1 Reis 13

1 Reis 13

Morgan - 1 Kings 13.26 The story of the "man of God out of Judah," and the "old prophet in Bethel" is a very strange one. We may rest assured that the prophet in Bethel was not a good man. It is quite evident, however, that he gained influence over the "man of God" by his claim to speak in the Name of Jehovah. That, however, was no sufficient excuse for the other's disobedience, and swift judgment fell upon him. The sentence is a very arresting one: "It is the man of God, who was disobedient to the mouth of Jehovah." It is possible to be called of God, sent of God, and yet to be disobedient. Moreover, the disobedience may be in some apparently minor detail. This man of God had faithfully delivered the message of God, and yet broke down in obedience. We are taught that no command of God must be disregarded by His messengers, even when or if, an angel suggests a change of method. A Divine purpose directly communicated is never set aside by inter-mediation of any kind. How necessary therefore, that those who are called of God should "prove the spirits whether they are of God!" When direct assault of evil would utterly fail to seduce the servants of God, the enemy constantly transforms his appearance into that of an angel of light, and claims to bring to the soul a Divine revelation. That is the most subtle of his methods. One thing may ever remain a certainty with us, and tbat is, that all suggested revelations may be tested by those already received. God never contradicts Himself in His dealings with His servants. Let us be true to His commands, refusing to be deflected from the path of obedience, even by an angel from heaven. 1 Kings 13:27 Then he spoke to his sons, saying, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it. THE JOURNEY TOWARD JUDGMENT Then he spoke to his sons, saying, “Saddle the donkey for me.” And they saddled it. 1 Kings 13:28 He went and found his body thrown on the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside the body; the lion had not eaten the body nor torn the donkey. the lion 1Ki 17:4,6 Lev 10:2,5 Job 38:11 Ps 148:7,8 Jer 5:22,23 Da 3:22,27,28 6:22-24 Ac 16:26 Heb 11:33,34 He went and found his body thrown on the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside the body; the lion had not eaten the body nor torn the donkey - All here was supernatural. The lion, though he had killed the man, yet, contrary to his nature, did not devour him, nor tear the donkey, while the donkey stood quietly by, not fearing the lion. This concatenation of miracles marked the death of the man of God as a Divine rebuke for his disobedience as in various other cases, that "often judgment begins at the house of God." The true prophet, for suffering himself to be seduced by the old prophet, and for receiving that as a revelation from God which was opposed to the revelation which himself had received, and which was confirmed by so many miracles, is slain by a lion, and his body deprived of the burial of his fathers; while the wicked king and the old prophet are both permitted to live August Konkel - The lion’s abstention from eating serves to emphasize retrospectively the transgression of the man of God in eating prohibited food. (See The NIV Application Commentary) 1 Kings 13:29 So the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back, and he came to the city of the old prophet to mourn and to bury him. OLD PROPHET MOURNS MAN OF GOD So the prophet took up the body of the man of God and laid it on the donkey and brought it back, and he came to the city of the old prophet to mourn and to bury him - The old prophet makes funeral arrangements. 1 Kings 13:30 He laid his body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” mourned over: 1Ki 14:13 Jer 22:18 Ac 8:2 THE OLD PROPHET'S TERSE EULOGY He laid his body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, “Alas, my brother!” - They implies others were present (probably his sons). He claims that the man of God is his brother which may or may not be true depending on whether you see him as a false prophet which a number of commentators do. 1 Kings 13:31 After he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, “When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones. lay my bones: Nu 23:10 Ps 26:9 Ec 8:10 Lu 16:22,23 OLD PROPHET'S DEATH DESIRE After he had buried him, he spoke to his sons, saying, “When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones - This may reflect his man suffering from a guilty conscience at having caused the death of the man of God. Iain Provan: Given the context, it is much more likely that his concern is not so much to be remembered in the grave as to be allowed to remain in the grave. Thus, this is his alternative plan (after his hospitality stratagem failed) to avoid the desecration of his bones that he knows will otherwise take place (1Ki 31:32; cf. 1Ki 13:2). As it turns out, this second plan is one that works (2Ki 23:17–18). (See 1 & 2 Kings Understanding the Bible Commentary Series - Page 68) 1 Kings 13:32 “For the thing shall surely come to pass which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria.” the thing shall surely come to pass: 1Ki 13:2 2Ki 23:16-19 all the houses of the high places: 1Ki 12:29,31 Lev 26:30 in the cities: 1Ki 16:24 2Ch 25:13 Ezr 4:10 Joh 4:4,5 Related Passages: 2 Kings 23:16-19 Now when Josiah turned, he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent and took the bones from the graves and burned them on the altar and defiled it according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. 17 Then he said, “What is this monument that I see?” And the men of the city told him, “It is the grave of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things which you have done against the altar of Bethel.” 18 He said, “Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.” So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria. 19 Josiah also removed all the houses of the high places which were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made provoking the LORD; and he did to them just as he had done in Bethel. 1 Kings 16:24+ (KING OMRI, FATHER OF AHAB) He bought the hill Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and named the city which he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. OLD PROPHET AFFIRMS MAN OF GOD'S PROPHECY For the thing shall surely come to pass which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses of the high places (bamah) which are in the cities of Samaria - The old prophet is now functioning somewhat as a prophet in that he is affirming the prophecy of the man of God. God's word never returns void without accomplishing what He intends. Notice that the man of God's prophecy was against the altar at Bethel, it was clearly indicative of God's judgment against all Jeroboam's places of false worship (all the houses of the high places). Bob