Ahijah

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, Eli's son, the Lord's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod ( 1 Samuel 14:3;  1 Samuel 14:18). The ark of God was in his charge, and with it and the ephod he used to consult Jehovah. In Saul's later years, probably after the slaughter of the priests at Nob the ark was neglected as a means of consulting Jehovah. It lay in the house of Abinadab in Gibeah of Benjamin ( 2 Samuel 6:3), probably the Benjamite quarter of Kirjath-jearim, or Baale, on the borders of Judah and Benjamin ( Joshua 18:14;  Joshua 18:28). Saul's irreverent haste of spirit appears in his breaking off in the midst of consulting God through Ahijah with the ark and ephod, because he was impatient to encounter the Philistines whose approach he discerned by the tumult. Contrast David's implicit submission to Jehovah's guidance in encountering the same Philistines ( 2 Samuel 5:19-25, compare  Isaiah 28:16 end).

His rash adjuration binding the people not to eat all day, until he was avenged on the Philistines, involved the people in the sin of ravenously eating the cattle taken, with the blood, and Jonathan in that of unwittingly sinning by tasting honey, and so incurring the penalty of death. Saul ought to have had the conscientiousness which would have led him never to take such an oath, rather than the scrupulosity which condemned the people and Jonathan instead of himself. His projected night pursuit was consequently prevented; for the priest met his proposal, which was well received by the people, by suggesting that Jehovah should be consulted. No answer having been given, owing to Jonathan's sin of ignorance for which Saul was to blame, Saul's wish was defeated. As Ahijah is evidently equates to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub (unless he was his brother), this will account for a coldness springing up on Saul's part toward Ahijah and his family, which culminated in the cruel slaughter of them at Nob on the ground of treasonous concert with David (1 Samuel 21).

2.  1 Chronicles 8:7.

3.  1 Chronicles 2:25.

4.  1 Chronicles 11:36.

5.  1 Chronicles 26:20.

6. A prophet of Shiloh. He met outside of Jerusalem in the way, and foretold to, Jeroboam, the transfer of ten tribes to him from Solomon, for Solomon's idolatries, by the symbolic action of rending the garment on him into twelve pieces, of which he gave ten to Jeroboam. Further he assured him from God of "a sure house, such as He had built for David," if only Jeroboam would "walk in God's ways," as David did. Jeroboam fled from Solomon to Shishak, king of Egypt, where he stayed until Solomon died. The other prophecy of his ( 1 Kings 14:6-16) was given to Jeroboam's wife, who in disguise consulted him as to her son Abijah's recovery.

Though blind with age he detected her, and announced that as Jeroboam had utterly failed in the one condition of continuance in the kingdom rent from David's house, which his former prophecy had laid down, namely, to keep God's commandments heartily as David did, Jeroboam's house should be taken away "as dung"; but that in reward for the good there was found in Abijah toward God, he alone should have an honorable burial (compare  Isaiah 57:1-2), but that "Jehovah would smite Israel as a reed shaken in the water, and root up and scatter Israel beyond the river," Euphrates. Reference to his prophecy as one of the records of Solomon's reign is made in  2 Chronicles 9:29. Probably it was he through whom the Lord encouraged Solomon in building the temple ( 1 Kings 6:11).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

AHIJAH . 1 .   1 Samuel 14:3;   1 Samuel 14:18 is (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] Ahiah ), a priest, son of Ahitub, who had charge of the oracular ephod and consulted it for Saul [read ‘ephod’ for ‘ark’ at   1 Samuel 14:18 ]. Ahijah is probably to he identified with Ahimelech (  1 Samuel 21:1 ). 2 .   1 Kings 4:3 , one of Solomon’s secretaries, who conducted the king’s correspondence and wrote out his decrees. His father Shisha seems to have held the same office under David. 3 .   1 Kings 11:29 f.,   1 Kings 12:15 ,   2 Chronicles 10:15 , a prophet of Shiloh, who foretold the division of the kingdom and the elevation of Jeroboam. Subsequently he predicted the death of Jeroboam’s son (  1 Kings 14:2 ff.). 4 .   1 Kings 15:27;   1 Kings 15:33 , father of Baasha. 5 .   1 Chronicles 2:25 has an Ahijah, son of Jerahmeel, but is hopelessly corrupt. The LXX [Note: Septuagint.] gets rid of the name. 6 .   1 Chronicles 8:7 (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] Ahiah ), son of Ehud, a Benjamite: at   1 Chronicles 8:4 Ahoah , but LXX [Note: Septuagint.] Ahijah , 7 .   1 Chronicles 11:36 , one of David’s heroes, from Palon, an unknown locality: perhaps Giloh should be read, seeing that Palon has already been mentioned (  1 Chronicles 11:27 ). 8 .   1 Chronicles 26:20 , a Levite, overseer of the Temple treasures. But we ought probably to substitute the words, ‘their brethren.’ 9 .   Nehemiah 10:26 (RV [Note: Revised Version.] Ahiah ), a layman who joined Nehemiah in signing the covenant.

