1 Kings 13:4

4 It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Beit-El, that Yarov`am put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. His hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to him.

1 Kings 13:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 13:4

And it came to pass, when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the
man of God, who had cried against the altar in Bethel
He was highly provoked: so that he put forth his hand from the altar; on which he was burning incense:

saying, lay hold on him;
he put forth his hand, and either shook it at the prophet, threatening what he would do to him; or as beckoning to the people to seize him, and which he also expressed:

and his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he
could not pull it in again to him;
he could not move it one way nor another, but it remained in the same position, the nerves and muscles being shrunk; which was a further confirmation of the prophet's mission from God, being one of those concerning whom he says, "do my prophets no harm", and a fresh token of the certain performance of what he had said.

1 Kings 13:4 In-Context

2 He cried against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, altar, altar, thus says the LORD: Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Yoshiyahu by name; and on you shall he sacrifice the Kohanim of the high places who burn incense on you, and men's bones shall they burn on you.

3 He gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: Behold, the altar shall be torn, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.

4 It happened, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Beit-El, that Yarov`am put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. His hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to him.

5 The altar also was torn, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

6 The king answered the man of God, Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. The man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.