1 Kings 13
Meaning of 1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 tells the story of the Man of God from Judah and the King of Israel, Jeroboam. This chapter falls into the larger context of the Books of Kings, which detail the history of Israel’s kings and their relationship with God.
The chapter starts with God sending a prophet (a ‘man of God’) from Judah to Bethel, where King Jeroboam of Israel was making a religious altar. The prophet made a dramatic prophecy, saying that a future king named Josiah would sacrifice the idolatrous priests on that very altar.
The King stretched out his hand and ordered his attendants to seize the prophet. However, his hand shriveled and he could not withdraw it. The altar itself split apart. King Jeroboam pleaded with the prophet to intercede with God to restore his hand. The prophet did so, and Jeroboam received healing.
In appreciation, King Jeroboam invited the prophet to refresh and receive a reward. But following God’s instruction not to eat, drink, or go back by the same way he came, the man of God rejected the offer.
On his way home, an old prophet from Bethel heard about the man of God’s miracles and found him. He lied to the man of God, saying an angel told him to bring him back to his house to eat and drink. The man of God went back with him, violating God’s command.
Because he didn’t obey God’s commandment, the man of God was then killed by a lion on his way home, which was seen by the old prophet. Saddened, the old prophet fetched his body, lamented over him and buried him in his own tomb, asking to be buried with him upon his own death. He also affirmed to his sons that the prophecy the man of God given concerning the altar would certainly come true.
The chapter concludes by saying Jeroboam did not change his idolatrous ways, but instead appointed more false priests.
In summary, 1 Kings 13 demonstrates the importance of obedience to God’s commands, and reveals God’s judgement against the corruption and idolatry found in Israel at that time.
1 Kings 13 kjv
1 Kings 13 is a chapter in the Bible found in the Old Testament. It mainly deals with the story of a young prophet and an old prophet, as well as King Jeroboam’s disobedience to God. Here’s the overall flow of the chapter:
King Jeroboam had set up golden calves for worship in the kingdom of Israel which went against God’s commands. While Jeroboam was offering incense, a man of God from Judah came to Bethel and prophesied that a future king named Josiah would be born to the House of David, who would sacrifice the idolatrous priests on the altar. This sign was confirmed when the altar split apart and its ashes poured out.
In his anger, King Jeroboam stretched out his hand against the prophet and ordered his arrest. However, his hand shriveled, and he couldn’t pull it back. Seeing this, the king asked the prophet to intercede with God to restore his hand, which the prophet did.
Despite this, the man of God refused the king’s invitation to refresh himself at the king’s house because God commanded him not to eat or drink anything before returning home.
On his way back home, an old prophet in Bethel who heard of the man’s prophecies sought him out. He lied to the man of God, telling him that an angel told him to bring the man back to his house for food and drink. The man of God went back with the old prophet, breaking the command God had given him.
While they were eating, God spoke through the old prophet and declared that because the man of God had disobeyed His command and had eaten and drunk in Bethel, his body would not be buried in the tomb of his ancestors. After the meal, as the man of God was traveling back home, a lion met him on the road and killed him. The lion didn’t eat the body, nor did it harm the donkey that the man of God rode on.
The old prophet later learned what happened, retrieved the body, and mourned over him. He then instructed his sons to bury him with the body of the man of God. Despite this, King Jeroboam didn’t turn from his evil ways and continued to appoint illegitimate priests.
This chapter is an important lesson about obedience to God, deceit, and the consequences of sin.
1 Kings 13 nkjv
1 Kings 13 of New King James Version (NKJV) Bible is a historical narrative focusing on the deeds of a Judean man of God and an old prophet from Bethel during the reign of King Jeroboam.
The chapter begins when King Jeroboam was offering incense to an idol he had placed in Bethel, a direct violation of God’s commandments. A man of God from Judah arrives and prophecies against the altar, stating a future king named Josiah of the house of David will offer high priests on the altar and human bones will be burnt on it.
In an attempt to silence this man, Jeroboam stretches out his hand and orders his men to seize the prophet, but his hand withers so that he cannot pull it back. Also, the altar splits apart, and ashes pour out from the altar as a sign confirming the man’s prophecy.