J. Taylor.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Prophet called the Shilonite, who foretold to Jeroboam that he should be king over ten of the tribes.  1 Kings 11:29-31 . God revealed to him that the wife of Jeroboam was coming in disguise to know if their son Abijah would live, and Ahijah had to tell her the dire judgements that should fall upon Jeroboam and his house.  1 Kings 14:2-18;  1 Kings 15:29;  2 Chronicles 9:29;  2 Chronicles 10:15 .

2. Father of King Baasha, of the house of Issachar.  1 Kings 15:27,33;  1 Kings 21:22;  2 Kings 9:9 .

3. One of the sons of Jerahmeel.  1 Chronicles 2:25 .

4. The Pelonite, one of David's valiant men.  1 Chronicles 11:36 .

5. Levite, who was over the treasures of the house of God in the time of David.  1 Chronicles 26:20 .

6. One who with Nehemiah sealed the covenant.  Nehemiah 10:26 .

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Ahijah the prophet is the most important of several people of that name in the Bible. He features in two incidents. The first was when he told Jeroboam that God would divide Solomon’s kingdom and give ten of the twelve tribes to Jeroboam ( 1 Kings 11:28-38; see Jeroboam ). The promise was fulfilled with the division of the kingdom in 930 BC ( 1 Kings 12:15).

Jeroboam, however, ignored Ahijah’s command to walk in the ways of God ( 1 Kings 11:38), and this resulted in the second incident involving Ahijah. Jeroboam wanted Ahijah’s help, but, knowing that Ahijah was angry with him, he sent his wife disguised as someone else ( 1 Kings 14:1-5). Ahijah was aware of Jeroboam’s trick, and announced that he would not escape God’s judgment. He had rebelled against God, and therefore his dynasty would be destroyed ( 1 Kings 14:6-16). Again the words of the prophet came true ( 1 Kings 14:17-18;  1 Kings 15:29).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

• One of the sons of Bela (1Chronicles 8:7, RSV). In A.V. called "Ahiah."
• One of the five sons of Jerahmeel, who was great-grandson of Judah (1Chronicles 2:25).
• Son of Ahitub (1Samuel 14:3,18), Ichabod's brother; the same probably as Ahimelech, who was high priest at Nob in the reign of Saul (1Samuel 22:11). Some, however, suppose that Ahimelech was the brother of Ahijah, and that they both officiated as high priests, Ahijah at Gibeah or Kirjath-jearim, and Ahimelech at Nob.
• A Pelonite, one of David's heroes (1Chronicles 11:36); called also Eliam (2Samuel 23:34).
• A Levite having charge of the sacred treasury in the temple (1Chronicles 26:20).
• One of Solomon's secretaries (1Kings 4:3).
• A prophet of Shiloh (1Kings 11:29; 14:2), called the "Shilonite," in the days of Rehoboam. We have on record two of his remarkable prophecies, 1Kings 11:31-39, announcing the rending of the ten tribes from Solomon; and 1Kings 14:6-16, delivered to Jeroboam's wife, foretelling the death of Abijah the king's son, the destruction of Jeroboam's house, and the captivity of Israel "beyond the river." Jeroboam bears testimony to the high esteem in which he was held as a prophet of God (1Kings 14:2,3).

