For so it was charged me by the word of the Lord ,.... The command of the Lord, by which he came to Bethel, and cried against the altar there, 1 Kings 13:1 . saying, eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest : signifying that no communion was to be had with idolaters, nor any example to be set and followed; but the way to them, and to their idolatry, was to be shunned and avoided. read more
So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel. Neither ate nor drank with the king, though that is not expressed; nor did he go back the same way he came; but in each particular observed the divine command, and was obedient to it. read more
Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel ,.... The Targum is, a false prophet, so Josephus F2 Antiqu. l. 8. c. 9. sect. 1. ; it is hard to say what he was, a good man or a bad man; if a good man, he was guilty of many things which are not in his favour, as dwelling in such an idolatrous place suffering his sons to attend idolatrous worship, and telling the man of God a premeditated lie; and yet there are several things which seem contrary to his being a bad man, and of an ill... read more
And their father said unto them, what way went he ?.... Having a strong inclination to see him, and converse with him: for his sons had seen what way the man of God went which came from Judah ; they took notice of it; and, as the Targum, they showed it to their father. read more
And he said unto his sons, saddle me the ass ,.... Which he used to ride on; intimating he had a mind to ride after him, and overtake him, as he might reasonably think he might, since the man of God was on foot: so they saddled him the ass, and he rode thereon ; after the man of God, taking the way his sons directed. read more
And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak ,.... To shelter him from the heat, and being faint, hungry, and thirsty; so the ancients of old made use of oaks for a covering, before houses were invented F5 Suidas in voce δενδρυαζειν . ; thus Abraham pitched his tent in the plain, or under the oak, of Mamre, Genesis 13:18 . and he said unto him, art thou the man of God that camest from Judah ? which he might guess at from his habit, and from the description... read more
Then said he unto him, come home with me, and eat bread. In which invitation no doubt he was hearty, and might have no ill design in it, only to have some conversation with him, as being a good man, and a prophet of the Lord, especially upon the subject of his prophecies at Bethel. read more
And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee ,.... Into the city, and into his house in it, being such an idolatrous place, and especially being forbidden of God: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place ; he was resolute and determined to abide by the commandment of the Lord, though there is reason to believe that he was now both hungry and thirsty. read more
For it was said to me by the word of the Lord ,.... By the angel that was sent to him, who gave him his message and instructions; which he was persuaded came from the Lord himself, and therefore looked upon himself under obligation to regard them as such: thou shall eat no bread , &c.; the same that he observed to the king, 1 Kings 13:9 . read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 13:8
And the man of God said unto the king ,.... In answer to his civility to him, to assure him it was not out of contempt to him, or ill will to him, or slight of his favour, but in obedience to the will of God: if thou wilt give half of thine house ; of the riches in it, and even of his kingdom: I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place ; this idolatrous place; the reason follows. read more