1 Kings 12:22

1Ki 12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

Ver. 22. But the word of God came.] God is said to have come to Balaam, to Laban, and to other profane wretches; but his "word" came only to "his holy prophets, which have been since the world began."

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 12:22-24. The word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God — The prophet so called, partly to distinguish him from others of that name, (see Neh 6:10; Jer 29:31,) and partly to add more weight to his words. It appears this prophet was very well known in the reign of Rehoboam, whose annals he is supposed to have written. Of what authority he was in Judah, we may learn from this passage, in which he is represented as prevailing with the king, and a hundred and fourscore thousand men, to lay down their arms, and return home, instead of proceeding to make war on their brethren as they had intended, merely by declaring that the division which had happened was by the order and appointment of God. — Calmet. This thing is from me — This event is from my counsel and providence, to punish Solomon’s apostacy. They hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord — Either from a conscientious regard to their duty, or because they durst not oppose so potent an adversary.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That is, the Prophet.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(22) Shemaiah the man of God.—From the notices in 2Ch_12:5-8; 2Ch_12:15, it would seem that, while Ahijah belonged to Shiloh in Ephraim, and continued to dwell there, Shemaiah was rather attached to Judah, and hence, that his interference to protect the new kingdom was the more striking and unexpected. In this interposition, to which probably the very preservation of Jeroboam’s half-formed kingdom was due, there is a fresh indication of the great opportunity given to that kingdom to maintain itself, under the blessing of God and in devotion to His service. The phrase “your brethren, the children of Israel,” marks this with much emphasis.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

22. the word of God] How Shemaiah and other prophets received their commission is not always explained. Sometimes it is said ‘the Lord sent’ (cf. 2Sa_12:1; 2Sa_12:25). The prompting by a vision in sleep is most frequently recorded, and this we may assume in other cases to have been the way in which God’s message came.

Shemaiah] Beside the present notice of him, Shemaiah is also mentioned at the time when Shishak, king of Egypt, invaded Judæa and besieged Jerusalem (2Ch_12:5; 2Ch_12:7). He then was sent with a message of comfort to the princes of Judah. In 2Ch_12:15 he is said to have written a chronicle of the reign of Rehoboam.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thus saith the Lord,.... A common preface the prophets used when they spoke in the name of the Lord:

ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel; and that because they were their brethren; though that is not the only reason, another follows:

return every man to his house, for this thing is from me; it was according to the will of God, as Josephus rightly says (o); it was by his ordination and appointment, though Jeroboam and the people sinned in the way and manner in which they brought it about; and therefore to fight against Israel, in order to regain the kingdom, would be fighting against God, and so to no purpose:

they hearkened therefore to the word of the Lord, and returned to depart according to the word of the Lord; they knew Shemaiah was a prophet of the Lord, and they believed the message he brought came from him, and therefore hearkened and were obedient to it; and with the consent of Rehoboam were disbanded, and returned to their habitations, being satisfied with, and submissive to, the will of God, both king and people.

(o) Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 8. c. 8. sect. 3.)

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Shemaiah was the chief prophet in Judah during the reign of Rehoboam, as Ahijah was in Israel. See the marginal references.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The man of God, i.e. the prophet, so called, partly to distinguish him from others of that name; see Neh 6:10; Jer 29:31; and partly to add the more weight to his words.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

22. Shemaiah — With this man of God we here meet for the first time, and though our knowledge of him is limited to a few scattered notices, we see in them how vast a moral power the prophets of this age wielded over the king and the nation. They and the converts of their ministry were the salt that preserved the nation through many a long year of idolatrous rebellion. Shemaiah seems to have been, during Rehoboam’s reign, pre-eminently the prophet of Judah. His word on this occasion, though doubtless much against the royal will, awed the king into submission. Again, in the time of Shishak’s invasion, he appeared, and his ministry was instrumental in averting the possible consequences of that invasion — the destruction of Jerusalem. 2Ch_12:5-7. He also composed a history of Rehoboam’s reign. 1Ki_12:15.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

But the word of God came unto Shemaiah This part of the history is probably derived from the "book" which this prophet wrote. (2Ch_12:15) When Keil describes him as "a prophet who is not mentioned again," he has surely overlooked, 2Ch_12:7, 2Ch_12:8, where we find him prophesying with reference to the army of Shishak the man of God a common expression in the books of Kings. It rarely occurs in the other Scriptures. This designation is not altogether synonymous with "prophet." It is used, for example, of angels, (Jud_1:13:6, 8) of Moses, (Deu_33:1) and of David, (2Ch_8:14) and would embrace any minister or servant of God, while aybin; is restricted to the teaching order. There were false prophets, but no false men of God. It is also worth considering whether the name of prophet may not have been practically restricted to, or bestowed by preference on, those who had received a prophetic training, the "sons of the prophets" who had been taught in the schools. (Cf. 1Sa_10:5-12 1Sa_19:20; Amo_7:14) saying.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the word of God came ... it said

This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. AT: "God spoke this message ... and he said" or "God spoke these words ... and he said" (See: Idiom)

Shemaiah

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

the man of God

The expression "man of God" is a respectful way of referring to a prophet of Yahweh. AT: "the man who belongs to God" or "the prophet of God"

all the house of Judah and Benjamin

Here "house" is a metonym that represents a tribe or descendants. AT: "all the people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin" (See: Metonymy)

your brothers the people of Israel

The words "brothers" and "people of Israel" are a doublet that refer to the men of the ten northern tribes and emphasize the family relationship between them and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. (See: Doublet)

for this thing has been made to happen by me

This can be stated in active form. AT: "because I have made this thing happen" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

word of God

man of God

Yahweh

brother

Israel

obey

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.