1 Kings 14:15

For [Heb. And . The prophet now proceeds to state the share of the people in the punishment. They had acquiesced in the wicked innovations of Jeroboam and had joined in the worship of the calves] the Lord shall smite Israel, as a reed [ קָנֶה κάννα , canna, cane] is shaken [The construction is pregnant, viz; "shall smite Israel so that it shall be shaken as a reed," etc. (cf. Luke 7:24 ). "The image is very striking, for Israel was brought so low that every political influence bore it along" (Thenius)] in the water, and he shall root up [same word as in Deuteronomy 29:28 ; Jeremiah 24:6 ] Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river [ i.e; the Euphrates; see on 1 Kings 4:24 . This is the first clear prophecy of the captivity foreshadowed by Moses ( Deuteronomy 4:27 ; Deuteronomy 28:25 , Deuteronomy 28:36 , Deuteronomy 28:63 , Deuteronomy 28:64 ), and by Solomon ( 1 Kings 8:46-50 ). For its fulfilment, see 2 Kings 17:6 ; 2 Kings 18:11 , etc.], because they have made their groves [Heb. their Asherahs, i.e; images of Astarte. The translation "grove" after the LXX . ἄλσος , Vulg. lucus , is now abandoned. It is clear some sort of idol is intended by the term. This is evident from verse 23, where it is said the Asherahs (A.V. groves) were built "under every green tree" (cf. 2 Kings 17:10 ); from 1 Kings 15:13 (where see note); from 2 Kings 23:6 , which tells how Josiah "brought out the Asherahs out of the house of the Lord," and from the connexion in which the word is found with "molten images, carved images," etc. ( 2 Kings 23:23 ; 2 Chronicles 33:19 ; 2 Chronicles 34:3 , 2 Chronicles 34:4 ; cf. also 3:7 ; 1 Kings 18:19 ). They were doubtless effigies of Ashtoreth, made of wood ( Deuteronomy 7:5 ; cf. 2 Kings 23:6 ), planted erect in the ground ( Deuteronomy 16:21 ), and were consecrated to her impure and revolting worship. It is clear from this passage that the frightful impurities of the Canaanitish races had subsisted in the new kingdom by the side of the new sacra . They had probably revived under Jeroboam's rule, having apparently been in abeyance since the time of Gideon], provoking the Lord to anger. [ 1 Kings 14:22 ; 1 Kings 15:30 ; 1 Kings 21:22 ; 2 Kings 17:11 , 2 Kings 17:17 ; 2 Kings 22:17 ; Deuteronomy 4:25 ; Deuteronomy 32:16 , Deuteronomy 32:21 ; 2:12 ; Psalms 78:58 .