Up to this point in God’s message, nothing was said about the fate of Jeroboam’s sick son, which was the reason that he sent his wife to Ahijah. In 1 Kings 14:12 the subject is mentioned. The Lord's answer was given as he instructs the woman to return to her house in Tirzah. She receives the message that as soon as she enters the city, her son will die.
When she was sent to enquire, the royal couple thought that the worst news that they could receive was no worse news from the prophet than of their son’s death. Yet, the Lord tells them that this is the most positive part of the message. Unlike those whose bodies would be unburied and consumed by the dogs and scavenger birds, their son Abijah would receive an honourable burial. Furthermore, he would be mourned by the whole kingdom.
Why the difference? The Lord declares that Abijah apart from the rest of the household has something in him that is pleasing to God. We do not learn what pleases the Lord in Abijah. Nevertheless, of more interest may be the question as to why death, burial, and the mourning of the nation are somehow good.
Isaiah in his prophecy provides us with at least a partial answer. In Isaiah 57:1–2 he tells us of the righteous people who die and therefore may be seen as being taken away from calamity. We cannot with full confidence say that Abijah was a righteous person, but the context of 1 Kings 1:1–22:53 does indicate that he was taken away from calamity.
12 Et toi, lève-toi, va dans ta maison. Dès que tes pieds entreront dans la ville, l'enfant mourra.