1 Kings 14:2

“And Jeroboam said to his wife, etc.] Who she was is not known: arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself; put off her royal apparel, and clothe herself like a common person, mimic the dress and language of a country woman: that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam: by any that should see her on the road, or at the city she was to go to, or by the prophet to whom she would be sent: and get thee to Shiloh; which, according to Bunting f331, was twenty four miles, from Tirzah, where Jeroboam now lived, (see <111417>1 Kings 14:17) behold, there is Ahijah the prophet: called from thence the Shilonite, (<111129>1 Kings 11:29), which told me that I should be king over this people: and this…”

“Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself--His natural and intense anxiety as a parent is here seen, blended with the deep and artful policy of an apostate king. The reason of this extreme caution was an unwillingness to acknowledge that he looked for information as to the future, not to his idols, but to the true God; and a fear that this step, if publicly known, might endanger the stability of his whole political system; and a strong impression that Ahijah, who was greatly offended with him, would, if consulted openly by his queen, either insult or refuse to receive her. For these reasons he selected his wife, as, in every view, the most proper for such a secret…”

“Disguise thyself - Jeroboam fears that even Ahijah the Shilonite, who in some sort made him king, will scarcely give his queen a favorable answer. The king’s conscience tells him that he has not performed the conditions on which he was promised “a sure house” 1 Kings 11:38. return to 'Top of Page'”

“His wife - Because she might without suspicion enquire concerning her own child; and because she would enquire exactly, and diligently, and faithfully acquaint him with the truth. Disguise - Change thy habit, and voice, and go like a private and obscure person. This caution proceeded: first, from the pride of his heart, which made him loth to confess his folly in worshipping such helpless idols, and to give glory to the God whom he had forsaken. Secondly, from jealousy and suspicion, lest the prophet knowing this, should either give her no answer, or make it worse than indeed it was. Thirdly, from policy, lest his people should by his example be drawn to forsake the calves, and to return to…”

“14:2 Disguise yourself: Jeroboam apparently recognized that his sin had separated him from any right to approach God’s prophet. He knew that the man who had predicted his accession to Israel’s throne could predict the child’s fate and perhaps intercede with the Lord on his behalf. • Shiloh had earlier been destroyed by the Philistines in the time of Eli (1 Sam 4). Before that, the Tabernacle resided there (Josh 18:1; 1 Sam 1:3). A small community once again inhabited the site, which remained largely undeveloped throughout the divided monarchy.”

“disguise thyself: Kg1 14:5, Kg1 14:6, Kg1 22:30; Sa1 28:8; Sa2 14:2; Ch2 18:29; Luk 12:2 Ahijah: Kg1 11:29-38 3 Kings (1 Kings) 14:3”