1 Kings 13

1 Kings 13:1

2. Jeroboam and the Man of God (13:1-32)13:1-3 While Jeroboam was offering incense at the altar in Bethel, a man of God was sent from Judah to denounce the idolatrous altar. He predicted that a king named Josiah would arise in Judah and would burn the idolatrous priests on the altar. The fulfillment of the prophecy in verse 2 is found in 2Ki_23:15-16. Over 300 years elapsed between the prophecy and its fulfillment. As a token of the certainty of the prophecy, he said that the altar would be split apart and the ashes . . . poured out. 13:4-6 As Jeroboam pointed to the prophet and ordered him to be apprehended, the king’s hand became withered. Also, the altar was split apart and the ashes spilled outan omen of doom for Jeroboam’s religion. In answer to the prophet’s gracious prayer, the withered hand . . . was restored to normal. 13:7-10 If the king could not silence the prophet by threats, he would try by gaining his fellowship. God had issued strict instructions to the prophet that he was to do nothing to indicate the slightest tolerance of Jeroboam’s evil reign. Thus, in accordance with the instructions of the Lord, the prophet refused to eat or drink with Jeroboam. Also, he took a different route home from Bethel. 13:11-19 On the way he was intercepted by an old prophet of Bethel. At first the man of God refused the hospitality of the old prophet lest he show the slightest sympathy with what was going on at Bethel. But then the old man said that an angel had told him to entertain the man of God, and this lie succeeded in persuading the latter to accept the proffered hospitality. 13:20-25 While they were eating together, the LORD spoke to the old prophet of Bethel, and he in turn delivered the message to the man of God. Because of his disobedience, the man of God would die and would not be buried with his family. If this seems harsh or severe, we should remember that God deals more strictly with those He loves, with those who are His spokesmen, and with those who are greatly privileged. On his way home, the man of God was killed by a lion. Contrary to all the laws of nature, the lion and the prophet’s donkey stood watch together over his corpse on the road. 13:26-32 When the old prophet . . . heard the news, he immediately realized that it was the Lord’s judgment against disobedience. He went to the scene of the tragedy, brought the body back to Bethel, and buried it in his own tomb. He then instructed his sons that he desired to be buried . . . beside . . . the man of God; he realized that the idolatrous system of which he was a part was doomed to destruction by God.

1 Kings 13:33

3. Jeroboam’s False Priesthood (13:33, 34)King Jeroboam persisted in his evil, making priests from every class of people and serving as a priest himself. Such sin was the eventual cause of destruction to the dynasty of Jeroboam. Irving Jensen notes: King Jeroboam ought to have seen a picture of himself and his own fate if he did not repent, by the fate of the prophet from Judah. Jeroboam, like the prophet, had been chosen by God for a high position. Also like the prophet, he knew perfectly well what God would have him do. But like the prophet, he had disobeyed the word of God.