Seeing the miraculous signs, King Jeroboam asks the man of God from Judah to pray to God to restore his withered hand, which is subsequently restored.
Despite Jeroboam’s plea for him to join him for a meal and receive a gift, the man of God refuses, stating that God had commanded him not to eat or drink there, or return by the same road.
However, an old prophet who lives in Bethel hears of these events and tricks the man of God into eating with him, lying that he too had received a message from God. For disobeying God’s command, the man of God is killed by a lion on his way home.
The old prophet mourns his death and requests to be buried with him, stating that the Judean man’s prophecies will indeed come true.
In spite of seeing God’s power, Jeroboam doesn’t repent and instead continues with his evil practices – appointing anyone who desires to be priests of the high places, thus leading Israel to sin. This chapter concludes with a warning that King Jeroboam’s action would be a cause of annihilation and expulsion from the land.
This chapter of 1 Kings focuses on the implications of disobedience to God’s commands. Even though the Judean man was used to deliver a significant prophecy, his disobedience led to his downfall. Similarly, Jeroboam’s persistent sin despite witnessing God’s power resulted in prophecy of destruction.
1 Kings 13 niv
1 Kings 13 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible. It falls under the book of 1 Kings in Bible and presents a somewhat complex narrative revolving around three characters: a prophet from Judah, King Jeroboam of Israel, and an old prophet from Bethel.
The chapter starts by identifying a disobedience by King Jeroboam, who makes two golden calves for the people to worship, thereby going against God’s commandments about idol worship. A prophet from Judah, unnamed in the story, comes to Bethel and prophesies against the altar used for idol worship, predicting that a king named Josiah from the line of David will sacrifice the priests of the high places on it.
Upon hearing this, King Jeroboam stretches out his hand from the altar and orders the capture of the prophet. However, his hand withers so that he cannot pull it back. Furthermore, the altar also splits apart, spilling out ashes, as the sign given by the man of God.
The king then pleads with the prophet to intercede with the Lord to restore his hand, which the prophet does. Impressed, the king invites him to his home and offers him a gift, but the prophet declines, stating that God has strictly instructed him not to eat, drink or return by the same way he came.
The narrative then moves to an old prophet living in Bethel, who hears about these events from his sons. He deceives the prophet from Judah by telling him an angel instructed him to bring him back to his house to eat and drink. When the prophet from Judah complies, the old prophet from Bethel prophesies that he will die for his disobedience.
On his way home, the prophet from Judah is killed by a lion for his disobedience to God’s command. When the old prophet from Bethel hears this news, he retrieves and buries the man’s body in his own grave and mourns for him.
At the end of the chapter, despite experiencing all these supernatural events, Jeroboam does not change his ways and continues to sin against God, leading the nation of Israel to do the same by appointing priests for the high places from among the people.
This chapter showcases the grave consequences of disobedience against God’s explicit instructions and warnings.
What is 1 Kings 13 all about?
1 Kings 13 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible which tells the story of a young prophet from Judah and his interaction with King Jeroboam of Israel.
The chapter begins when King Jeroboam is offering incense at an altar in Bethel. The young prophet from Judah arrives and rebukes him in the name of God, saying that a descendant of David named Josiah will be born and will burn human bones on the altar.
As a sign that God is serious, the prophet predicts that the altar will split apart and its ashes will spill out. King Jeroboam stretches out his hand and orders his guards to seize the prophet, but his hand withers up and the altar splits apart, just as the prophet had predicted. The king begs the prophet to ask God to restore his hand, which the prophet does.
Impressed, Jeroboam invites the prophet to come home with him for a meal and a gift. However, the prophet refuses, saying that God has commanded him not to eat or drink anything, and not to return the way he came. So, he leaves in a different direction.
An old prophet hears about this, finds the young prophet, and lies to him, saying an angel told him to bring the young prophet to his house to eat and drink. The young prophet goes with him, but while they are eating, the old prophet predicts that because he disobeyed God, he will die and his body will not be buried with his ancestors.
