1 Kings 13:11-32

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 13:11-22

The man of God had honestly and resolutely refused the king's invitation, though he promised him a reward; yet he was over-persuaded by an old prophet to come back with him, and dine in Beth-el, contrary to the command given him. Here we find how dearly his dinner cost him. Observe with wonder, I. The old prophet's wickedness. I cannot but call him a false prophet and a bad man, it being much easier to believe that from one of such a bad character should be extorted a confirmation of what the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 13:23-34

Here is, I. The death of the deceived disobedient prophet. The old prophet that had deluded him, as if he would make him some amends for the wrong he had done him or help to prevent the mischief threatened him, furnished him with an ass to ride home on; but by the way a lion set upon him, and killed him, 1 Kgs. 13:23, 24. He did but return back to refresh himself when he was hungry, and behold he must die for it; see 1 Sam. 14:43. But we must consider, 1. That his offence was great, and it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:11

Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel ,.... The Targum is, a false prophet, so Josephus F2 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 9. sect. 1. ; it is hard to say what he was, a good man or a bad man; if a good man, he was guilty of many things which are not in his favour, as dwelling in such an idolatrous place suffering his sons to attend idolatrous worship, and telling the man of God a premeditated lie; and yet there are several things which seem contrary to his being a bad man, and of an ill... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:12

And their father said unto them, what way went he ?.... Having a strong inclination to see him, and converse with him: for his sons had seen what way the man of God went which came from Judah ; they took notice of it; and, as the Targum, they showed it to their father. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:13

And he said unto his sons, saddle me the ass ,.... Which he used to ride on; intimating he had a mind to ride after him, and overtake him, as he might reasonably think he might, since the man of God was on foot: so they saddled him the ass, and he rode thereon ; after the man of God, taking the way his sons directed. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:14

And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak ,.... To shelter him from the heat, and being faint, hungry, and thirsty; so the ancients of old made use of oaks for a covering, before houses were invented F5 Suidas in voce δενδρυαζειν . ; thus Abraham pitched his tent in the plain, or under the oak, of Mamre, Genesis 13:18 . and he said unto him, art thou the man of God that camest from Judah ? which he might guess at from his habit, and from the description... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:15

Then said he unto him, come home with me, and eat bread. In which invitation no doubt he was hearty, and might have no ill design in it, only to have some conversation with him, as being a good man, and a prophet of the Lord, especially upon the subject of his prophecies at Bethel. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:16

And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee ,.... Into the city, and into his house in it, being such an idolatrous place, and especially being forbidden of God: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place ; he was resolute and determined to abide by the commandment of the Lord, though there is reason to believe that he was now both hungry and thirsty. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:17

For it was said to me by the word of the Lord ,.... By the angel that was sent to him, who gave him his message and instructions; which he was persuaded came from the Lord himself, and therefore looked upon himself under obligation to regard them as such: thou shall eat no bread , &c.; the same that he observed to the king, 1 Kings 13:9 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:18

And he said unto him ,.... That is, the old prophet said to the man of God: I am a prophet also as thou art ; meaning, that he was a prophet of the true God, and not of any idol deity; that he not only believed in him, and was a worshipper of him, but had revelations from him, and of the same things this man of God had, and that he believed that what he had prophesied of would certainly come to pass: and an angel spoke unto me by the word of the Lord ; was sent and dispatched by the... read more

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