1 Kings 20:36

36 So he said to his friend, "Because you didn't obey the LORD's voice, a lion will attack you as soon as you leave me." And as the friend left the prophet, a lion found him and attacked 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 Ben-hadad said to the king, "I will return the towns that my father took from your father. Furthermore, you can set up markets for yourself in Damascus just as my father did in Samaria." The king replied,"On the basis of this covenant, I will let you go." So he made a covenant with Ben-hadad and set him free.

35 At the LORD's command a certain man who belonged to a prophetic group said to his friend: "Please strike me." But his friend refused to hit him.

36 So he said to his friend, "Because you didn't obey the LORD's voice, a lion will attack you as soon as you leave me." And as the friend left the prophet, a lion found him and attacked him.

37 Then the prophet found another man and said, "Please strike me." He hit the prophet, and the attack left a wound.

38 The prophet went and stood before the king by the road. He disguised himself by putting a bandage over his eyes.