And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,
Parallel translations
- WEB Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it in twelve pieces.
- KJV And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
- NKJV Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces.
- NASB Then Ahijah took hold of the new cloak which was on him and tore it into twelve pieces.
- NLT and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The prophet Ahijah tears his new cloak into twelve pieces as a dramatic sign of the coming division of Israel. It signals that the united kingdom under Solomon will be split.
Overview
Prophets often delivered God's word through enacted symbols, and here the twelve torn pieces represent the twelve tribes of Israel. By tearing his own new garment, Ahijah vividly pictures the fracturing of the kingdom that Solomon's idolatry has provoked. The sign sets up the prophecy that follows and prepares the reader for the division that will dominate the rest of the books of Kings.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 1 Sam 15:27–28As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.
- 1 Sam 24:4–5So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Solomon's glory, wisdom, and temple where God's presence dwells are a shadow of the greater Son of David — 'one greater than Solomon is here' — and of the true Temple, Christ himself.
How 1 Kings 11:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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