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Ahijah ( A-Hî'Jah ), Brother or Friend Of Jehovah. 1. A prophet who dwelt in Shiloh, in the reign of the first Jeroboam. He is thought to be the person who spoke twice to Solomon from God.  1 Kings 6:11;  1 Kings 11:11;  1 Kings 11:29;  1 Kings 14:6;  2 Chronicles 9:29. 2. The father of Baasha.  1 Kings 15:27;  1 Kings 15:33. 3. One of the sons of Jerahmeel.  1 Chronicles 2:25. 4. One of David's distinguished officers.  1 Chronicles 11:36. 5. One of the Levites.  1 Chronicles 26:20. 6. One who sealed the covenant.  Nehemiah 10:26.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 1 Samuel 14:3-4 1 Samuel 4:18 2 1 Kings 4:3 3 1 Kings 11:29-39 1 Kings 14:1-18 1 Kings 15:29 2 Chronicles 9:29  1 Kings 15:27 5 1 Chronicles 2:25 6 1 Chronicles 8:7 7 1 Chronicles 11:36 2 Samuel 23:34  Nehemiah 10:26 9 1 Chronicles 26:20 achehem

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the prophet of the Lord, who dwelt in Shiloh. He is thought to be the person who spoke twice to Solomon from God, once while he was building the temple,  1 Kings 6:11 , at which time he promised him the divine protection; and again,  1 Kings 11:11 , after him falling into his irregularities, with great threatenings and reproaches. Ahijah was one of those who wrote the history or annals of this prince,  2 Chronicles 9:29 . The same prophet declared to Jeroboam, that he would usurp the kingdom,  1 Kings 11:29 , &c; and, about the end of Jeroboam's reign, he also predicted the death of Abijah, the only pious son of that prince, as is recorded  1 Kings 14:2 , &c. Ahijah, in all probability, did not long survive the delivery of this last prophecy; but we are not informed of the time and manner of his death.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

A prophet and chronicler of the times of Solomon and Jeroboam,  1 Kings 11:29   2 Chronicles 9:29 . He is thought to be the person who spoke in God's name to Solomon while building the temple,  1 Kings 6:11; and again after he fell into sin,  1 Kings 11:11 . He notified Jeroboam of the separation of Israel from Judah, and of the foundation of his house-the ruin of which he afterwards foretold,  1 Kings 14:1-14 .

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Ahi'jah. See Ahiah .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Hebrew Achiyah', אֲחַיָּה , Brother [i.e. Friend ] Of Jehovah, also in the prolonged form Achiya'Hu, חַיָּהוּ  1 Kings 14:4-6;  1 Kings 14:18;  2 Chronicles 10:5; Sept. Ἀχιά or Ἀχία , but omits in  1 Chronicles 2:25, Οἱ Λευϊ v Ται Ἀδελφοὶ Αὐτῶν in  1 Chronicles 26:20, Ἀϊ v Α in  Nehemiah 10:26; Auth. Vers. "Ahiah" in  1 Samuel 14:3;  1 Samuel 14:18;  1 Kings 4:3;  1 Chronicles 8:7), the name of several men.

1. The second named of the three earlier sons of Bela son of Benjamin ( 1 Chronicles 8:7), [(See Shaharaim),] elsewhere ( 1 Chronicles 8:4) called AHOAH (See Ahoah) (q.v.).

2. The last named of the five sons of Jerahmeel (great-grandson of Judah) by his first wife ( 1 Chronicles 2:25), B.C. cir. 1612.

