1 Kings 13:2

2 et exclamavit contra altare in sermone Domini et ait altare altare haec dicit Dominus ecce filius nascetur domui David Iosias nomine et immolabit super te sacerdotes excelsorum qui nunc in te tura succendunt et ossa hominum incendet super te

1 Kings 13:2 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 13:2

And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord
By his order and command:

and said, O altar, altar;
addressing himself not to Jeroboam, but the altar, thereby reproving his stupidity, the altar being as ready to hear as he; and because that was what moved the indignation of the Lord; and the word is repeated, to show the vehemency of the prophet's spirit, and his zeal against it; though the Jews commonly say it respects both altars, that at Dan, as well as this at Bethel:

thus saith the Lord, a child shall be born unto the house of David,
Josiah by name;
who was not born until three hundred years after this, according to the Jewish writers F1: but it is generally reckoned to be more, even three hundred and fifty or three hundred and sixty years; this is a clear proof of the prescience, predetermination, and providence of God with respect to future events, contingent ones, such as depend upon the will of men; for what more so than giving a name to a child?

upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn
incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee;
all which was fulfilled by Josiah, ( 2 Kings 23:15 2 Kings 23:16 2 Kings 23:20 ) , it may be read, "the bones of a man", which the Jews understand of Jeroboam; but may only signify that, instead of the bones of beasts, which were burnt on it, the bones of men should be burnt, and even of the priests themselves; a glaring proof this of the truth of prophecy, and of divine revelation.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Pirke Eliezer, c. 17.

1 Kings 13:2 In-Context

1 et ecce vir Dei venit de Iuda in sermone Domini in Bethel Hieroboam stante super altare et tus iaciente
2 et exclamavit contra altare in sermone Domini et ait altare altare haec dicit Dominus ecce filius nascetur domui David Iosias nomine et immolabit super te sacerdotes excelsorum qui nunc in te tura succendunt et ossa hominum incendet super te
3 deditque in die illa signum dicens hoc erit signum quod locutus est Dominus ecce altare scinditur et effunditur cinis qui in eo est
4 cumque audisset rex sermonem hominis Dei quem inclamaverat contra altare in Bethel extendit manum suam de altari dicens adprehendite eum et exaruit manus eius quam extenderat contra eum nec valuit retrahere eam ad se
5 altare quoque scissum est et effusus cinis de altari iuxta signum quod praedixerat vir Dei in sermone Domini
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.