The Man of God and the Old Prophet

A man of God came from Judah to Bethel while King Jeroboam was standing by the altar. He cried out Yahweh’s judgement against that altar and gave a sign that it would split and its ashes would spill out. When Jeroboam ordered his arrest, the king’s hand dried up at once, and the altar broke apart just as the man had said.

Then the king asked the man of God to pray for him. The man prayed, and the king’s hand was restored. Jeroboam invited him home for refreshment and a reward, but he refused. Yahweh had commanded him not to eat or drink there and not to return by the same road, so he left by another way.

An old prophet living in Bethel heard from his sons what had happened. He rode after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak. He invited him home, but the man repeated Yahweh’s command. Then the old prophet said an angel had told him to bring the man back for bread and water. He was lying.

The man of God went back with him and ate and drank in his house. While they were at the table, Yahweh’s word came to the old prophet, announcing judgement because the man from Judah had disobeyed the command he had been given. On the road afterwards, a lion met him and killed him there.

People reported what they had seen, and the old prophet recognised that Yahweh’s word had been fulfilled. He found the body, with the donkey and the lion still beside it, brought the man back, mourned for him, and buried him in his own grave. Then he told his sons to bury him beside that man, because the message against Bethel would surely happen. Yet Jeroboam still did not turn from his evil way, and this sin brought ruin on his house.