1 Kings 13:8

8 The holy man told the king, "Not on your life! You couldn't pay me enough to get me to sit down with you at a meal in this place.

1 Kings 13:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 13:8

And the man of God said unto the king
In answer to his civility to him, to assure him it was not out of contempt to him, or ill will to him, or slight of his favour, but in obedience to the will of God:

if thou wilt give half of thine house;
of the riches in it, and even of his kingdom:

I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in
this place;
this idolatrous place; the reason follows.

1 Kings 13:8 In-Context

6 The king pleaded with the holy man, "Help me! Pray to your God for the healing of my arm." The holy man prayed for him and the king's arm was healed - as good as new!
7 Then the king invited the holy man, "Join me for a meal; I have a gift for you."
8 The holy man told the king, "Not on your life! You couldn't pay me enough to get me to sit down with you at a meal in this place.
9 I'm here under God's orders, and he commanded, 'Don't eat a crumb, don't drink a drop, and don't go back the way you came.'"
10 Then he left by a different road than the one on which he had walked to Bethel.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.