Ahijah אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ
Prophet from Shiloh who prophesied to Jeroboam
Biography
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)
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Kings 5 verses
- 1 Kings 11:29
"At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the way. Now Ahijah had clad himself with a new garment; and the two of them were alone in the field."
- 1 Kings 11:30
"Ahijah took the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces."
- 1 Kings 12:15
"So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was a thing brought about from Yahweh, that he might establish his word, which Yahweh spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat."
- 1 Kings 14:2
"Jeroboam said to his wife, “Please get up and disguise yourself, so that you won’t be recognized as Jeroboam’s wife. Go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said that I would be king over this people."
- 1 Kings 14:4
"Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to Ahijah’s house. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age."
2 Chronicles 2 verses
- 2 Chronicles 9:29
"Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, aren’t they written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?"
- 2 Chronicles 10:15
"So the king didn’t listen to the people; for it was brought about by God, that Yahweh might establish his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲחִיָּ֫הוּ | H0281H |