After the meal, the young prophet leaves and is killed by a lion on the road. People report this to the old prophet, who retrieves the body and buries it in his own tomb, mourning over him. He tells his sons to bury him alongside the young prophet when he dies.
The chapter ends with the note that despite this warning from God, Jeroboam does not change his ways, but continues his idol worship and leads Israel into sin.
In essence, 1 Kings 13 is a story about prophecy, disobedience, trickery, and the consequences of not heeding the word of God.
What does 1 Kings 13 teaches?
1 Kings 13 is a chapter from the Old Testament Bible that presents various important teachings. The primary themes tend to revolve around the importance of obeying God, the dangers of false prophecy, and consequences of disobedience.
1. Importance of Obeying God: In this chapter, a prophet from Judah (unnamed) was sent by God to prophecy against the altar in Bethel where King Jeroboam was making offerings. The prophet was given specific instructions by God to deliver His message and then return home by a different route without eating or drinking anything while in Bethel.
2. The Dangers of False Prophecy: After delivering his message, an old prophet living in Bethel deceived the prophet from Judah telling him that an angel had spoken to him instructing the prophet to bring him back to his house to eat and drink. This was a test from God, which the prophet from Judah failed by neglecting God’s original instructions. This reveals the danger of false prophecy and the importance of discerning true messages from God.
3. Consequences of Disobedience: The disobedience of the prophet from Judah leads to his death, underlining the dire consequences when God’s commands are not followed. The old prophet from Bethel, who had lied to him, mourned his death and asked that he be buried next to him when he dies, acknowledging that the words of the man of God will come true.
Overall, 1 Kings 13 serves as a cautionary tale emphasizing the importance of strict adherence to God’s commands and the discernment of true from false prophecies.
A Sermon on 1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 introduces a pivotal point in the narrative of the Old Testament. The chapter outlays the story of a young unnamed prophet from Judah who is sent by God to prophesy against Jeroboam, the new king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This chapter addresses themes of obedience, discernment, and the dangers of idolatry.
The story in 1 Kings 13 starts when God charges the young prophet from Judah to prophesy against the idolatrous practices of king Jeroboam. Specifically, the prophet is instructed not to eat or drink until he returns to his own land, and not to return by the way he came.
While at the altar in Bethel, the prophesy begins and the prophet calls for a miraculous sign to validate his prophecy: the altar splits apart and the ashes pour out. Jeroboam stretches out his hand against the prophet, but his hand becomes paralyzed. Seeing this, Jeroboam asks the prophet to intercede for him. Following the prophet’s prayer, Jeroboam’s hand is restored. Impressed, Jeroboam invites the prophet to dine with him and receive a reward. The prophet responds by repeating God’s instructions: He must not eat or drink, and he must return home by a different route.
An old prophet living in Bethel, hearing of this, tricks the young prophet by lying to him, saying that an angel commanded him to bring the young prophet back to his house and offer him food and water. Unfortunately, the young prophet trusts the old prophet and goes back with him, violating God’s commands, for which he is reprimanded by God through the old prophet.
On his way home, the young prophet is killed by a lion. The old prophet, hearing of this, goes to mourn over his body and has him buried in his own tomb, commanding his sons to do the same for him when he dies.
A sermon based on this chapter could touch on the following points:
1. Obedience: The young prophet’s obedience to God’s commands was initially strong but faltered due to deception, showing the importance of unwavering obedience to God’s word.
2. Idolatry: This chapter cautions against the sin of idolatry, represented by Jeroboam’s altar in Bethel.
3. Discernment: The necessity of discernment is highlighted in the young prophet’s fatal decision to trust the lying old prophet.
4. God’s Judgement and Mercy: The intertwining of God’s judgment and mercy are exhibited here. Even though God warned the young prophet, he shows grace to Jeroboam, highlighting that God’s judgement can be both immediate and delayed but it is always just.
In conclusion, 1 Kings 13 offers a rich narrative that can be extrapolated into a sermon highlighting the consequences of disobedience and idolatrous practices and the importance of discerning in following God’s commands, and God’s judgement and mercy.
