Bible Chapter Summary
1 Kings 13 Summary
Prophet's Word Against Jeroboam's Altar
A man of God from Judah prophesies against Jeroboam's altar at Beth-el, declaring that a future descendant of David named Josiah will sacrifice the priests upon that altar, and gives a sign that the altar will be rent. When Jeroboam tries to seize him, his hand dries up; the man of God prays and it is restored, but Jeroboam's request for companionship is refused. An old prophet deceives the man of God into eating with him, violating a divine command, and afterward a lion slays him by the road as punishment for his disobedience; the old prophet buries him and laments that Jeroboam will not repent from his evil.
Key themes
Key verses
1 Kings 13:2
“And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.”
1 Kings 13:4-5
“And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth-el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.”
1 Kings 13:18
“He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.”
1 Kings 13:34
“And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.”
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