The revelation that God had imparted to Ahijah in 1 Kings 14:5 was substantiated now. The prophet hears the footsteps of the wife of Jeroboam entering his house. He does not seem to give her a chance to say anything that might allow her to go on with the deception. Ahijah immediately and correctly identifies her and asks her why she has tried to masquerade as another woman.
Thus, the writer shows us two things. First, the deception had failed with Ahijah before it even had a chance to start. Second, with the question why
the prophet shows the folly of the thought that one who could truly tell her the fate of her son would be fooled concerning the disguise. Why did Jeroboam send her at all for the future, if he thought that the prophet was so short-sighted (pun intended) that he could be fooled by the identities of the mother who was enquiring and the son who was sick?
In this manner, Ahijah’s question also shows the true source of the message that would be delivered. The answer would not come from a man who could be manipulated by gifts and deceived by a disguise. It would come from the Lord God, omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (present everywhere). Ahijah was the messenger, but God was the One sending the message.
The ESV seems to avoid a natural question that might arise. The more literal translation of the end of 1 Kings 14:6 would read, I am sent to you with severe news.
The trouble comes in the phrase I am sent,
for it was the woman who came to him, not he to the woman.
However awkward it may sound, the more literal translation carries an idea that it is well to think about. A messenger is one who is sent. Ahijah is God’s messenger with a message ultimately for Jeroboam; therefore, it is proper to think of his being sent with that message that the king’s wife will bring to the disobedient king.
It is well to pause to consider the description of the message that the prophet has for Israel’s king. The ESV uses the word unbearable.
A Hebrew dictionary suggests that the root of the word means severe
or harsh.
One may ask, how severe is severe; how harsh is harsh? The answer unbearable
does seem to correctly describe the message as the prophet declares it to the wife of Jeroboam.
6 But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you.