AHIA (Vulgate Ahias; Hebr. 'Abijjah, as Achia, v.). — Prophet of Shilo (therefore called the Silonite), the sole prophet of the kingdom of Solomon and of the time of the schism of the tribes. By a symbolic action (tearing his new cloak into 12 pieces and handing him 10 of them), he Jeroboam (v.) the Lord’s will to divide the kingdom, giving him 10 tribes to govern, and to leave to Solomon’s descendants, because of their sins, one tribe (Judah together with a large part of Benjamin; cf. I Reg. 11:29–40). By then old and blind, he foretold to Jeroboam’s wife, who had come from Thersa to inquire of him at Abia (v.), the latter’s death and the destruction of their house on account of the king’s sins (I Reg. 14:1–18). In II Par. 9:29, mention is made of the “prophecy” (the Vulgate has only “books”) of A. the Silonite as a written source concerning the reign of Solomon; but its content is unknown.
Ahiah (Vulgate Ahias; Hebrew 'Abijjah, as in Achiah, q.v.)
Cite this article
“AHIA (VOLGATA AHIAS; EBR. 'ABIJJAH, COME ACHIA, V.).” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. I (1948), p. 368. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/ahia-volgata-ahias-ebr-abijjah-come-achia-v.