1 Kings 13
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CHAPTER 13
The Man of God From Judah (13:1–34)
1–3 The Lord sent an unnamed man of God (a prophet) from Judah to Bethel in the northern kingdom. This prophet prophesied about a coming king of Judah, Josiah, who would sacrifice the false priests of Israel on the altar Jeroboam had set up in Bethel. This prophecy came true three hundred years later (see 2 Kings 23:15–20).
The man of God also made a shortterm prophecy that the altar on which Jeroboam was at that very time making an offering would be split apart (verse 3). The fulfillment of the shortterm prophecy would thus confirm the truth of the longterm prophecy (see Deuteronomy 18:21–22).
4–6 When Jeroboam heard what the man of God had said, he was furious and stretched out his hand toward him. His hand immediately shriveled up (verse 4). At that moment the altar split apart, as the man of God had prophesied (verse 5). Jeroboam was clearly impressed with the man’s power; but instead of repenting of his evil deeds, his only thought was to have his hand restored—which the man of God did for him! (verse 6).
7–10 By now Jeroboam was convinced that this prophet had been sent by God, so he thought it prudent to show him some respect. We are not told Jeroboam’s motive for inviting the prophet to eat with him, but in any event, the prophet refused. The Lord had commanded him not to eat or drink anything while he was in Bethel (verse 9).
11–19 However, an old prophet of Bethel deceived the man of God into eating with him; the old prophet falsely claimed that the Lord had told him to bring the man of God back to his house and let him eat and drink. We are not told why the old prophet was so eager to bring the man of God to his house. Sadly, the man of God believed him and went home with him—with dire consequences.
20–25 While they were eating, a true word from the Lord came to the old prophet. He told the man of God that because he had disobeyed the command not to eat or drink in Bethel he would not be buried in the tomb of his fathers (verse 22)—that is, he would die far from his family’s home.
And indeed, that is what happened: on his way home the man of God was killed by a lion. This was clearly a divine judgment and not a chance accident because the lion did not act normally. After killing the man of God, the lion just stood there without eating either the man or his donkey.63
26–32 When the old prophet heard what had happened to the man of God from Judah, he was filled with remorse—perhaps even true repentance. He went and brought the dead prophet’s body back to the city and buried it in his own tomb (verses 29–30). Then he instructed his sons that when he died he should be buried next to the man of God; he wanted to be identified with this true prophet and his message, which he knew now would most certainly come true64 (verse 32).
What are we to learn from this perplexing incident? First, it is sometimes difficult to discern the true word of God—even for a prophet,a man of God. SometimesweChristians are very sure we have received a “word from the Lord,” but the events of this chapter should serve to make us more humble. “Words from the Lord” need confirmation. Furthermore, the Lord never contradicts Himself. The man of God should not have believed the old prophet, because his message contradicted what the Lord had already told him. We must never allow other people to determine what God’s will is for our lives. Listen to their advice, yes; follow it against our conscience, no.
Thesecondthingweshouldlearnfromthis chapter is that disobedience to the Lord’s word always brings consequences, and the ultimate consequence is death (Romans 6:23). Thus even in death, the man of God provided one more warning to the people of Israel: their sins, too, would lead to death—the death of their entire nation.
33–34 Sadly, Jeroboam and his people did not heed the warnings of the man of God. Jeroboam did not change his evil ways (verse 33). Jeroboam committed the sin of establishing a false religion and a false priesthood, and this sin led to the downfall of his house and the destruction of his kingdom.