Ahijah the Shilonite

The holy Prophet Ahijah the Shilonite lived in the time of King Solomon and his successors, in the tenth century before Christ. He came from Shiloh, the city where the tabernacle of witness had long stood, and he foretold the division of the kingdom of Israel as a punishment for idolatry.

The First Book of Kings tells that at the end of Solomon's reign Ahijah met Jeroboam, one of the king's officials, in the open country. The prophet was wearing a new garment, which he tore into twelve pieces, and he gave ten of them to Jeroboam. He told him that the Lord would take ten tribes from the house of Solomon, because he had turned to idols, and give them to him, while leaving one tribe to the house of David for the sake of David and of Jerusalem. He also promised him a lasting house if he would keep the commandments of God.

The prophecy was fulfilled after Solomon's death. Jeroboam, however, set up golden calves at Bethel and Dan and led the people into idolatry.

When Jeroboam's son fell ill, the king sent his wife in disguise to Ahijah, who was now old and blind. God revealed to the prophet who the woman was, and he foretold the death of the child, the destruction of the house of Jeroboam and the scattering of Israel beyond the Euphrates. His word was fulfilled exactly.

The Second Book of Chronicles mentions a writing of Ahijah about the deeds of Solomon, which has not survived. The Church commemorates him on 12 November.