1 Kings 13:23

¶ And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, [to wit], for the prophet whom he had brought back.

And it came to pass, after {H310} he had eaten {H398} bread {H3899}, and after {H310} he had drunk {H8354}, that he saddled {H2280} for him the ass {H2543}, to wit, for the prophet {H5030} whom he had brought back {H7725}.

After he had eaten food and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet he had brought back.

And after the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the old prophet who had brought him back saddled the donkey for him.

And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.

Commentary

Context

This verse immediately follows a pivotal moment in the story of the "man of God from Judah." He had been sent by the Lord with a strict command to prophesy against King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar at Bethel (1 Kings 13:1-2) and was expressly forbidden to eat or drink in that place, or to return by the same way he came (1 Kings 13:9). However, an old prophet living in Bethel deceitfully persuaded him to break this direct command, claiming a new revelation from an angel (1 Kings 13:18). Verse 23 describes the preparations for the man of God's departure after he has succumbed to the deception, setting the stage for the swift divine judgment that would follow.

Key Themes

  • The Immediate Aftermath of Disobedience: The verse highlights the direct consequence of the man of God's failure to adhere to God's explicit instructions. His eating and drinking, though seemingly innocuous, were acts of rebellion that sealed his fate.
  • The Deceiver's Facilitation: The old prophet, having successfully lured the man of God into sin, now prepares his ride home. This subtle act underscores the deceptive nature of sin, where those who lead others astray might even appear helpful in the immediate aftermath, yet have set a tragic course.
  • Divine Judgment Looms: Though not explicitly stated in this verse, the preparation for the journey signals the imminent fulfillment of the prophecy of judgment delivered by the old prophet himself (after the disobedience), indicating that God's word concerning the consequences for breaking His command is about to be realized (1 Kings 13:21-22).

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "to wit" is an archaic English expression, meaning "namely" or "that is to say." In this context, it serves to clarify that the ass was saddled specifically for "the prophet whom he had brought back," emphasizing the focus on the man of God's return journey and the old prophet's direct involvement in his departure.

Significance and Application

This passage serves as a solemn warning about the importance of unwavering obedience to God's commands, especially for those who represent Him. It teaches us several vital lessons:

  • Personal Accountability: Even when deceived, individuals are held responsible for their choices, particularly when those choices contradict a clear divine directive. God's commands are not to be taken lightly, regardless of the source of temptation.
  • Discernment and Testing Spirits: Believers must exercise careful discernment and not blindly accept every claim of divine revelation, especially if it contradicts established biblical truth or a clear word from God.
  • The Gravity of Disobedience: God takes disobedience seriously. The swift and severe judgment on the man of God, despite his previous faithfulness, underscores that a single act of rebellion can have profound and lasting consequences (1 Samuel 15:23). This story reminds us of the constant need for faithfulness and integrity in our walk with God.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

No cross-references found.