3. A son of Ahitub, and high-priest in the reign of Saul ( 1 Samuel 14:3;  1 Samuel 14:18); hence probably the same as AHIMELECH (See Ahimelech) (q.v.) the son of Ahitub, who was high-priest at Nob in the same reign, and was slain by Saul for assisting David ( 1 Samuel 22:11). (See High Priest). In the former passage Ahijah is described as being the Lord's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And it appears that the ark of God was under his care, and that he inquired of the Lord by means of it and the ephod (comp.  1 Chronicles 13:3). There is, however, some difficulty in reconciling this statement concerning the ark being used for inquiring by Ahijah at Saul ’ s bidding and the statement elsewhere ( 1 Chronicles 13:3), that they inquired not at the ark in the days of Saul, if we understand the latter expression in the strictest sense. This difficulty seems to have led to the reading in the Vatican copy of the Sept. at  1 Samuel 14:18, of "ephod" instead of "ark" ( Τὸ Ἐφούδ instead of Τὴν Κιβωτόν , or rather, perhaps, of אֵפוֹר instead of אָרוֹן , in the Hebrew codex from which that version was made). Others avoid the difficulty by interpreting the Ark in this case to mean a chest for carrying about the ephod in. But all difficulty will disappear if we apply the expression only to all the latter years of the reign of Saul, when we know that the priestly establishment was at Nob, and not at Kirjath-jearim, or Baale of Judah, where the ark was. The narrative in 1 Samuel 14 is entirely favorable to the mention of the ark; for it appears that Saul was at the time in Gibeah of Benjamin, so near the place where the house of Abinadab was situated ( 2 Samuel 6:3) as to be almost a quarter of Kirjath-jearim, which lay on the very borders of Judah and Benjamin (see  Joshua 18:14;  Joshua 18:28). Whether it was the encroachments of the Philistines, or an incipient schism between the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, or any other cause, which led to the disuse of the ark during the latter years of Saul's reign, is difficult to say. But probably the last time that Ahijah inquired of the Lord before the ark was on the occasion related  1 Samuel 14:36, when Saul marred his victory over the Philistines by his rash oath, which nearly cost Jonathan his life; for we there read that when Saul proposed a night-pursuit of the Philistines, the priest, Ahijah, said, "Let us draw near hither unto God," for the purpose, namely, of asking counsel of God. But God returned no answer, in consequence, as it seems, of Saul's rash curse. If, as is commonly thought, and as seems most likely, Ahijah is the same person as Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, this failure to obtain an answer from the priest, followed as it was by a rising of the people to save Jonathan out of Saul's hands, may have led to an estrangement between the king and the high-priest, and predisposed him to suspect Ahimelech's loyalty, and to take that terrible revenge upon him for his favor to David. Such changes of name as Ahi-melech and Ahi-jah are not uncommon. However, it is not impossible that, as Gesenius supposes (Thes. Heb. p. 65), Ahimelech may have been brother to Ahijah, and that they officiated simultaneously, the one at Gibeah or Kirjath-jearim, and the other at Nob. (See Ark).

4. A Pelonite, one of David's famous heroes ( 1 Chronicles 11:36); apparently the same called ELIAM (See Eliam) (q.v.) the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite in the parallel passage ( 2 Samuel 23:34). (See David).

5. A Levite appointed over the sacred treasury of dedicated things at the Temple in the arrangement by David ( 1 Chronicles 26:20), B.C. 1014.

6. The last named of the two sons of Shisha, secretaries of King Solomon

( 1 Kings 4:3), B.C. 1014.

7. A prophet of Shiloh ( 1 Kings 14:2), hence called the Shilonite ( 1 Kings 11:29), in the days of Rehoboam, of whom we have two remarkable prophecies extant: the one in  1 Kings 11:31-39, addressed to Jeroboam, announcing the rending of the ten tribes from Solomon, in punishment of his idolatries, and the transfer of the kingdom to Jeroboam, B.C. 973. This prophecy, though delivered privately, became known to Solomon, and excited his wrath against Jeroboam, who fled for his life into Egypt, to Shishak, and remained there till Solomon's death. The other prophecy, in  1 Kings 14:6-16, was delivered in the prophet's extreme old age to Jeroboam's wife, in which he foretold the death of Abijah (q.v.), the king's son, who was sick, and to inquire concerning whom the queen had come in disguise, and then went on to denounce the destruction of Jeroboam's house on account of the images which he had set up, and to foretell the captivity of Israel "beyond the river" Euphrates, B.C. 952. These prophecies give us a high idea of the faithfulness and boldness of Ahijah, and of the eminent rank which he attained as a prophet. Jeroboam's speech concerning him ( 1 Kings 14:2-3) shows the estimation in which he held his truth and prophetic powers. In  2 Chronicles 9:29, reference is made to a record of the events of Solomon's reign contained in the "prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite." If there were a larger work of Ahijah's, the passage in 1 Kings 11, is doubtless an extract from it. (See Jeroboam).

8. An Issacharite, father of Baasha, king of Israel ( 1 Kings 15:27;  1 Kings 15:33;  1 Kings 21:2;  2 Kings 9:9), B.C. ante 950.

