1 Kings 13:5-15

5 The altar also was split apart and the ashes were 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 said to the man of God, "Please 1entreat the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me." So 2the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him, and it became as it was before.
7 Then the king said to the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh yourself, and 3I will give you a reward."
8 But the man of God said to the king, "4If you were to give me half your house I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water in this place.
9 "For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall eat no bread, nor drink water, nor return by the way which you came.' "
10 So he went another way and did not return by the way which he came to Bethel.

The Disobedient Prophet

11 Now 5an old prophet was living in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the deeds which the man of God had done that day in Bethel; the words which he had spoken to the king, these also they related to their father.
12 Their father said to them, "Which * way did he go?" Now his sons had seen the way which the man of God who came from Judah had gone.
13 Then he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey for him and he rode away on it.
14 So he went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak; and he said to him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" And he said, "I am."
15 Then he said to him, "Come home with me and eat bread."

1 Kings 13:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 13

In this chapter is an account of a man of God being sent to exclaim against Jeroboam's altar, and threaten its destruction, of which he gave a sign, which was accomplished, and with it the withering of the king's hand, which was healed upon the prophet's prayer for him, 1Ki 13:1-7, who would have entertained him at his house, but he refused the offer, and departed, 1Ki 13:8-10, but an old prophet in Bethel hearing of him, rode after him, and fetched him back to eat bread with him, through a lie he told him, 1Ki 13:11-19 upon which the word came to the old prophet, threatening the man of God with death for disobeying his command, and which was accordingly executed by a lion that met him in the way, and slew him, 1Ki 13:20-24, of which the old prophet being informed, went and took up his carcass, and buried it in his own sepulchre, where he charged his sons to bury him also when dead, believing that all the man of God had said would be fulfilled, 1Ki 13:25-30 and the chapter is closed with observing the continuance of Jeroboam in his idolatry, 1Ki 13:33,34.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Exodus 8:8, 28; Exodus 9:28; Exodus 10:17; Acts 8:24; James 5:16
  • 2. Luke 6:27, 28
  • 3. 1 Samuel 9:7, 8; 2 Kings 5:15
  • 4. Numbers 22:18; Numbers 24:13; 1 Kings 13:16, 17
  • 5. 1 Kings 13:25; 2 Kings 23:18

Footnotes 9

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