Ahijah the Shilonite

For other individuals with this name, see Ahijah.
Gerard Hoet, Ahijah's prophecy to Jeroboam, 1728.

Ahijah the Shilonite (Hebrew: אחיה השילוני, Ahiya Hashiloni, "Yah is my brother") was a Levite prophet of Shiloh in the days of Solomon, as mentioned in the Hebrew Bible's 1 Kings. Ahijah encouraged a revolt against Solomon and foretold to Jeroboam that he would become king (I Kings, 11. 29).[1]

The Hebrew Bible records two of his prophecies; 1 Kings 11:31-39, announcing the rending of the ten tribes from Solomon and 1 Kings 14:6-16, delivered to Jeroboam's wife, foretelling the death of the king's son, the destruction of Jeroboam's house, and the captivity of Israel "beyond the river."

According to 2 Chronicles, Ahijah also authored a book, described as Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite which contained information about Solomon's reign.[2] This text, however, has not survived and is one of the lost texts mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. Rabbinic tradition credits Ahijah with having lived a very long life,[3] linking his life-span with that of antediluvian patriarchs such as Methuselah and Noah.

References

  1. ↑ "Ahijah", Jewish Encyclopedia
  2. ↑ 2 Chr. 9:29
  3. ↑ TB Baba Batra 12lB