1Ki 13 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Kgs 13:1-10: 13:1-10 The account of the unnamed man of God who denounced Jeroboam’s false altar at Bethel emphasizes the authority of God’s word. Like Isaiah’s prophecy of Cyrus’s coming (Isa 44:28 ; 45:1 ) and Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem as the Messiah’s birthplace (Mic 5:2 ), this prophecy gave a distinctive proper name associated with an event long before it happened (2 Kgs 23:15-20 ). Such prophecies give assurance of God’s sovereignty and omniscience (see Isa 42:9 ).

Summary for 1Kgs 13:1-10: 13:1-10 ^a The account of the unnamed man of God who denounced Jeroboam’s false altar at Bethel emphasizes the authority of God’s word. Like Isaiah’s prophecy of Cyrus’s coming (Isa 44:28 ^b; 45:1 ^c) and Micah’s prophecy about Bethlehem as the Messiah’s birthplace (Mic 5:2 ^d), this prophecy gave a distinctive proper name associated with an event long before it happened (2 Kgs 23:15-20 ^e). Such prophecies give assurance of God’s sovereignty and omniscience (see Isa 42:9 ^f).
13:3 ^g In Levitical regulations, ashes from sacrifices at the prescribed altar were to be taken to a clean place (Lev 1:16 ^h; 6:10-11 ⁱ). Because Jeroboam’s altar ... split apart, and its ashes ... poured out, the altar and its sacrifices were rendered unclean.
Summary for 1Kgs 13:4-5: 13:4-5 ^j The paralysis of Jeroboam’s shoulder and arm and the fulfillment of the prophetic sign concerning the altar confirmed God’s omnipotence as well as his direct displeasure with Jeroboam’s apostate religion.
13:6 ^k hand was restored: God showed mercy toward Jeroboam; his restored hand should have reminded Jeroboam that it was still possible to serve God properly.
13:7 ^l have something to eat: In accordance with ancient Near Eastern custom, the king’s seeming gratitude and offer of hospitality also carried implications of approval and fellowship (13:19 ^m; see Gen 24:52-54 ⁿ).
Summary for 1Kgs 13:11-19: 13:11-19 ^o Whatever the old prophet’s motives were for seeking out the man of God, he clearly lied about receiving God’s message through an angel. The man of God knew that what the old prophet asked was contrary to the Lord’s instructions (13:8-10 ^p, 16-17 ^q; cp. Gal 1:8 ^r).
Summary for 1Kgs 13:20-22: 13:20-22 ^s Although the old prophet had lied, God communicated through him. The severe pronouncement against the man of God was that because of his disobedience, he would be denied burial in his ancestral tomb. This death sentence was quickly carried out. Disobedience to the clear command of God is a serious offense (Num 14:21-23 ^t; Deut 11:26-28 ^u).
Summary for 1Kgs 13:23-26: 13:23-26 ^v The donkey did not run away and the lion did not eat the man’s body, a supernatural event. The old prophet immediately understood that God had clearly fulfilled his word (13:21-22 ^w) by judging disobedience.
13:30 ^x The old prophet probably had a modest grave. Such tombs were hewn out of soft limestone in a wadi (a stream bed) near the person’s home.
13:32 ^y the message ... will certainly come true: The Lord’s swift judgment convinced the old prophet that the oracle of judgment pronounced by the man of God against Jeroboam’s altar would be fulfilled. The prophecy came true years later during Josiah’s reforms (2 Kgs 23:15-18 ^z).

• Samaria was established as the capital city of Israel during the reign of Omri, first king of Israel’s third dynasty (1 Kgs 16:24 ^aa, 29-33 ^ab). The name Samaria sometimes refers to the capital city and sometimes to the northern kingdom in general (2 Kgs 17:24 ^ac; Amos 6:1 ^ad). Samaria’s mention here reflects the perspective of an author living at a later time. Similar uses of location names elsewhere reflect editorial updating (cp. Gen 23:2 ^ae with Josh 14:15 ^af; Judg 1:10 ^ag).
Summary for 1Kgs 13:33-34: 13:33-34 ^ah Apparently, Jeroboam knew what had happened to the man of God, but it did nothing to change his spiritual outlook. Jeroboam’s persistently apostate religion, despite God’s denunciation of it, doomed his dynasty to destruction (14:7-11 ^ai, 15-16 ^aj; 15:27-30 ^ak). As succeeding Israelite kings perpetuated his sin, it brought about the complete demise of the northern kingdom (2 Kgs 17:20-23 ^al).