Jeroboam's New Clothes...

Have you every wondered why the author of 1 Kings bothers to mention Jeroboam's "new garment" in 1 Kings 11:29-30?

Notice the Hebrew in v. 29c:

והוא מתכסה בשלמה חדשה

"Now he had covered himself with a new cloak (שלמה)"

The author is punning Solomon's name (שלמה). While the vowels are different and the first consonant is a shin rather than a sin, everything else is identical. In addition, given that Solomon's name is derived from "Shalom" or peace (שלם), the author is engaging in clever polyvalent wordplay.

Because of Solomon's sin, God will tear up Solomon's (shelomoh) kingdom in the same way that Ahijah rends Jeroboam's new "salmah." Furthermore, this rending will destroy the positive peace (Shalom) of the land. Thus, Ahijah's actions presage the coming civil wars and unrest that will characterize the land in every way.

Yet there is still the beautiful promise to David which God will not break repeated in vv. 32, 34, and 36:

ולבנו אתן שבט אחד למען היות ניר לדויד עבדי כל הימים לפני בירושלם העיר אשר בחרתי לי לשום שמי שם

"But to his son, I will give one tribe in order that there will be a light for David, my servant, always before my face in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for myself to put my name there." (v. 36)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who keeps covenant!