1 Kings 13:24

And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.

And when he was gone {H3212}, a lion {H738} met {H4672} him by the way {H1870}, and slew {H4191} him: and his carcase {H5038} was cast {H7993} in the way {H1870}, and the ass {H2543} stood {H5975} by {H681} it, the lion {H738} also stood {H5975} by the carcase {H5038}.

But after he had gone, a lion encountered the man of God on the road and killed him. His corpse lay there in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing next to it.

As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.

And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his body was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it; the lion also stood by the body.

Commentary

1 Kings 13:24 describes the swift and severe divine judgment upon the unnamed "man of God" from Judah. This verse serves as a stark conclusion to a narrative highlighting the critical importance of absolute obedience to God's specific commands, even in the face of deceptive spiritual influence.

Context

This verse is the culmination of a dramatic sequence of events in 1 Kings chapter 13. The man of God had been sent by the Lord to Bethel to prophesy against King Jeroboam's idolatrous altar and false worship. He delivered a powerful message, which was immediately validated by a sign. Crucially, God gave him a strict, explicit command: he was not to eat bread or drink water in Bethel, nor was he to return by the same way (1 Kings 13:9). He initially obeyed, refusing Jeroboam's hospitality. However, he was later deceived by an old prophet living in Bethel, who falsely claimed an angel had given him a contrary message (1 Kings 13:18). The man of God succumbed to this lie, broke God's command, and as he journeyed home, the judgment prophesied by the old prophet (who was now speaking God's true word) was executed.

Key Themes

  • The Gravity of Disobedience: The primary message is that God takes His commands seriously. Even a prophet, divinely commissioned, is not exempt from the consequences of direct disobedience. This highlights the absolute nature of God's word.
  • God's Unwavering Justice: Despite the man of God's initial faithfulness and the deception he faced, God's word concerning the judgment for disobedience was fulfilled. The method of his death—by a lion, yet with the ass and lion standing peaceably by the carcass—underscores that this was not a random attack but a specific, divinely orchestrated judgment.
  • The Danger of Deception: The narrative serves as a warning against being led astray by false spiritual claims, even from those who appear to be fellow believers or prophets. The man of God failed to discern the truth, prioritizing a seemingly divine message from another human over God's clear, direct instruction given to him personally.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "slew" (הֵמִית, hemît) simply means 'killed'. The unusual detail of the scene – the lion not devouring the body and standing alongside the ass – emphasizes the supernatural nature of the event. This was not a wild animal acting on instinct but an agent of divine judgment, controlled by God to execute His specific will. The lion and the ass, natural enemies, standing together peacefully by the dead body, serve as a stark, visual testament to the miraculous and judicial nature of the death, leaving no doubt that it was from the Lord.

Practical Application

This powerful account from 1 Kings 13 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Uphold God's Clear Word: We must hold fast to the clear commands and principles given in God's Word. Our personal revelation or external voices should always be weighed against the established truth of Scripture.
  • Beware of Spiritual Deception: Not every voice claiming to speak for God is truthful. We are called to "test the spirits" and exercise discernment, relying on the Holy Spirit and the consistency of God's written word.
  • Obedience is Paramount: While God is merciful, this story reminds us that He is also just and expects obedience from His servants. Even seemingly small acts of disobedience can have significant consequences, particularly when they involve direct contravention of divine instruction.
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

  • 1 Kings 20:36 (5 votes)

    Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.

  • 1 Peter 4:17 (2 votes)

    For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?

  • 1 Peter 4:18 (2 votes)

    And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

  • 2 Kings 2:24 (2 votes)

    And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

  • Proverbs 26:13 (2 votes)

    ¶ The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.

  • Amos 5:19 (2 votes)

    As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:31 (2 votes)

    For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.