Key people in 1 Kings 13
In 1 Kings 13, there are mainly three key figures:
1. King Jeroboam: He was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel after the revolt from the united monarchy of Solomon’s son Rehoboam. In 1 Kings 13, he made two golden calves for the people to worship, which was against God’s commands.
2. The Man of God from Judah: He was an unnamed prophet who was sent by God to Bethel to prophesy against Jeroboam’s altar. The prophet gave a sign of the altar splitting apart as a demonstration that his prophecy was from God.
3. The Old Prophet from Bethel: This old prophet heard about the man of God’s prophecy and invited him to his home. Despite the man of God’s initial refusal because God had instructed him to return directly and not to eat or drink anything in the region, the old prophet deceived him by saying an angel had said it was okay to come to his home. After the man of God went with him and ate and drank in his home, the old prophet prophesied that the man of God would die for his disobedience, which eventually happened.
Real world examples on 1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 is a biblical record of events during the reign of Jeroboam in Israel. This chapter tells the story of a young prophet from Judah who was sent by God to rebuke King Jeroboam for idol worship. But he was misled by an old prophet and consequently punished by God.
Here are some real world examples or applications based on the stories in 1 Kings 13:
1. **False Prophecy and Deception**: In today’s world, just like the encounter the man of God had with the old prophet, people can be led astray by false prophets if they are not careful. This can be seen in some religious sects and in extreme cases, cults, where leaders manipulate or deceive their followers for personal gain.
2. **Disobedience**: The man of God from Judah was given specific instructions by God, which he failed to carry out correctly. This can relate to any scenario in life where we fail to obey clear instructions, leading to negative consequences – for instance, a person might be instructed to adhere to safety protocols at a workplace but ignoring them might lead to industrial accidents or injuries.
3. **Irreverence to God**: 1 Kings 13 highlights the actions of King Jeroboam who instigated idol worship in Israel, an act that was irreverent to God. This can be paralleled to modern times where some people worship material possessions or money (idolatry) rather than acknowledging a higher power or God.
4. **Repentance and Forgiveness**: Despite King Jeroboam’s irreverence, when his hand withered, he asked the man of God to intercede for him to God and his hand was restored. This could symbolize people who deviate, face challenges, then acknowledge their wrong, seek forgiveness and experience restoration.
Bear in mind that interpretations and relevance of religious texts can vary greatly among different people or sects. Therefore, these examples should be taken as interpretations rather than definitive parallels.
Brief Explanation of 1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 is a chapter from the Old Testament in the Bible. This chapter narrates the story of a young prophet from Judah who was sent by God to Bethel. He was sent during the reign of King Jeroboam of Israel to condemn the idolatry that was prevalent in the kingdom.
The young prophet prophesied that a future king, Josiah of Judah, would desecrate the altar of Bethel. As a sign of the legitimacy of his prophecy, the altar split apart and the ashes poured out as he had predicted.
King Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar and ordered the capture of the prophet, but his hand that he stretched out against him became paralyzed, and he could not draw it back. The king asked the prophet to intercede with the Lord to restore his hand, which the prophet did.
Despite the king’s invitation to dine with him, the prophet refused, stating that he was commanded by God not to eat or drink or return by the way he came. On his way back, an old prophet from Bethel, who wanted to bring him back to his house, lied to the young prophet, telling him that an angel told him to bring the young prophet to his house to eat and drink.
Out of deception, the young prophet went back with him and ate and drank in his house. During the meal, a true word from God came to the old prophet, declaring the young prophet’s disobedience, and predicted that he would die and his corpse would not be buried in the tomb of his fathers. On his way home, the young prophet was then killed by a lion and his body was left on the road.
Despite this, the old prophet mourned over him and arranged for his own sons to bury the young prophet upon his death, requesting to be buried next to the young prophet, as a final honor to him. Meanwhile, King Jeroboam did not change his ways and continued to lead Israel into sin. The chapter ends by reflecting the divine judgement upon those who disobey God’s commands.
Frequently asked questions for 1 Kings 13
1. Who is the man of God mentioned in 1 Kings 13?
The name of the man of God who came out of Judah to deliver God’s message to King Jeroboam is not mentioned in the Bible. Some speculate it could be Iddo the seer, as per 2 Chronicles 9:29, but it’s not confirmed.
