1 Kings 13:1

EXPOSITION

THE TESTIMONY OF GOD AGAINST THE CALF WORSHIP .—We have in this chapter, which some commentators consider to be derived from a different source from the narratives which precede and follow it—the expression of 1 Kings 13:32 , "the cities of Samaria," according to them, proving it to be of a later date, while the style and colouring of the story suggest that it embodies a tradition current in the time of the compiler—an account of certain circumstances of profound significance which marked the inauguration of Jeroboam's first great feast—for the close connexion with 1 Kings 12:1-33 . shows that it is "the fifteenth day of the eighth month" that is here described. The Chapter divides itself into two sections, the first ( 1 Kings 12:1-10 ) containing the public testimony of the prophet of Judah against the schismatic worship, the second ( 1 Kings 12:11-32 ) his subsequent perversion and his tragical death.

And, behold, there came a man of God [see on 1 Kings 12:22 . The "man of God" is throughout carefully distinguished from the "prophet." Josephus calls the former Jadon, probably the Grecized form of Iddo, עִדּוֹ , which appears as יֶעְדוֹ Ia'do in the Keri of 2 Chronicles 9:29 . Iddo, however, notwithstanding his "visions against Jeroboam the son of Nebat" ( 2 Chronicles 9:29 ), it cannot have been, for he survived to the reign of Abijah, and indeed wrote a "story" (Heb. Midrash, i.e; Commentary) of that reign, whereas this man of God died forthwith. For a similar reason, we cannot believe it to have been Shemaiah, the historian of the reign of Rehoboam ( 2 Chronicles 12:5 , 2 Chronicles 12:15 )] out of Judah [whither, as a rule, both priests and prophets would seem to have retreated ( 2 Chronicles 11:14 , 2 Chronicles 11:16 ). It is clear, however, that the migration of the latter was not so general as that of the former. In 2 Chronicles 9:11 we find a prophet at Bethel; in 2 Chronicles 14:1-15 . Ahijah is still at Shiloh, and at a later day we find schools of the prophets at Bethel, Jericho, etc. ( 2 Kings 2:8 , 2 Kings 2:5 ). Stanley says with truth that "the prophetical activity of the time… is to be found in the kingdom, not of Judah, but of Israel," but omits to add that it was because the northern kingdom more especially needed their ministry. It was just for this reason that Ahijah and others remained at their posts.] by [Heb. in , same word as in verses 2, 9, 17, 20, 32, etc. Similarly, 1 Samuel 3:21 . The ב is not merely instrumental, but, like the ἐν , of the N.T denotes the sphere or element. " By the word" would imply that he had received a Divine communication; " in the word," that his message possessed him, inspired him, was "in his heart as a burning fire shut up in his bones" ( Jeremiah 20:9 )] the word of the Lord unto Bethel [It is worth remembering that the new sanctuary at Bethel would probably be visible from the temple, so that this function was an act of open defiance]: and Jeroboam stood by [Heb. upon . See on 1 Kings 12:32 , 1 Kings 12:33 . It is the same occasion] the altar to burn incense [or to burn the fat, etc; of the sacrifice. See on 1 Kings 12:33 . This altar was clearly, pro hac vice, an altar of burnt offering; not an altar of incense, as is proved by the next verse.]