23 And it cometh to pass, after his eating bread, and after his drinking, that he saddleth for him the ass, for the prophet whom he had brought back, 24 and he goeth, and a lion findeth him in the way, and putteth him to death, and his carcase is cast in the way, and the ass is standing near it, and the lion is standing near the carcase. 25 And lo, men are passing by, and see the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing near the carcase, and they come and speak 'of it' in the city in which the old prophet is dwelling. 26 And the prophet who brought him back out of the way heareth and saith, 'It 'is' the man of God who provoked the mouth of Jehovah, and Jehovah giveth him to the lion, and it destroyeth him, and putteth him to death, according to the word of Jehovah that he spake to him.' 27 And he speaketh unto his sons saying, 'Saddle for me the ass,' and they saddle 'it'. 28 And he goeth and findeth his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion are standing near the carcase—the lion hath not eaten the carcase nor destroyed the ass. 29 And the prophet taketh up the carcase of the man of God, and placeth it on the ass, and bringeth it back, and the old prophet cometh in unto the city to mourn and to bury him, 30 and he placeth his carcase in his own grave, and they mourn for him, 'Oh, my brother!' 31 And it cometh to pass, after his burying him, that he speaketh unto his sons, saying, 'At my death—ye have buried me in the burying-place in which the man of God is buried; near his bones place my bones; 32 for the word certainly cometh to pass that he called by the word of Jehovah concerning the altar which 'is' Beth-El, and concerning all the houses of the high places that 'are' in cities of Samaria.' 33 After this thing Jeroboam hath not turned from his evil way, and turneth back, and maketh of the extremities of the people priests of high places; he who is desirous he consecrateth his hand, and he is of the priests of the high places. 34 And in this thing is the sin of the house of Jeroboam, even to cut 'it' off, and to destroy 'it' from off the face of the ground.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 13:23-34
Commentary on 1 Kings 13:23-34
(Read 1 Kings 13:23-34)
God is displeased at the sins of his own people; and no man shall be protected in disobedience, by his office, his nearness to God, or any services he has done for him. God warns all whom he employs, strictly to observe their orders. We cannot judge of men by their sufferings, nor of sins by present punishments; with some, the flesh is destroyed, that the spirit may be saved; with others, the flesh is pampered, that the soul may ripen for hell. Jeroboam returned not from his evil way. He promised himself that the calves would secure the crown to his family, but they lost it, and sunk his family. Those betray themselves who think to support themselves by any sin whatever. Let us dread prospering in sinful ways; pray to be kept from every delusion and temptation, and to be enabled to walk with self-denying perseverance in the way of God's commands.