deliver a crucial, devastating message to the King's wife. How can we trust messages that come through imperfect channels?
A Prophet's Tools
God doesn't always send His messages through thunderous pronouncements or angelic choirs. Sometimes, He uses the ordinary, even the frail.
Ahijah, living in obscurity and stripped of his sight, is tasked by God to speak to Jeroboam's wife. The King's wife, in disguise, is instructed to bring a simple offering: "ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey." This isn't a grand sacrifice; it's sustenance, the stuff of daily life.
God's Power in Weakness
This imagery highlights a profound truth: God's power isn't dependent on the strength or perfection of the messenger or the means. He can work through anyone and anything to accomplish His will. Even when the vessel is weak or the method seems simple, the divine message carries its own authority.
Jeroboam's wife is desperate. Her child is dying, and she's seeking an answer from a prophet. But how can she be sure she's hearing from God, and not just an old man's opinion?
The Promise of Revelation
God explicitly tells the disguised queen, "He will tell you what shall happen to the child." This is the divine confirmation she needs. It's not just about seeking advice; it's about receiving a word directly from the Lord.
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Separating the Divine from the Human
In our own lives, discernment is key. We encounter many voices – our own thoughts, the advice of others, and sometimes, what we believe to be God's leading. The passage reminds us to listen for the specific promise of divine revelation.
When a word clearly points to God's foreknowledge and His specific plan, especially when it aligns with His character revealed in Scripture, we can have greater confidence that it's from Him. It's about seeking not just an answer, but God's answer.
This passage highlights the deep spiritual decay in Israel under Jeroboam, where even the king's household, facing personal crisis, turns to a prophet outside the corrupted state-sponsored worship system.
c. 931 BC
Kingdom Divides
After King Solomon's reign, the united Kingdom of Israel splits into two: the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). This division creates ongoing tension and conflict.
c. 910 BC
Jeroboam's Idolatry
King Jeroboam I of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) sets up golden calves at Bethel and Dan to prevent his people from worshipping in Jerusalem, deepening spiritual corruption.
c. 910 BC
Prophet Ahijah's Warning
The prophet Ahijah delivers a severe prophecy of judgment against Jeroboam's house due to his sin and the people's idolatry.
c. 910 BC— this verse
Jeroboam's Son Falls Ill
Abijah, the son of King Jeroboam I, becomes gravely ill, plunging the royal family into distress and seeking supernatural help.
c. 910 BC
Queen Visits Ahijah
Jeroboam's wife, disguised, travels to Shiloh to seek the aging prophet Ahijah for a prognosis concerning her son's health.
Just as Saul brought a gift to the prophet Samuel when seeking guidance, the woman in 1 Kings 14 brings offerings to the prophet Ahijah when seeking insight.
1 Samuel 15:22This verse highlights that obedience is more valuable than sacrifice, a theme echoing in the request for specific actions and the prophetic outcome in 1 Kings 14.
Jeremiah 7:21-23This passage criticizes the Israelites for focusing on outward sacrifices rather than inward obedience, a principle relevant to the exchange and the divine message in 1 Kings 14.
Luke 11:29-32Jesus speaks about the sign of Jonah and the Queen of the South seeking wisdom, illustrating how people in Scripture often seek signs and knowledge from messengers of God, much like the woman in 1 Kings 14.
Notice how the prophetess doesn't offer a magic cure or even a guarantee of healing for the sick child. Instead, the focus is entirely on receiving a message from God through the prophet, highlighting that even in crises, God's word and wisdom are what truly matter. This reminds us that sometimes, God's answer isn't a quick fix but a clear word to guide us through the struggle.
Jeroboam, the king of Israel, sends his wife in disguise to the prophet Ahijah, hoping to get news about his sick son. He’s worried because Ahijah had previously prophesied against Jeroboam's dynasty, so he doesn't want the prophet to recognize his wife. Ahijah, however, already knows who she is and why she’s come, preparing to deliver a harsh prophecy concerning their family's future.
Jeroboam, the king of Israel, sends his wife in disguise to the prophet Ahijah, hoping to get news about his sick son. He’s worried because Ahijah had previously prophesied against Jeroboam's dynasty, so he doesn't want the prophet to recognize his wife. Ahijah, however, already knows who she is and why she’s come, preparing to deliver a harsh prophecy concerning their family's future.
"Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.”" — Notice how the prophetess doesn't offer a magic cure or even a guarantee of healing for the sick child. Instead, the focus is entirely on receiving a message from God through the prophet, highlightin…
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Last reviewed October 2026