9. One of the chief Israelites who subscribed the sacred covenant drawn up by Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 10:26), B.C. cir. 410.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a - hı̄´ja ( אחיּה , 'ăḥı̄yāh or אחיּהוּ , 'ăḥı̄yāhū , "brother of Yahweh," "my brother is Yahweh," "Yah is brother." In the King James Version the name sometimes appears as Ahiah ):

(1) One of the sons of Jerahmeel the great-grandson of Judah ( 1 Chronicles 2:25 ).

(2) A descendant of Benjamin ( 1 Chronicles 8:7 ).

(3) The son of Ahitub, priest in the time of King Saul ( 1 Samuel 14:3 ,  1 Samuel 14:18 ). Either he is the same with Ahimelech, who is mentioned later, or he is the father or brother of Ahimelech. He is introduced to us when Saul has been so long on the throne that his son Jonathan is a man grown and a warrior. He is in attendance upon Saul, evidently as an official priest, "wearing an ephod." When Saul wishes direction from God he asks the priest to bring hither the ark; but then, without waiting for the message, Saul counts the confusion in the Philistine camp a sufficient indication of the will of Providence, and hurries off to the attack. Some copies of the Greek here read "ephod" instead of "ark," but the documentary evidence in favor of that reading is far from decisive. If the Hebrew reading is correct, then the seclusion of the ark, from the time of its return from Philistia to the time of David, was not so absolute as many have supposed. See Ahimelech I .

(4) One of David's mighty men, according to the list in  1 Chronicles 11:36 . The corresponding name in the list in  2 Samuel 23:34 is Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite.

(5) A L evite of David's time who had charge of certain treasures connected with the house of God ( 1 Chronicles 26:20 ). The Greek copies presuppose the slightly different text which would give in English "and their brethren," instead of Ahijah. This is accepted by many scholars, and it is at least more plausible than most of the proposed corrections of the Hebrew text by the Greek.

(6) Son of Sinsha and brother of Elihoreph ( 1 Kings 4:3 ). The two brothers were scribes of Solomon. Can the scribes Ahijah and Shemaiah ( 1 Chronicles 24:6 ) be identified with the men of the same names who, later, were known as distinguished prophets? Sinsha is probably the same with Shavsha ( 1 Chronicles 18:16; compare  2 Samuel 8:17;  2 Samuel 20:25 ), who was scribe under David, the office in this case descending from father to son.

(7) The distinguished prophet of Shiloh, who was interested in Jeroboam I. In Solomon's lifetime Ahijah clothed himself with a new robe, met Jeroboam outside Jerusalem, tore the robe into twelve pieces, and gave him ten, in token that he should become king of the ten tribes ( 1 Kings 11:29-39 ). Later, when Jeroboam had proved unfaithful to Yahweh, he sent his wife to Ahijah to ask in regard to their sick son. The prophet received her harshly, foretold the death of the son, and threatened the extermination of the house of Jeroboam (1 Ki 14). The narrative makes the impression that Ahijah was at this time a very old man ( 1 Kings 14:4 ). These incidents are differently narrated in the long addition at  1 Kings 12:24 found in some of the Greek copies. In that addition the account of the sick boy precedes that of the rent garment, and both are placed between the account of Jeroboam's return from Egypt and that of the secession of the ten tribes, an order in which it is impossible to think that the events occurred. Further, this addition attributes the incident of the rent garment to Shemaiah and not to Ahijah, and says that Ahijah was 60 years old.

Other notices speak of the fulfillment of the threatening prophecies spoken by Ahijah ( 2 Chronicles 10:15;  1 Kings 12:15;  1 Kings 15:29 ). In 2 Ch "the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite" is referred to as a source for the history of Solomon ( 2 Chronicles 9:29 ).

(8) The father of Baasha king of Israel ( 1 Kings 15:27 ,  1 Kings 15:33;  1 Kings 21:22;  2 Kings 9:9 ).

(9) A L evite of Nehemiah's time, who sealed the covenant ( Nehemiah 10:26 the King James Version).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Ahi´jah (same name as Ahiah), a prophet residing in Shiloh in the times of Solomon and Jeroboam. He appears to have put on record some of the transactions of the former reign ( 2 Chronicles 9:29). It devolved on him to announce and sanction the separation of the ten tribes from the house of David, as well as the foundation ( 1 Kings 11:29-39), and, after many years, the subversion of the dynasty of Jeroboam ( 1 Kings 14:7-11) [JEROBOAM].