1 Kings 20:36

36 Then said he unto him, "Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee." And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and slew him.

1 Kings 20:36 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 20:36

Then said he unto him, because thou hast not obeyed the voice
of the Lord
In not smiting him; which, if he was a prophet, he must know how great an evil it was to disregard or disobey what was said by a prophet in his name; he must be inexcusable:

behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee.
And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew
him;
which may seem severe, yet being an act of disobedience to the command of God, by a prophet of his, was punishable with death.

1 Kings 20:36 In-Context

34 And Benhadad said unto him, "The cities which my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thyself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria." Then said Ahab, "I will send thee away with this covenant." So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbor in the word of the LORD, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man refused to smite him.

36 Then said he unto him, "Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee." And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion found him and slew him.

37 Then he found another man and said, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.

38 So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.