1 Kings 13:26

And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard [thereof], he said, It [is] the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.

And when the prophet {H5030} that brought him back {H7725} from the way {H1870} heard {H8085} thereof, he said {H559}, It is the man {H376} of God {H430}, who was disobedient {H4784} unto the word {H6310} of the LORD {H3068}: therefore the LORD {H3068} hath delivered {H5414} him unto the lion {H738}, which hath torn {H7665} him, and slain {H4191} him, according to the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068}, which he spake {H1696} unto him.

When the prophet who had brought him back from the road heard about it, he said, "It is the man of God who rebelled against the word of ADONAI; this is why ADONAI handed him over to the lion to tear him to pieces and kill him, in keeping with the word ADONAI spoke to him."

When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard this, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, and it has mauled him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to him.”

And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the mouth of Jehovah: therefore Jehovah hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake unto him.

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Kings 13:26

1 Kings 13:26 captures a pivotal moment of realization and declaration following the tragic death of the Man of God from Judah. This verse is spoken by the Old Prophet of Bethel, who had earlier deceived the Man of God, leading to his disobedience and subsequent demise. It reveals the Old Prophet's understanding that the Man of God's death was a direct divine judgment for his actions.

Context

The narrative of 1 Kings 13 begins with the Man of God being sent by the LORD from Judah to Bethel to prophesy against King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar. God gave him strict instructions: he was not to eat bread or drink water in Bethel, nor was he to return by the way he came (1 Kings 13:9). After fulfilling his mission, the Man of God was deceived by an older prophet from Bethel, who lied, claiming an angel had told him to bring the Man of God back to eat and drink. The Man of God, believing the lie, disobeyed the LORD's direct command. As a consequence, the Old Prophet himself received a true word from the LORD, prophesying that the Man of God would not return to his burial place because of his disobedience (1 Kings 13:22). Shortly after, while traveling, the Man of God was killed by a lion, but remarkably, the lion did not devour him or the donkey, signifying a divine act rather than a natural attack (1 Kings 13:24-25). Verse 26 describes the Old Prophet's immediate recognition of the fulfillment of God's word upon hearing of the incident.

Key Themes

  • Consequences of Disobedience: This verse starkly illustrates the severe consequences of disobeying God's explicit commands, even for those who serve Him. The Man of God, despite his initial faithfulness, faced divine judgment for yielding to deception and violating a direct instruction.
  • Sovereignty and Fulfillment of God's Word: The Old Prophet’s statement emphasizes that the event was not random but a precise execution of "the word of the LORD." God's pronouncements, whether of blessing or judgment, are always fulfilled, demonstrating His ultimate authority and faithfulness to His own declarations.
  • Divine Justice: The incident serves as a powerful reminder of God's justice. While the immediate cause of death was a lion, the underlying reason was divine judgment for disobedience. This underscores the gravity of despising God's explicit word, even when deceived.
  • Prophetic Integrity and Accountability: The Old Prophet, despite his own earlier deception, acknowledges the truth of the situation, confirming the Man of God's disobedience and the divine hand in his death. This highlights the serious accountability of those who speak or claim to speak for God.

Linguistic Insights

The repeated phrase "the word of the LORD" (Hebrew: dabar YHWH) is central to this verse. It emphasizes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the command given to the Man of God and the subsequent prophecy of his death. This phrase consistently denotes God's direct, binding communication, underscoring that the events unfolded precisely according to His spoken will.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Kings 13:26 offers several profound lessons:

  1. Prioritize God's Clear Commands: We must always adhere to God's revealed word, especially when it is clear and unambiguous. Be wary of voices, even those claiming divine inspiration, that contradict what God has already plainly stated in Scripture.
  2. The Seriousness of Disobedience: While God is merciful, this account reminds us that disobedience, particularly to direct commands, carries serious consequences. God's standards are unchanging, and He holds His servants accountable.
  3. Discernment is Crucial: The Man of God fell victim to deception. This highlights the vital importance of spiritual discernment, testing every spirit and every word against the established truth of God's Word (1 John 4:1).
  4. God's Justice Prevails: Even in difficult or seemingly harsh circumstances, God's justice and sovereignty are at play. He works all things according to His purpose, and His word will always be fulfilled.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 9:6

    Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom [is] the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which [were] before the house.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:30

    For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

  • Psalms 119:120

    My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

  • Hebrews 12:28

    Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

  • Hebrews 12:29

    For our God [is] a consuming fire.

  • Proverbs 11:31

    ¶ Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

  • 2 Samuel 12:10

    Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
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