2. What was the prophecy given by the man of God from Judah?
The man of God prophesied against the altar in Bethel, stating a future king named Josiah would be born in the house of David, who would sacrifice the false priests on their own altars, and human bones would be burnt on it.
3. What happened that caused the king to reach out to the man of God?
After listening to the prophecy, King Jeroboam pointed at the man of God and ordered his arrest. The king’s hand, however, withered and became paralyzed. The king then asked the man of God to pray to God to restore his hand, which the man of God did, and his hand was restored.
4. Why did the old prophet in Bethel lie to the man of God?
The text doesn’t give us a clear reason why the old prophet lied. It could be that he wanted the man of God to visit his home, or perhaps he desired to test his obedience to God’s commands.
5. What happened to the man of God from Judah after he did not obey God’s command?
God had commanded the man of God not to eat or drink anything in Bethel nor return the same way he came. After being deceived by the old prophet to eat and drink in his house, on his way back, he was killed by a lion as punishment for his disobedience.
6. What is the main lesson from 1 Kings 13?
The main lesson from 1 Kings 13 is the importance of direct obedience to God’s commands. The man of God was led astray and faced dire consequences for it. This also can be seen as a warning about false prophecy or misleading information, even if it appears to come from a trusted source. This chapter emphasizes the importance of discerning God’s true word and command.
Possible References for 1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 is a chapter in the Old Testament of the Bible. It focuses primarily on a prophecy against the altar in Bethel under King Jeroboam, and the subsequent fall of a man of God due to disobedience. Here are a few key references:
1 King 13:1-3: A man of God comes from Judah to Bethel to prophesy against the altar that Jeroboam has erected, predicting a future king named Josiah who will desecrate the altar. This prophecy is eventually fulfilled in 2 Kings 23:15-16.
1 Kings 13:4-6: When King Jeroboam stretches out his hand to seize the prophet, his hand withers and the altar splits in two as a sign from God. Jeroboam then asks the man of God to intercede with the Lord to restore his hand, which he does.
1 Kings 13:7-10: The king invites the prophet to dine with him, but the prophet refuses on the instructions of God not to eat bread nor drink water, nor return the same way.
1 Kings 13:11-22: An old prophet in Bethel deceives the man of God into eating and drinking, claiming he was instructed by an angel. After the meal, the old prophet tells the man of God that he will not reach his home safely because he disobeyed God’s command.
1 Kings 13:23-34: On his way home, the man of God is killed by a lion as predicted by the old prophet. Jeroboam, despite these signs, does not change his ways and continues to make people high priests who were not from the Levites.
This chapter is often cited in discussions on obedience to God’s instructions and the consequences of disobedience. It also provides commentary on the spiritual decline of Israel under Jeroboam’s leadership.
Conclusion on 1 Kings 13
1 Kings 13 chronicles events that demonstrate the word of God must be obeyed exactly as given, and it also highlights the theme of deception and its consequences.
The chapter tells the story of a man of God who prophesies against King Jeroboam’s altar in Bethel. God’s word through this prophet predicts the birth of Josiah who will desecrate this very altar. But the story took a tragic turn when the prophet disobeys an explicit instruction from God not to eat or drink in Bethel.
An old prophet from Bethel deceives him, claiming that an angel told him it was fine to offer him hospitality. The man of God believes him and stays for a meal. However, during the meal, the old prophet receives a true word from God, revealing that the man of God will die because of his disobedience. As foretold, the man of God is killed by a lion on his way home.
The story concludes with the death of the man of God and the old prophet mourning him. The old prophet lays the blameless prophet in his own burial ground and asks that he may be buried alongside him when his time comes, suggesting identification with, or respect for, the man of God he has helped to bring to an untimely end.
The conclusion of 1 Kings 13 underscores the importance of following God’s word to its exact details, and the disastrous consequences of disobedience or deception. It also reveals that prophets or people who claim to bring God’s word can lie or be in error, so discernment and faithfulness to God’s command are crucial.