Avia, the son of Jeroboam son of Nebat, the king of Israel, and ‘Ano,’ his wife, is ill.
Jeroboam’s wife is the sister-in-law of Shishak, king of Egypt (his wife’s sister).
Jeroboam’s wife is mentioned in the scripture without a name.
The name ‘Ano’ is found in the Septuagint translation.
Jeroboam, in his time, fled from Solomon to Egypt. When he heard that Solomon had died, he asked to return and informed King Shishak. Shishak asked to give Jeroboam a gift: Ask of me a request, and I will give it to you.” In reply, Jeroboam apparently asked for Ano.
Zakovitch and Shinannot as written in the Bible, Tel Aviv, Yedioth Ahronoth, 2004) point o the strong similarity between the text describing Jeroboam’s request to return to his land in the Septuagint translation, and the biblical text in 1 Kings 11:19-22, describing Hadad the Edomite’s request. Hadad fled from David to Egypt and, after David’s death, sought to return to his land. Pharaoh gave Hadad his sister-in-law, Tahpenes, to be his wife, and from her, he fathered his son Genubath.
Jeroboam sends his wife to consult with the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite about the fate of their sick child. He provides her with specific instructions: “And Jeroboam said to his wife: ‘Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh; behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spoke concerning me that I should be king over this people.And take with thee ten loaves, and biscuits, and a cruse of honey, and go to him; he will tell thee what shall become of the child.'” (1 Kings 14:2-3)
Jeroboam’s wife follows her husband’s instructions, and she goes to Ahijah’s house. Notably, Ahijah is described as old and unable to see. God informs Ahijah about her arrival, the purpose of her visit, and her disguise. Ahijah reveals to her the impending destruction of Jeroboam’s house and the expected death of her son before he arrives home.
Jeroboam’s wife acts according to Ahijah’s guidance, but there is no indication of her emotional reaction to the harsh prophecy. Instead, the narrative focuses on her actions and the fulfillment of the prophecy. “And Jeroboam’s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah; and as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.” (1 Kings 14:17)
Subsequently, there is no mention of the parents’ mourning. However, there is reference to the people mourning the death of the child, as Ahijah had prophesied. According to Ahijah’s prophecy, the son would be the only one from Jeroboam’s family to receive an honorable burial and lamentation. The rest of Jeroboam’s family is destined to die without proper burial, with their bodies becoming food for dogs and birds. (1 Kings 14:11-13)
The Bible’s narrative focuses on Jeroboam’s wife’s adherence to Ahijah’s instructions and the fulfillment of the prophecy. Her emotional reaction is not explicitly addressed. However, a later interpretation by Flavius Josephus in his book “Antiquities of the Jews,” Book 8, Chapter 11, elaborates on her feelings and sorrow upon hearing the prophecy about her son’s death.