1 Kings 13:1-6

Jeroboam Warned, Stricken

1 Now behold, there came 1a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, while Jeroboam was standing by the altar 2to burn incense.
2 3He cried against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, "O altar, altar, thus says the LORD, 'Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, 4Josiah by name; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.' "
3 Then he gave a sign the same day, saying, "5This is the sign which the LORD has spoken, 'Behold, the altar shall be split apart and the ashes which are on it shall be poured out.' "
4 Now when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, "Seize him." But his hand which he stretched out against him dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself.
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 6entreat the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me." So 7the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him, and it became as it was before.

1 Kings 13:1-6 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 7

  • 1. 1 Kings 12:22; 2 Kings 23:17
  • 2. 1 Kings 12:33
  • 3. 1 Kings 13:32
  • 4. 2 Kings 23:15, 16
  • 5. Exodus 4:1-5; Judges 6:17; Isaiah 38:7; John 2:18; 1 Corinthians 1:22
  • 6. Exodus 8:8, 28; Exodus 9:28; Exodus 10:17; Acts 8:24; James 5:16
  • 7. Luke 6:27, 28

Footnotes 7

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