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.