Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 14:23
(23) High places, and images, and groves.—On the “high places,” see 1 Kings 3:2, and Note there. The “images” of this passage seem undoubtedly to have been stone pillars, as the “groves” (i.e., the asherahs) were wooden stumps of trees (possibly in both cases surmounted by some rude representation of the deity worshipped). The first mention of such a pillar is in Genesis 28:18; Genesis 31:13; Genesis 35:14, there applied to the stone which Jacob raises and anoints, in order to mark the scene of... read more
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 14:1-31
The Sins of Jeroboam and Rehoboam and their Punishment2. Shiloh] The modern Seilûn, N. of Bethel and E. of the road leading from Bethel to Shechem (Judges 21:19). 3. Take with thee] The gift proffered by the queen was a small one to suit her disguise: contrast 2 Kings 5:5. Cruse] a flask or bottle (and so in 1 Kings 17:12). 9. Above all that were before thee] Solomon’s idolatry was perhaps worse than Jeroboam’s in being the worship of false gods, but it was at any rate not deliberately... read more