Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Kings 13:20-34

Sign upon Sign Unheeded 1 Kings 13:20-34 There is a tragic note in this paragraph. The man of God had performed God’s errand bravely and well, and his words were verified by the result; but he perished as a castaway. See 1 Corinthians 9:27 . If only he had obeyed God’s word, as it came directly to himself, he might have been entrusted with many similar errands; but “Alas, my brother!” was a true elegy on the part of the man who had led to his downfall. How careful we should be never to... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 13:1-34

In this chapter are two lessons of supreme value; first, the patient grace of God, and, second, the solemn responsibility of such as bear His message. The first of these is brought out in the story of Jeroboam. While he stood at the altar which his sin had erected he was rebuked and smitten. This was really his opportunity for repentance. His heart, however, was set on sin, and therefore he manifested no genuine repentance, but only a selfish desire for healing. Thus the opportunity for... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 13:1-34

The Kingdom In Crisis And The Collapse Of An Empire (1 Kings 12:1 to 1 Kings 14:31 ). The death of Solomon, as always with the death of a king who had ruled powerfully for a long time and had been somewhat autocratic, resulted in hopes being raised among the people that things might now be made better for them. Indeed they appear to have been quite satisfied with the thought of Rehoboam being their king, as long as he would meet them halfway, and they actually gathered at Shechem to... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 13:11-32

The Old Prophet And The Man Of God (1 Kings 13:11-32 ). Meanwhile dwelling in Bethel was an old prophet who had served YHWH for many years. The fact that he was not present at the celebrations taking place at the Sanctuary, but rather sent his sons, indicates that he was very old. He was no longer actively involved as a prophet. But when he learned from his sons what the man of God from Judah had done, and the words that he had spoken, he was clearly concerned. He felt that it was his duty as... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 13:1-34

1 Kings 12:25 to 1 Kings 13:34 . The Sin of Jeroboam. The Prophet at Bethel.— The sources cannot be exactly determined. Some (see Cent.B) may belong to the annals of the northern kingdom, but the tone is decidedly Deuteronomic. The prophet’ s message to Jeroboam is certainly late.Jeroboam’ s first act as recorded was to build or fortify Shechem ( 1 Kings 12:25). Then for some reason he transferred his seat of government to the E. of Jordan to Penuel. Possibly he was hard pressed by his former... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - 1 Kings 13:11-32

CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.—1 Kings 13:11. An old prophet in Bethel: who had been faithless amid surrounding faithlessness. His alertness to win the prophet of Judah to his house arose from (1) his interest (professional) in a fellow-prophet’s mission—this feeling awoke immediately he heard of one of his own class being near. (2) A sense of shame may have stirred in him that a prophet from a distance should have come to do what he himself, being near, should have long ago done. (3) He may... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:1-34

Chapter 13And so there came a young man out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel: where Jeroboam was standing by the altar ready to burn incense. And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD ( 1 Kings 13:1-2 );There is that character in Los Angeles that has the golden altar and I've been tempted to go up and cry against his altar. "O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord."Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - 1 Kings 13:1-34

1 Kings 13:1 . Bethel. See the notes on 1 Kings 12:0; 1 Kings 12:0. The man of God from Judah is called Jaddo by Josephus. 1 Kings 13:2 . Josiah. Cyrus is mentioned by name, as well as Josiah. Isaiah 44. 45. 1 Kings 13:9 . Nor return by the same way: a hint that if we have walked to the profane feasts of the wicked, we should return to Zion by a new and living way. 1 Kings 13:11 . An old prophet. The Chaldaic reads, a false prophet. 1 Kings 13:18 . An angel spake to me. ... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - 1 Kings 13:11-32

1 Kings 13:11-32Now there dwelt an old man in Bethel The nameless prophetThis passage forms part of a very remarkable narrative.The miraculous element is so prominent that certain critics would have the chapter expunged from Holy Scripture. The natural and the supernatural are closely interwoven, as are the woof and web of a fabric, and the destruction of either would be the practical dissolution of the whole; indeed, nowhere is this more manifestly true than in the life and death, in the... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - 1 Kings 13:26-32

1 Kings 13:26-32And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof.On the character of the old prophet of BethelThe most careful review of this man’s conduct does not make it easy to comprehend it; nor, indeed, do we know enough about him to satisfy us in pronouncing decidedly on the subject. Still there are circumstances in his history which do throw light on certain points of his character; and give them sufficient distinctness for us to apprehend a drift in them, and see... read more

Group of Brands